One of the top concerns for any blogger is increasing their RSS feed subscriber count. Not only is this a measure of how successful your blog is across the internet, but it can be a key selling point for future opportunities; and hey, we all like to brag. Before I go on, I want to introduce myself. My name is Jim and I am the author of TheNetFool.com (feed), a business blog focused on ways to make money online. Now lets work on increasing that subscriber count!

1. Promote Your RSS Feed
I don’t know if there is a better way to get people to subscribe than letting them know the opportunity exist. Make it easy and make it obvious! The first step I recommend taking is using the “Subscribe Remind” WordPress plugin to attach a notification on the end of each and every post that you write. For an example of this, just check out the “Subscribe to The World Wide Web Blog…” link on the end of this post! This is pushing the envelope of what I call the “annoy till subscribe” method, but it is a necessary step.

Other than adding a reminder to your posts, you need to have a universal RSS subscribe button prominently displayed on your homepage (and preferably every page). These are very easy to come by, and I suggest using the services of FeedBurner to make it easier on yourself and your visitors.

2. Network Using Social Bookmarking
Networking is the single most underrated strategy around, and I think that it is actually the most effective in getting readers to subscribe. Logically, if your readers are already “friends” with you , they will be much more inclined to subscribe. How can you accomplish this? Go outside of your blog to social bookmarking websites and begin to get your name out.

The best methods for social bookmarking are commenting on other blogs, joining a networking community and being active on relevant forums. Commenting on other blogs is a mandatory part of my daily routine. Bloggers typically comment back on your blog site if they have noticed you are reading their stuff. Not only this, but you will be getting some valuable back links on their blogs! As far as networking communities, I recommend MyBlogLog. This is an easy way to set up a profile, just like Facebook or Myspace, and meet other bloggers who share your passion. Finally, become an active poster on forums relevant to your blog’s subject matter. A simple link in your forum signature can work wonders!

3. Be an Active Blog Poster
Post early, post often. Nobody is going to subscribe to your blog if they think you are lazy or just not passionate enough about what you do. I try to make an interesting post every day. If this seems like a long shot, just make sure that your posts are of high quality, not senseless ramblings (although those are fun too). Not only will your readers pick up on your interest, Google will! Google and other search engines take very kindly to websites that are updated often, and reward them with top search results. Post often, and you will not only captivate your current readers, you will draw more readers from around the internet.

4. Stick To Your Guns
Sticking to your niche topic is another important aspect of increasing your RSS subscriber number. People will be less likely to subscribe to a blog site that is posting a mess of information. In todays day and age, many people are using RSS Feed programs that collect all of their updated feeds daily for them in an organized way. Because of this, people like to narrow down their readings based on subject matter. No subject matter, no subscribers. Remember to start small in your focus, and expand gradually over time. If you start with too wide of a topic range, people will be confused as to what you are really about! Once established, build from there.

5. Bribe Your Readers
No, this isn’t illegal. Giving your readers a little extra incentive to subscribe to your RSS feed never hurt! Blog contests have become a HUGE source of added readers for some of the most popular blogs around. On my part, I started a month-long blog contest for March and have already seen my subscriber ranks increase threefold! There are essentially two ways to handle bribing. The first method is to do an all out contest that offers a prize to a random subscriber. In this way, people are encouraged to subscribe and read your blog. Another method of increasing your RSS feed through strategic bribery is to offer a free prize once subscribed, even something as simple as an eBook or WordPress theme.

That’s it for this week. Stick to these five methods (and expand upon them) and soon you will see your RSS feed count skyrocketing! Every blog needs some hard work, a little determination, and some elbow grease to get noticed across the blogosphere… but it is your job to get your name out! Me writing this guest post for my good friend Chetan is a key example of just how active you should be about increasing your subscriber numbers. Get out there and get noticed!

-The Net Fool

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