TL;DR
POSSE (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) is a publishing model that puts the canonical version of content on your domain while posting copies or links to third-party platforms. Advocates say it reduces dependency on silos, preserves ownership and URLs, and leverages other services' social features without relinquishing the primary record.
What happened
POSSE is a content workflow promoted by the IndieWeb community in which people publish first to their own websites and then push copies or links to social platforms and other third-party services. The approach aims to keep a single canonical post on the author's domain while using copies on silos (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Medium, etc.) to reach audiences and take advantage of platform features. POSSE recommends that syndicated copies include a link back to the original post (often a permashortlink), enabling discovery, citation, and better search ranking for the canonical content. The guidance covers practical implementation details for developers and publishers: automated flows that post from client to site to silos, semi-automatic client-driven flows, handling plain-text representations, and UI practices such as previewing what will be syndicated. The page lists specific tools, plugins and services that support POSSE syndication and notes current platform quirks, such as recent restrictions on Twitter API access.
Why it matters
- Reduces reliance on third-party platforms: publishing to your own site first lets you publish even if a silo is down.
- Preserves ownership and canonical URLs: the primary copy remains on your domain rather than held by a service's terms.
- Improves discoverability and search ranking: copies that link back to the original can drive traffic and lift the canonical post.
- Balances social reach with control: lets authors use platform social layers while keeping their own hosted record.
Key facts
- POSSE stands for Publish (on your) Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere.
- Common practice is to include a permashortlink on syndicated copies pointing back to the original post.
- The model contrasts with PESOS (Publish Elsewhere, Syndicate to Own Site) and is advocated to avoid dependence on silo availability and TOS constraints.
- Implementation patterns include client-to-site-to-silo (server automates syndication) and client-to-site-and-silo (client performs syndication with more control).
- Tools and services mentioned that support POSSE include Bridgy Publish, POSSE Party, IFTTT, EchoFeed, Mugged Tweets, and various plugins for WordPress and Medium.
- Command-line and library tools cited include SiloRider, Feed2Toot, and a PHP POSSE namespace for content preparation.
- The guidance recommends automatic, dependable, and invisible UI for POSSE; a preview of what will be syndicated can increase predictability.
- Some destinations require plain-text representations; h-entry_to_text is suggested as a conversion method.
- As of November 2022, the page notes Twitter was rejecting new API access for applications used to POSSE/backfeed, per a comment attributed to Barnaby Walters.
What to watch next
- Restrictions or policy changes at major platforms that affect API access and POSSE workflows — the page notes Twitter rejected new API access for POSSE/backfeed as of 2022-11 (confirmed in the source).
- Whether federated or ActivityPub-based projects adopt POSSE patterns more broadly to improve cross-platform usability (not confirmed in the source).
- Expansion or consolidation of POSSE tools, plugins and services that simplify automated syndication from personal sites (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- POSSE: A publishing approach: Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere; the canonical copy stays on the author's domain while copies are posted to other platforms.
- silo: A third-party social platform or service (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Medium) that hosts user content and social features.
- permashortlink: A short, permanent link included on syndicated copies that points back to the original post on the author's site.
- backfeed: A mechanism to pull responses or interactions from third-party services back to the original site, sometimes called reverse syndication.
Reader FAQ
What exactly is POSSE?
POSSE is a workflow where you publish content on your own site first, then post copies or links to third-party platforms so the canonical version remains under your control.
Why choose POSSE over posting directly to social platforms?
The source cites reduced third-party dependence, clearer ownership and canonical URLs, and better search and citation as primary reasons.
Can I POSSE to Twitter and other major platforms?
The page provides guidance and links to destination-specific notes; it also records that, as of November 2022, Twitter was rejecting new API access for apps used to POSSE/backfeed.
Do I need special software to POSSE?
Various tools, plugins and scripts are mentioned (Bridgy Publish, POSSE Party, SiloRider, Feed2Toot, WordPress crosspost plugins); no single mandatory tool is specified.
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Sources
- Publish on your own site, syndicate elsewhere
- Publish (on your) Own Site Syndicate Elsewhere
- What is POSSE? Competitors, Complementary Techs & …
- Post on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere!
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