RSS Subscriber Mania
Filed Under: Contests
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An important blog metric, that I haven’t really focused on, is Subscriber count. If you’ve noticed my new feed count badge, then you see what I mean. My subscriber count was slowly growing, then it got up to the 70’s and started dropping a little, and It seems to have reached a plateau.
If you want some background into RSS here is a great article. This article continues with great tips on optimizing your feed with plugins, and using the feedburner optimizing options. And announcing your new feed with ping services. To promotion, with RSS directories and social sites.
I want to focus on increasing subscribers. Courtney Tuttle wrote about what really increases RSS subscribers.
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Quality of Posts
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Feed Visibility
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Incentive
He goes on to say, that post quality is what matters most. Choosing quality over quantity. I tend to agree with this, and Dosh Dosh has written about how the longer authority article, is more valuable than the many short low quality posts.
Courtney also talks about the bandwagon effect, where when people see a large amount of subscribers, more people tend to subscribe. I too, have noticed it. I’ve seen sites go from 300 to 500, much faster than from 50 to 100.
I’ve recently been reading Garry Conns blog, and he has an article about putting your feed URL, into the blog URL field when commenting. I’m not sure, if this is a method, I would try. But I like Garry’s unique perspective on blogging, and I enjoy his site.
One of my favorite sites, Blog About Your Blog, recently wrote, To Boost Your RSS Subscribers Give Something Away. I am a fan of blog contests so I like this idea.
My next blog project is increasing subscriber count. My plan of attack, is to create some longer authority articles and some how to series posts . I also have a big subscriber contest in the works. With some cool prizes to reward my loyal readers, and hopefully it will help attract new ones. Stay tuned for the contest announcement.
Popularity: 23% [?]
Matthew | Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
looking forward to the contest announcement. thanks for the mention
Emma | Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
Your welcome Matthew!
Alex | Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for the quote Emma!
Nice to see when your writing doesn’t go wasted and people actually enjoy it
Thanks.
Alex
Emma | Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
Thanks Alex, your articles really are informative.
Bloggrrl | Dec 16, 2007 | Reply
I’ll tell you what–I need to write an article on how to LOSE RSS subscribers! I have lost several this past week, and I know it is because of the paid posts. Still…I’ve made almost $300 at this point.
Emma | Dec 16, 2007 | Reply
You’re still in the 400’s so that’s pretty good. I think maybe blogging has slowed for December. I plan on focusing on getting my subscribers up. Although you can’t please everyone. I probably should of focused on subscribers earlier, because it really does seem the larger subs you have the easier it is to increase.
Code4Gold | Dec 18, 2007 | Reply
The number of RSS readers on your blog will generally go up and down a bit but you’re definitely right about the fact that if a blog turns into a Paid Post type blog, it will definitely detract people from subscribing to your feed. I know I personally unsubscribed recently from one of my favorite blogs (JohnChow) because all he ever does anymore is post for money. Nobody wants to subscribe to a blog full of nothing but paid ads.