Free Website Content
13 Tips to Maintaining and Growing a Feed Subscriber
Base
You have an RSS feed and you have worked
hard to get the word out. According to your logs you
have subscribers! Now the hard part: how to retain the
subscribers to your RSS feed. Follow these simple steps
to insure that your subscriber base will grow.
1. Original Content
A consistent stream of original content will do well
to earn subscribers loyalty. The best RSS feeds provide
content that is compelling and unique. Do not rehash
existing content, look for a unique angle or spin if
you wish to cover something that is hot in the blogosphere.
2. Quality Over Frequency
A posts quality is far more important than a post's
frequency. Readers will tire of rambling or nonsensical
posts that contain no real value. Time is precious and
there are plenty of feeds and blogs, in order to retain
readers provide quality not quantity.
3. Get it Right
Syndication has the power to do damage; misquoting or
just plain getting it wrong can affect your reputation
and perpetuate incorrect information. Be sure to verify
all your RSS feed and blogs information prior to posting.
4. Literate
Blog posts are not instant messages: you should always
use proper grammar, correct spelling and punctuation.
Your posts are a reflection of your knowledge; content
presentation matters and will affect how you are viewed.
5. Griping
Do not constantly gripe, no one likes a whiner. If you
are going to complain it is not enough to point out
problems, you should offer a suggestion for improvement
or specifics on how to solve a problem.
6. Balance
Titles of RSS Feed Items and Headlines of blog posts
should relate to the contents of the actual post. There
is nothing worse than just tempting readers with information
and not following through. Use catchy titles but be
sure to follow it with related content. In your actual
posts, strike a balance be sure to provide enough information
without overwhelming readers.
7. Focus
Regardless of your RSS feeds focus' stay on topic! Your
feed or blog posts will generally revolve around a specific
theme, don't stray too far or you might lose readers.
If your RSS feed has a specific theme, stay true to
that theme.
8. Length Matters
Not too long, not too short it is a difficult balance,
but your post length does matter! If a post is excessively
long consider breaking it up or partitioning it into
easy to digest paragraphs or break it up into multiple
posts. Post length should be consistent throughout your
blog and feed. Try not to vary it too much.
9. Credibility
As a publisher, you want to be viewed as a credible
source. Posting or reposting inaccurate information
will reduce if not nullify any credibility that you
have. Provide credentials when offering an opinion and
be sure any factual information is accurate before posting.
10. Link
Include links to any related information in the description
field of your RSS feed, this is a great way to supplement
content. Outgoing links will also often result in links
back to your blog or website.
11. Consistency
It is important to remain consistent, try not to vary
too much in your daily posts. Stay true to your formula
for content if it is working .
12. Listen to Your Audience
Readers will often communicate what they like and what
they dislike about your content. It is important that
you stay in tune with what your subscribers like and
don't like and make the appropriate accommodations.
13. Advertisements
Do not clutter your RSS feed with advertisements. If
you choose to include advertisements in your RSS feed
be sure to strike a balance between advertisements and
quality content.
Starting an RSS feed or is not difficult
to attract readers, it is however difficult to retain
readers. By following a few simple unwritten rules you
will find your subscriber base swell.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
**********************************************************
This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource
box is included and the links are active. A courtesy
copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would
be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
**********************************************************
|
