How to Get More Subscribers to Your RSS Feed or Email Newsletter

Building a large subscriber base is one of the best ways to market your online website, blog, or business. In this article, I'm going to show you a way to increase your subscriber count considerably. Don't miss out on this!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• an Internet connection
• a hosted website or blog
• an RSS reader

1. 
   subscriber landing page - Image by cambodia4kidsorg

   If you want to increase your RSS or email newsletter subscriber base, the first thing you MUST do is create a landing page for prospective subscribers.

2. 
   question mark - Image by Margaret Anne Clarke

   The purpose of the landing page is to make sure the user knows the WHATs, WHYs, and HOWs of subscribing to your RSS feed or newsletter.

3. 
   rss newsletter hat - Image by Robert Scoble

   What: Your landing page must clearly explain to the user, if necessary, just WHAT RSS is. Many avid web users are still unfamiliar with RSS, so we want to make sure they know what they are getting into.

4. 
   newsletter delivery - Image by kamshots

   Why: Your landing page must tell the user WHY he or she should subscribe to your RSS feed or email newsletter. What benefits does a subscription provide? Why is it better than simply visiting the site every once in a while?

5. 
   newsletter links - Image by ktylerconk

   How: Your landing page must clearly explain to the user HOW he or she can subscribe. You should have prominent links to your RSS feed(s) and an accessible email newsletter subscription form.

6. 
   15 minutes to riches - Image by 15minutestoriches.com

   For a good example of an effective subscriber landing page, see my site 15minutestoriches.com. Since adding this landing page to my site, and after employing the techniques that are described below, my subscriber count has gone through the roof! There is a link to my landing page in the Resources section of this article.

7. 
   shiny macbook - Image by jelene

   Once your landing page is set up, you are ready to begin your promotion efforts. After all, you want people to SEE this shiny new landing page you've created, right?

8. 
   google - Image by Yodel Anecdotal

   Subscribe to several blogs related to your niche in your favorite RSS reader (I recommend Google Reader) and comment on your favorite posts daily. When commenting, leave your subscriber landing page URL in the URL field.

9. 
   email newsletter - Image by derrickkwa

   Put a link to your subscriber landing page in your email signature(s). Take every opportunity to send emails to your target audience, but DON'T SPAM.

10. 
    social networks - Image by M. Keefe

    Put a link to your subscriber landing page on your social network profiles (Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, etc.). Additionally, if you have a Twitter account, tweet your landing page URL with a provocative tag line.

11. 
    graph - Image by kevinzhengli

    Watch your subscriber count increase considerably over the following months!

Tips & Warnings

• For your blog or website, write good content that is "sticky." This is what makes people want to come back, time and time again. These people will see the benefits in subscribing to your RSS feed or email newsletter.
• When you comment on other blogs, you are representing and promoting your brand. Be sure to check your spelling and grammar, and be careful not to offend your target audience.

Resources

• Good Example of a Subscriber Landing Page

[tnpos]

on 7/30/2009 Great tips and very well written! 5 and rec! P.E.A.C.E

[L1onherd]

on 2/16/2009 great article

[almondspecial]

on 1/23/2009 Great tips will be using them.Thank you

[lordkhomar]

on 1/16/2009 Good tip on explaining what RSS is, up until recently I had no clue, 5*

[MSmith]

on 1/12/2009 More new things to learn. Thanks for the info. 5*