subject: 3 Easy Ways to Gain More RSS Subscribers [print this page] 3 Easy Ways to Gain More RSS Subscribers 3 Easy Ways to Gain More RSS Subscribers
It's always worth it to focus a little more on your RSS feed subscriptions because it's a process already in place, and it can be a good way to bring in more site visitors and keep people returning to your site. So today we're going to cover three excellent pointers designed to bring more RSS subscribers to you.
First of all, when you have to choose the format of your RSS feed, always try and offer a full feed. You will most likely find that people won't bother to subscribe if you only offer a partial feed. It seems counter-intuitive, but people like the full feed because they'll simply scan it all and try to find whatever information they're looking for. These people have hundreds of RSS feeds subscribed in their reader, which is why they want to go through the entire article post, not just the snippet of it. A smart option is to allow people to subscribe via email which some will prefer to do. As much as you want your readers to subscribe to your RSS feed, the number of users using email will always outnumber RSS feed subscribers. It really does make sense to offer RSS content via the email option since people have always preferred email over using readers, etc. Everyone online is familiar with email and totally comfortable with using it. Feedburner or Feedblitz are both popular services who can manage your RSS email subscriptions.
If one of your reader emails you then make sure you take out the time and email them back. Why? It's clear; when a reader emails you, it shows that they are interested in your site or blog and will take the time to subscribe to your feed. If you want people to sign-up to your email or RSS feed, then if you don't reply to them you should rethink your plan.
The best thing you can do for your reader is make them feel special in some way; make them feel someone cares. Remember that they're taking time out of their lives to be on your site, so it's only a good reciprocity action to take.
If you're in the good position of getting blog comments, then you could even offer them an ethical bribe to sign-up for your RSS feed - worth a shot. It's another way to market your RSS feed, and you should do it if you have the opportunity. These are the kinds of people who are your very warmest audience, and they should subscribe with no problems. You'll send them emails, and when you do just be cordial and direct about it. That's the easiest way to start networking with those who come to your site. The best approach is business casual because you don't really know them well. The best approach is to be courteous about it and respectfull.
It's a little time consuming to go through this process but eventually it's worth it.
You'll need to market your RSS feed just like you market anything else on your site, but it's doable because sites get subscribers every day.
