There's only thing that a blogger needs to survive in this blogging jungle...Readers.
Readers of all kinds: loyal, new, returning, stumbling, anxious, dropping by and also at-the-wrong-place kinda readers. Except last ones, it is your job to keep them hooked on to your blog, convince them to subscribe to your RSS feeds and basically fall in love with your blog.
So how do you do that? Below are 20 simple and very basic ways that will leave your blog visitors with no choice but to subscribe with your blog.
But before we go there, lets clear out the concept of RSS Feeds:
RSS are web feeds that helps readers in keeping track of the posts published on your blog. Like we subscribe for magazines, online readers can subscribe to your blog; without paying any subscription fee.
Bonus Tip: Let your readers know that subscription is free of charge, it may sound very obvious but there is a huge percentage of people who are not aware of what RSS feeds or blog subscriptions are. Click here to learn more about RSS feeds.
20 Easy Tips
- Place an easily, rather prominently viewable RSS Icon on your blog; preferably on the top of the web page.
- RSS icon should be displayed on every page, not just homepage.
- Dedicate a post to RSS feeds educating your readers about it and how they can easily subscribe with you. P.S.: Don't make it sound boring and technical.
- Other than RSS, use email subscription too, that will help in gaining non-RSS friendly readers. If you are using Feed Burner, then visit 'Publicize' section and click on 'Email subscription' to activate this service.
- At end of each post, humbly ask and encourage your readers to subscribe to your blog and don't forget to provide the link for subscription.
- While commenting (genuinely) on other blogs or forums, you can leave RSS links with your comments for a change rather than linking it directly with your blog.
- Don't ruin your RSS feeds by placing loads of advertisements, it negates the whole purpose of subscribing. Web feeds should be neat and clean, otherwise people will unsubscribe out of irritation.
- You can also include a subscription page to your blog where you can provide relevant information and links.
- You can also have animated RSS buttons to your blog, which is bound to attract attention.
- Send emails to new commentators on your blog asking them to subscribe to your feeds if they wish to stay updated with your blog.
- You can also offer RSS feeds for comments that will not only instantly notify commentators about new comments on a particular post but will also act as an action button to visit your blog and participate.
- If you have lot of categories or sub-sections on your blog then it is advisable to have seperate RSS feeds for each category. Your readers may not be interested in everything you write, so give them the option to choose only those topics that they like.
- Remind unverified subscribers to verify their subscription by sending them a small email. They may not be aware of the whole process, so send them a explanatory note with necessary links.
- Submit your RSS link with Feed Directories. Click here to check out the list.
- Post great content. A very obvious point but still deserves a mention. There is no point gaining subscribers and later loosing them due to poor articles.
- You can add your blog's RSS link to your email signature. It works quiet effectively.
- Try Social Proof. When you have considerable amount of subscribers to your blog...show it off and lure others to join the bandwagon.
- Try experimenting with the RSS button on your website by using cool and creative icons. Those who know about RSS will be attracted and those who don't would want to know about it.
- Make the whole subscribing procedure quick and easy. Not more than 2 steps...nobody has the patience.
- You can offer bribes...legal and ethical bribes. Seduce your readers to subscribe with your blog by luring them with free eBooks, software, report, audio file or an online course. Whatever you deem to be tempting enough.
Do share your tips and tricks for blog subscription by commenting below.
Abiding to the tips mentioned above, here is the link to our RSS subscription. :) Click here for email subscription.
Post a Comment