How to increase RSS subscribers | Bloggers Lair | Yakezie Forums

My rss #s are really low and for some reason that bugs me. I feel like I should work at increasing it.I have over 1500 Twitter followers and over 600 Facebook fans but most of those FB fans came from a giveaway that I paid money to be a part of (I basically bought 400+ new fans for $7.). I want my RSS to increase so I can appear stronger in the eyes of any spons0rs and what not (especially if I ever want to get this car wrap thing to work)

Do you have any tips for increasing RSS #s? Do you think it's simply improving my content? I don't do a newsletter because I haven't a clue what I'd say to people if I did have one.

I've had pretty much the same problem.  My twitter followers is at ~1550, facebook at ~250, and RSS is at ~350.  But, RSS has been at 350ish for a very long time.  The only way I've ever gotten it to jump is through contests.  Honestly, I have to wonder if RSS isn't going the way of the dodo bird. 

re: value for RSS (I'm not one to talk, I only have 100 but I just put my subscribe button on my site): I love and read most of my blogs by RSS.  I haven't done any giveaways, but have heard that's the way to go.  Two cents (probably only worth a cent and a half though…if that)

Do people still subscribe to RSS feed?  What about just collecting email and using something like MailChimp to send out daily/weekly articles? 

I honestly have gone the opposite way and stopped looking.  Every once in a while I'll look and it does seem to be going up steadlly (though slow) but for now, I'm of the Field of Dreams mantra: If you write it, they will come.  (It being engaging content).

I find RSS to be a frustrating measure. My RSS number is really low (so is FB but that's another issue that I'm not ready to tackle) but it fluctuates so much, I don't even know how many RSS subscribers I really have. I've pretty much stopped using it as a focus on how many people are reading my site.

I'm using the same philosophy as MB–as long as I write good content, people will (eventually) read and subscribe.

Ok so I'm going to:

1. Make it easier to subscribe by placing links in the side bar (DONE) and at the end of the post (DONE).

2. Write good content (meh, so/so)

3. Host a giveaway.

4. Not worry about it.

Ok so next month is my blogaversary (2 years). That would be a good time to have a giveaway. So now I need to find a sponsor for that because I sure as heck can't fund one.

I'm going to work on the not worrying about it part as well.

John @ Married with Debt said:

Most regular people probably don't use RSS.

How do I know?

Because before I was a blogger, I was a regular person :)

I never used RSS before this, and never even considered it.

That's very true, I've never used RSS either!

TheDebtPrincess said:

I use it when the option is to deliver to my email inbox. And then I let 250 posts sit there until I just start deleting. :(I find most of the posts I read are ones I see flying by in twitter or on facebook.

 

And that is probably my answer.

I used to use RSS a lot.  When things like Google Reader first came out, they were awesome.  Now, I haven't logged into my reader account in at least two months.  I've gone from reading hundreds of RSS posts a day, to none.  I found, like it sounds you have, that most posts worth their salt come across my twitter or facebook feeds multiple times.  I still have the option on my blog because it still gets used, and because I haven't seen a reason not too. Plus, there are tools that use the RSS feed to post to twitter, facebook, etc that I use. 

To me, twitter, facebook, pinterest, manteresting, and the like are going to be the real drivers of consumption when it comes to content in the future.

Jon | Free Money Wisdom said:

Sidebar opt-in box, below post opt-in box, popup optin box, and offer an ecourse or ebook for free.  Problem solved.

This is exactly what I've was often instructed to do from top bloggers and affiliate marketing experts. Yes, problem definitely solved.