How to Increase RSS Subscriber Visitors Traffic For Your Blog

Need for a Feed: Feedburner - More Blog Reader Subscriptions

Image by Scouter: Nice day to Canoe In Canada

Many blog and web site visitors may have noticed the RSS symbol and it's associated "subscribe in a reader" or by e-mail, to easily allow visitors to sign up and therefore easily receive updates of articles or posts. In an earlier post (Blog Promotion For Bloggers - Many Avenues), I touched a little on burning a feed with Feedburner, where a blog/site's feeds are syndicated to a online or stand alone alone feed reader (e.g. My Yahoo, Google Reader, and many others).

I'm sure many bloggers, would like to increase their subscriptions to their blog, to gain a bit of satisfaction and perhaps a authority on their topics within their blog. But to increase visitors to subscribe, a couple of techniques need to be actively employed. It's not only getting visitors interested about your blog's topics, but to get them to comeback or at least remain attached through subscriptions. I think serious bloggers blog perhaps with passion, therefore to share that passion, hopefully forever, by trying to increase subscribers to your blog or web site.

First, and as noted by many bloggers, is to write good content, ideally well researched, with originality, and try to connect to your readers. Establish a communication platform where you are conversing directly with your readers. This might require a good command of vocabulary that is easy, but helpful for readers to comprehend. Highlight in bold important (to you) terms, and add some relevant links. Maybe ask the readers for their thoughts or ideas (for the comments section). It's about yourself trying to project a bit of personality that hopefully appeals to your visitors.

It's a good idea to offer free items that are related to your blog, like e-books on tutorials, articles, information, etc, and in my case, links to freeware, listed below. Some blogs offer guest writing contests for prize money, or a link to your blog. One such blog is Joe Tech. Here, he offers prizes, from a pool to guest write on his blog. Visitors are likely to appreciate you, if you offer something relevant and helpful, hence increasing their likelihood to subscribe. Maybe ask your visitor to specifically subscribe with a soft note e.g "Do subscribe if you enjoyed this post". You need to leave a visible link to make it effortless to actually subscribe, perhaps at the bottom of each post and along the top, as in this blog.

Display your popular or top posts, (visit RSS aide for html top posts code), categories (with links), and perhaps image map information widgets (showing visitor location - see sidebar map, numbers of visits, etc). Anything to make visitors easily navigate to other posts that may interest them, and that real visitors have visited your blog. Maybe include the number of subscribers, once you believe you have enough visitors that you feel comfortable with. Having such items and widgets is to truthfully convey a sense of meaningful posts, that have interested past visitors - hopefully enough to interest current visitors and to increase subscribers for your blog. Any suggestions to increase subscribers? If so, then do post a comment...

Related Links -

Read How to Increase Visitors to Your Blog (My 36 Methods)
What is RSS and why care?
How Feedburner adds up subscriber numbers (Interesting theory on calculating real subscriptions)
Find subscriber count on a given day (by typing code in your browser address bar)

pcsourcepoint - Freeware, Internet News and NZ links

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How to Increase RSS Subscriber Visitors Traffic For Your Blog

How to Add Navigational Rounded Blogger Menu Bar

Menu Bar For Blogger - Might pay to display...

In a recent post Blogger Template Changes, I decided to add a navigation menu bar from following the excellent tutorial in beta blogger for dummies. You basically upload a image (actually two) of a navigation image menu bar (I hosted for free on Google Pages), create posts (as displayed below this post) which are linked to the menus. Then edit the html a little in the blogger template (Note: Back Up you current template by downloading it first) and add a long piece of javascript code in the html/javascript element boxes with the associated post and image links. Then publish to view your navigation bar.

Though a bit time consuming, depending on the number of posts (and hence menu bar links) with it's information, including setting up multiple links, photo's, etc, per post, it is reasonably straight forward. Though a black bar mysteriously appeared, it was easily removed by editing out it's code line in the javascript code. So with care, you might have to edit that code a little to modify things a little to your liking, or perhaps e-mail the author (Vin) for help.

Of course you can add your own html table like navigation bar if you want, rather than above, but unless you know how to create smooth rounded bars as above, then the above tutorial might be the way to go. Having such a bar at the top will hopefully attract visitors to click on the menus to visit other resources, which may be of interest to them. Perhaps you might have an alternative procedure for adding a navigation bar to a blogger template - then let me know in the comments section...

Visit Vin's blog, which has a massive range of easy to read blogger hacks, scripting, template, adsense, Google, and social optimization tutorials to enhance your blogger blog...

pcsourcepoint - Freeware, Internet News and NZ links

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How to Add Navigational Rounded Blogger Menu Bar

Free Blog Layout Templates For Bloggger Blogs

Modify a Blogger Template Blog - Enhancement...

Experimenting with html and java script codes of Google's standard Blogger template for your blog can produce a more effective web site appearance. Currently only about 15 templates are available with the Blogger platform. To create a more web site appearance might portray a more streamlined semi-professional look. There are a few helpful tutorial sites that can help you achieve modifications to create a web site appearance for your blogger template.Image from stock.xchng - Darkdog - Buildings of the Ciudad de las artes y la ciencias, Valencia (Spain)

Blog template tutorials causes you to immerse yourself within the layout and codes structure within the template. Hence you get a better understanding (with patience and care) behind the scenes. Important - Backup your template in Blogger under the html section, by downloading your template file; Perhaps also backup online at blog backup online, a useful service. Also use preview within the Blogger layout section, before saving a modified template.

Tutorials such as: tips for new bloggers, blogger for dummies, blogger tricks, and the eye appealing blogger buster, all have all been very useful in teaching me to modify and enhance for free my blogger template layout. (If you know other tutorial sites - then please inform in the comments section). Sure, time consuming for modifying and testing, but worthwhile and perhaps pleasing or challenging to achieve a better blog appearance. Also, many sites have free Blogger templates that you can download and apply to you blog such as final sense and blogger-templates. Many Blogger template blogs are converted to the three column templates, and some good tutorials from the above links demonstrate how to do this.

Though, many blogger based sites are often relatively easy to notice (even a bit plain), there are some that look like the more advanced wordpress sites. This is often because wordpress templates have been imported in to the blogger template (or extensive script editing has been applied), such as from this site - dzelque. Template layouts also represent certain themes, e.g. for technology, marketing, advertising, etc, making it easier to instantly apply a preferred theme, without any or little blogger template script editing.

It’s not only the overall blog layout and appearance, but ideally select customization of the main post area, sidebars, header, and footer sections, which all can be modified independently. The Bloggers template layout section can initially help by adding elements (including html/java script element), but modifying the template code, and perhaps applying Feedburner optimization attributes can significantly enhance the blog's overall template - i.e. appearance to online visitors.

Additionally, it’s also important to optimize your free blogger blog template for actual visitor interaction, e.g. user-friendly subscription, appealing category layout, inclusion of post summaries, photos, links, visitor widgets (common with MyBlogLog), and so on. Appearance is important (i.e. looks with functionality), but so is the content, possible monetization, and how to effectively promote a blog…

Related post: How to Increase Visitors to Your Blog (My 39 methods)

Free Blog Layout Templates For Bloggger Blogs

What Widgets For Blogs and Web Sites

Web Widgets For Current Information - Instant Services...
Image From Stock.xchng by lusi

Lately I have been embedding web widgets, a small web based application of html/javascript codes, into this blog, and some of my social sites, such as my profile in myspace, and in mylot. Widgets can be of different forms, from small button types (e.g. Digg It, or del.icio.us, and blog directories images, etc), sizable advertisements (e.g. Google Adsense) to the more visually attractive larger banners and boxes. Widgets can display all sorts of current information - weather forecasts, world news, technology news, specific web site topics, web site statistics, world times, etc. Generally they display services or items of a global nature, or specific information within blogs, web sites, and profiles pages of social sites, forums, and other web based avenues.

Many widgets are customizable, in terms of colors, sizes, borders, titles, and even display recent thumbnails of recent signed up member visitors such as in mybloglog and blogcatalog widgets (as in this blog). Hence widgets can add a feeling of user- interactivity (or maybe worthiness for me) for blog owners, by displaying useful information, such as visitor numbers, countries, and by offering useful informational services to visitors. Some news sites, have a"rolling" type flash based widget, with current news posts rolling down or across - all in one spot. This saves the reader to navigate through the page or site, - so it's effective in this respect.

I know I have had more visitors to this blog (using Google Analytics) from my mypace profile, due to the effectiveness of widgets - they display the updated blog posts, with pictures and a subscription rss feed button. Feedburner, the enhancement for blogger based blogs, allows you to add such banner type widgets and rss buttons to inform visitors of the associated blog content. It's a good avenue to promote a blog or website. Increasingly becoming common are Youtube Video widgets, that are appearing in many blogs. Again, a focused method to attract and retain readers, as are the new widget based elements for the blogger layout template.

To get a widget, you copy the code from the relevant site, e.g. feedburner, youtube, or widgetbox, etc, and then place it in your blog or site. Though there might be only specific sections within social sites or blog platforms (e.g. html boxes, or element boxes), which might add a little difficulty in terms of exact placement. It's probably a good idea not too add too many widgets, because it will increase the download time for a site. Also I found, some widget codes can be quite long, and hence it's a good idea to create a table, then place the codes inside, particularly if adjacent widgets are to be implemented. This well help keep the codes isolated from other html codes that are present, and perhaps make them more visually presentable...

What Widgets For Blogs and Web Sites

Blog Promotion For Bloggers - Many Avenues

Promoting your Blog: Quality Content - Then more...
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
With Christmas gone, and too much eating food from a traditional hangi (where food is steamed cooked in the ground) and consuming alcohol, blogging was on the back of my mind. All in good spirits though (Drank some as well!). In between over consumption, I have been spiriting in another direction: Trying to enhance and promote this blog through various means, which involved learning and applying different techniques.

Techniques such as html editing for template changes, to attempt to produce a more modern web like look. This also involved photo additions, forum contributions, social profile customization, and article and blog directory submissions. Though with the blogger template, it seems more techniques and implementation are required for enhancement, compared to its main rival the component and feature rich Wordpress. Perhaps Wordpress for me will come at a later time.

But for now, some useful sites to help blogger blogs are its feedburner components (There are several components to help optimize and publicize), web sites such as new tips for bloggers and blogger tips - tricks. Then blog submission to article directories, such as Go Articles and Article Dashboard. Also submission to blog directories, like blogengage and top of blogs. Perhaps directories help exposure in terms of valuable back or inbound links, but I'm not sure of their total value as of now. Though some of my articles have been used on other sites, with a reference or link to this blog. Perhaps their value as a link will realize itself later - maybe.

In an earlier post I talked about the use of forums, and after participation I have had a lot of visitors to this blog and other sites of mine. One forum I have just joined is the excellent bloggeries forum. This exposed me to the directories, and great friendly blog tips and ideas. But of course it takes time, as you have to constantly participate with quality replies and questions or discussions.

It also helps to visit and subscribe to other blogs to get content and template format ideas, and also to leave genuine thoughtful comments if possible. This may help to get visits from others that comment. I have also requested a few link exchanges from sites a bit similar in content to mine, but with a higher page rank and presumably more authority and value. Have to wait and see.

Finally I have enhanced and added more information of my profile pages at social sites such as mylot and myspace. Basically this involved adding html tags, photo’s, and banners, to attract forum members to easily visit this blog and my other sites. Again, plenty of effort at times is required for blogging, forum participation, and template customization. Therefore it makes sense to extend that effort by promoting one's profile at social sites and forums - only if you want more exposure and visitors for your blog. Blogging for some is meant to engage your readers, but if you want readers (and possibly subscribers) you have to be proactive to attract them…and to retain them…

Blog Promotion For Bloggers - Many Avenues

Blog Quality Comments - Generate a Back Link

Comments: Contribute effectively-
If you want to increase links to your blog/web site, it might pay to leave thoughtful comments at other blogs, that preferably relates to yours. Many blogs allow you to leave a link to yours. I have had visits to my blog or web site by leaving comments. It pays to leave a thoughtful comment that relates to the content or topic of the post, and that you perhaps relate or respond to other comments within that post. Try to expand on the theme of the post either by adding useful suggestions, or even queries to that post, but don't be shy to say what you really want to say.

Rather than say "What a great post - you have given me new ideas" could be re-sentenced as "What a great post - you have given me new ideas, but what about No. 1 idea - will that be effective if I ....? or can I do this as well?... If you want to compliment in a comment, that's fine, but it could be made a bit more worthwhile by expanding it a bit. This could indicate that you are genuine in wanting to know more or perhaps you already know more, and hence you could at least induce a response from the blogger, or others that are commenting. This is more likely to cause the blogger or others commenting to click on your link (They might think - "I never thought of asking that" or "That's a good point" - Who is this Guy?).

So it's having quality relevant expanded comments, possibly with your queries (using "but" or "what about") to relay a sense of knowledge or wanting knowledge, is more likely to create another response to you, possibly resulting in a blog link visit. You could then subscribe to that blog and others and participate more actively, within the comments section.

Blog Quality Comments - Generate a Back Link

Forums - Make Use Of Them

Forums...Learn and Maybe Earn
I have just rejoined forums after a few years, which I now realize is quite beneficial to learn and help others to learn. If you feel you can help others, them perhaps do so, or if you have questions relating to certain things (e.g. Computers, Internet, Electronics, etc), or perhaps just want to express yourself, then join up to a forum. Many forums today have various categories that should be relevant to your needs - i.e. something for everybody, including a "venting" or general topics forum.

Many allow you to promote your blog/web site as a link and in your profile. Many profile areas allow you to enhance them with html editing, templates, photos, avatars and so on. You can also make friends in some forums, and often a forum are a subset of the popular network sites such as Myspace. So to expand your knowledge, friendship globally (which has benefits), and to contribute your ideas and thoughts - then sign up to a forum such as Mylot . This is a quality forum site, where you can get paid for posting and responding to posts. It also has a blogging section as well. It's worth a visit...



Also visit my Mylot profile:

http://mylot.com/pcsourcepoint

Forums - Make Use Of Them

Internet Activities - Changing Face to Earn Online

Internet usage it seems, has changed by long time users and the introduction of thousands of new users. Many are now getting more involved in finding ways of making money, particularly with Google's adsense and affiliate programs. I'm sure there is a huge uptake for those ads, and many others. All you need is good quality well researched, possibly unique content to attract readers and to make them return to your blog/web site.
Additionally, internet users are looking and signing up for paid post/response forums, paid surveys, email click, pay for clicks, stock photography sites, and so on. Of course there are those who are involved in direct online selling and marketing of their own services and/or items. Now with the popularity of free blog platforms, web editors, host sites, etc, it is possible to make money on your own blog/web site. But this means promoting, customizing, and optimizing, amongst other factors of your blog/web for maximum effect to attract readers and therefore hopefully a realistic income stream.
These factors will of course take time, a new train of thought, new skills perhaps (for design and enhancement components - e.g. rss feeds, search forms, etc). This will involve time, passion, and the belief to reach your goal, again over a long time. One way is to subscribe to popular blogs to get fresh ideas to help you on you way, as this is what I do. I'm sure there's a ton of well presented knowledgeable blogs out there to enhance your mission to learn and hence to gain more...
One such blog I subscribe to is skelliewag This site has a wealth of articles on content creation marketing, writing tips and much more. So it's worth a read!

Internet Activities - Changing Face to Earn Online

Extended Web Beginner...To Blogs...

Earlier, I had written a small piece about how easy and more proactive it is to get more involved in the internet through blogging, social sites, free host sites, etc. It also seems to be quite popular - i.e. more active bloggers and social network users than ever. I certainly have read some quite interesting blogs related to blog optimization, monetization emphasis, effective advert placements and so on. ..

Many popular blogs in the above categories appear to be written by talented or experienced, focused individuals whom produce most useful sites such as dosh dosh, skelliewag, and marceilbeck to name a few. I have read many other useful blogs about blog optimization. Perhaps it is great that they exist - and more importantly that they continue to exist. Well for one, I have comprehended and applied some of their advice and tips to help improve my internet site...

It is easy for some to blog - if you have experience, and know how to cleverly construct pertinent content (without any real experience in a particular academic or practical field) then you could be made - much like a potential prize winning poet or novelist. Thus your blogs could appeal to the masses. Hopefully this is what I am trying to do by writing mainly about numerous software programs that I have used!

Extended Web Beginner...To Blogs...

Gadgets For Goods... From Google...

Goods From Gadgets...
Simply nice and informative the Google gadgets. Many of them are customized mini info and search boxes that can be easily integrated within a web site with codes that are copied and pasted from Google's web master tools site. They will possibly appeal to visitors if the gadgets are relevant with the site's content, or perhaps still appeal if they are not relevant. Hence the gadgets may project more attractiveness and information than any embedded advertisements or other visual or text content within the site. The gadgets may be too good for visitors - They may become the "ads" to focus and click through and hence bypassing the site's content and any valid advertisements.

Thus there may be a bit of a initial visual conflict with informational link based ads, particularly if they look similar to linked based gadgets. This means perhaps, that the gadgets need to be selected and placed carefully within a site to try to exclude or minimize any appeal relative to any advertisement's present. Many of the gadgets are updated regularly - news, tech blocks, currencies, etc which will also account for their appeal. The use of gadgets and ads need to be readily identified, analyzed in the context of a site, and situated strategically so as to ideally compliment one another...

I have added a couple of gadgets to my Computer - New Zealand based site, which I believe fit in adequately...

Cheers,

Kahawai Chaser, pcsourcepoint
Visit My web site for Computer Freeware links and popular New Zealand Internet Site links

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Gadgets For Goods... From Google...

Web Beginner

So much easier today to design to create and host a web page today. For years I was always hesitant, as only thought it was for the real web designers - but now with providers like myspace, yahoo geocities, hosting sites, free templates, editors (frontpage), internet tutorials, and so, it is now easier than ever.
This is good for many. Now one can reach (or hope to) the world with their own web space, blog, or site. Trouble is, your space can easily get buried with the masses.. I did a google search on some computer terms, and results are in their millions. But at least you are out there if you want to be found, and what you have to offer is the thing. Otherwise one's site could be just another thing, say like hidden page in a pile of magazines - but never mind there's always someone else's site or blog to browse through that may offer more. That's why I am at this blog site...It's refreshing to say the least...

Web Beginner