5 Winning Tips on Getting RSS Subscribers For Your Blog
Many times when starting a new blog, people have this “if I build it they will come philosophy.” Well, this is true to a certain extent.
Post enough content and you’ll pull in some traffic through the search engines.
Keep posting and eventually there will be steady stream (no guarantee of how large or small) of visitors arriving daily. If this is your goal, than so be it.
I do have one question. Is this the end game you have in mind…a mediocre blog with limited reach dedicated to targeting the search engine walk walk ins?
Of course not! That’s why you’re on Meta Fever (even if it’s by chance) trying to educate yourself. There are a number of ways you can go about pulling in more traffic and gaining influence with your readership: one of these is attracting followers via RSS (Really Simple Syndication.)
For those of you who know what that is, I’ve compiled a guide of the top 5 ways to finding new RSS subscribers for your blog.
# 1 – If You Got it, Flaunt It – Yep I said it. Do exactly what the old saying says. Too many times bloggers forget to stick their RSS sign up prompt or icon above the fold, letting readers know this option is available. Should you be displaying ads, newsletter sign ups or RSS….if you want readers to know it’s there, stick it at the top of the page!
# 2 – A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words – Yes, you can go crazy posting buttons and images all of your blog. In some cases it will start looking more like a Nascar than a website; buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, MySpace are everywhere. But, when it comes to RSS start by using the standard RSS looking buttons. Just Google “rss button” if you don’t know what I’m talking about.
# 3 – RSS What? If you’re not writing for Tech Crunch or Nerd World, the truth is a lot of people don’t know anything about RSS. Odds are some of you reading this post don’t know what it is. That’s OK. When writing on a non-tech or online marketing related subject, I would reccomend writing a post or having a link explaining RSS, and how it will make blog reading more efficient. Don’t stick a button up there just because you see other blogs doing it. Writing a post explaining the concept will also help build trust with your readers. It shows you care. And, I hope that’s the case.
# 4 – Give The Feed Equal Rights: Of course not all communication is created equal, but start including your feed in forum posts and e-mail newsletters (should you have one.) Even if the reader doesn’t know what it is, it will prompt a measure of curiosity and, who knows, they may Google it and hop on the bandwagon. If you have business cards, include your RSS URL…put it right along side anything you would normally stick the root URL on.
# 5 – Paid Advertisement: I’ve heard stories where bloggers have spent a couple bucks on Ad Words campaigns touting their RSS feeds. It worked too! Someone who becomes a subscriber to your blog is more likely to be a loyal reader. To avoid wasting money you want to clarify in the ad they are clicking on an RSS feed..and watch what happens. This is not only unique (not many would risk it), but it allows people to avoid the normal clutter associated with some sites.
I hope the above tips point you in the right direction on your quest to build RSS readership. As always, should you have any comments, questions or life confessions…please feel free to drop me a line.
Good Luck!
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