Finding RSS Subscribers is something that many bloggers spend a lot of time thinking about – so in this video I thought I’d put together a few thoughts on how to grow your subscriber numbers.
See the full sized version of this video here at YouTube.
PS: in the post I mentioned some links that might help you to expand upon some of the ideas touched upon in this video. Here they are:
Top blog posts widget is a must and i was surprised at your feedback on surfers who do not understand what RSS is. More than one invitation to subscribe to is a handy hint. RSS directories are useful as well as . Full or partial feeds, i am undecided on this option, but if it increases your readers then perhaps the full feeds are the best option.
Quality is with out doubt the main goal to grab extra subscribers.
Great tips as always
Great tips! I find that the audiences for some of my sites are not very tech-savvy, so having an RSS-to-email option works well there.
I have not tried putting a second invitation to subscribe at the end of my posts, but will definitely test that. It makes sense that people would be receptive to hearing more from you after they have just read a great post.
Thanks for the great ideas, Darren!
Hey Darren,
we had disputes, but I gotta say, you are skilled at talking/presenting.
Regards,
Hendrik
Darren,
I hope you do a post on what to do if you use feedburner and you need to reclaim your rss feed.
Basically, from what I understand, anybody can go to feedburner.google.com, put in a url, and that url gets a feedburner feed associated with whichever email the person was logged in with. Or, If a person accidentally deletes a feed, there is no way, that I know of, to get it back. Trying to contact google is like trying to teach dogs to talk.
Shane
Hi Darren, Thanks for the tips. I’ve taken notes on a couple of things i can improve on my side.
For my non-tech audience, what I’ve found as a great way to improve RSS readers is to push the email subscription method instead of the RSS one. It’s simpler for those who does not know what RSS is… and are not interested to find out.
Using a plug in to show the subscription methods at the end of the posts had also helped and, once in a while, I offer an ebook with old blog content to new subscribers. That also helped.
But the difference is that, with a little bit of work and patience, you can teach dogs to talk.
I actually like the video better than reading a post. Since I am just starting off a new Blog that Franklin is helping me with, I’d sure need to know how to get more RSS subscribers. I’m hoping these tips help!
Thanks for sharing this tips darren, I will try all your tips to increase my subscribers.
There are a lot website outhere were you can publish your RSS Feed. By publishing content in those sites you can attract new readers to your blog.
I’m going to have to try the full feed option of my posts Darren. Thanks for continuing to share quality info that helps the peeps IMPROVE the way they build their blog!
Timothy Carter
I love listening to video posts. Keep ’em coming Darren. They’re absolutely great and insightful.
Hi! How about next post about incentives, you can offer, to get more subscribers?
I found a nice trick – post 3 post a day for 3 days, and than make a 2 days brake. Pople will see that you may be unpredictible and subscribe so they dont miss when you start posting again.
I started your 31-days to Building a Better Blog and I’ve found that being proactive about promoting your blog and it’s content helps bring readers in.
Last week was the first week I used Twitter to promote a few posts throughout the week and I gained 6 readers in a day. I know that doesn’t seem like a lot, but for me it is! I’m still working to build my blog into something that can be helpful for others and seeing that people are inspired sure is an encouragement!
Thank you for all your help with this. It is much appreciated!
Good, practical advice. Appreciate it. Additionally, I’d recommend a good WordPress plugins for subscription reminders. I’ve got one that places the text, “If you like this, please subscribe…” at the end of every post. That helps too.
What was the service you mentioned to spread your blog more? I think you said “R Weber”??
-Rachel- (@bostonmarketer)
Darren-
Great suggestion of making your RSS feed available when guest posting on another blog. I also appreciate how you educate your subscribers as to the benefits of RSS.
Another approach is to lead with an email subscription (general population seems to understand that better), followed by encouraging them to subscribe to the RSS feed (and how that makes their life easier).
Thanks again Darren.
-Travis
When subscribing through email, any tips on actually getting the visitor to click on the confirm link at that email address? I have hundreds of people who never hit the confirm link. I’m sure many of you have thousands and thousands that never confirm their subscription.
What is the best way to add a “Best of” section to a Moveable Type blog?
Thank You
Thanks Darren. I like the idea of freebies for subscribers. Especially if you can expand your posts to full articles and offer an ebook. Then give this away to subscribers. Thanks again.
Duane
Hi Darren
I am Salman I have contacted you through email,you have suggested me to see the video.I saw the video it is superb from my side.
I understood some 4-5 points out of 9 points.It would be much better if you would publish it as a hand written post too.Those who want to see the video they will and those who want to read can read.
Than Q
Salman
http://www.tips4blogging.co.cc for blogging tips
Great tips… and I love the way you’re using youtubes annotations. I looked at those yesterday as I was uploading some answers to writers questions videos and wondered how I could use them… now I know.
Always good stuff. My readers have also told me they like my article, RSS for Writers (http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/rss-for-writers/)
Thanks Darren, as always
Darren,
Thanks for this informative post. I write a theology blog, as well as Blog Consulting, LLC.
One of the things I found successful in my theology blog, which has a loyal RSS subscriber base, is to write posts directly to them.
In other words: Dear RSS Feed readers, I know that you seldom actually visit my blog, but I wanted you to know that I value your readership..etc.
I’ve been using feedburner and have increased my rss subscribers by three fold this week.
Great post. We often assume our readers already know what the RSS symbol means. Thanks!
Great tips Darren! Working through all of your content and hoping that I can become a semi-Problogger like you :-) I just got my first RSS subscriber today and that felt really good.
Great content. I’m looking forward to more of it. If you’re in need of any tips to help with your affiliate marketing efforts it’s all on my blog. Your info will also help me get more subscribers to my blog too.
Thanks for the post :D
Once again a great post. I’ve made notes and are going to act on the tips! Thanks Darren!
Could u please write down what u say? For me (and i believe not only for me) It is easier to understand when i read then when i listen :(
Thanks for understanding.
Thanks Darren. Great tips as usual. I was using partial feeds, but I am going to take your advice and I will start to send full feeds.
Thanks again.
Just write good content and stop looking for magical ways to increase traffic. If you spend all of your time writing good content, proof reading that content, and coming up with ideas for content to write about you will end up with more subscribers. Consistency is key.
Just great!..ooh great…!!!!!
I like the post too. Anyhow I would suggest for anyone with a blog and needs more RSS subscribers to use plugins like subscribe for feeds, such plugin automatically invites a reader to subscribe to the post. This acts like a super magnet even for someone that never had prior interest of subscribing..
http://www.frogblogger.com
I think the most important part about gaining subscribers is to firstly make it known to readers what they are subscribing to. If they understand RSS, then they can take the plunge, otherwise for most internet readers, they scan and scan because they simply don’t know that the subscribe function is available to them.
I signed up and added my feeds to a load of those RSS directories and have found a rise in subscribers from those.
Great one. Somehow for my blog most of my readers are not so techkies. So I noticed that email subscription works wonder. Believe it or not I don’t have much subscribers being a wide range blog and more targeted to my country however in my about 150 subscribers about 140 are email subscribers.
Great video again.
Great tips.
Which plugin do you recommend for a “popular posts” feature?
@Rachel, he said AWeber (https://www.aweber.com)
Thanks Darren… I was wracking my head over Memorial weekend about this very subject for another site of ours.
A new tool we just released could also be useful.
Twoquick gives you Google and Twitter search results side-by-side. This way you search for a topic and get links from Google AND all the latest Twitter buzz right on the same page. Learn more about the topic and/or talk to people who are interested in it and get them to look at you blog.
I counted only 8 tips. Is this right?
Great video!
Now I just have to put it all into working order in my head. I think a free report is good, but I often wonder why it isn’t just offered as resources on the blog to begin with?
i thing the tips are usefull. i am going to make top posts (most popular) on my blog, and think about to make some extra that user can get after subscribing to my blog
thanks Darren, good tips=)
Darren,
Thanks for these tips. I immediately changed my RSS feed to a full read.
I think that every little bit counts and these tips are quite useful!
Miss Gisele B.
those are some good tips to practice and btw, you got a massive group of followers on RSS.. ticking around 90,000. that is awesome..
Great suggestion! RSS is very important to send updates to my site readers. It is one way of sending more traffic to a website. I also believe that having an informative article is the best key to keep the readers going back to the website.
hey thanks for sharing this information with us all.
Marcos I’ve count only 8 tips too.
There isn’t tip nr. 5 Darren, is it possible?
I agree with you.. original and quality content is the main key to increase subscribers for blog.
Thanks for the info darren
I like your style. Video blogging. becoming more effective. Thanks for the tips!
Great marketing tips! RSS is a powerful tool. This is my first time on your blog and I find it great to listen and watch your video, better than reading since I get to relax my eyes.
Hi darren, for the longest time, I’ve been trying to figure out how to build a reader base for a blog. This post certainly clear up the air a little. Looking forward to implementing some of the tips. Thanks for the post.
Darren
As always, your tips are superb. THANKS!