Are you Advertising your lack of Readers?
ADVERTISEMENTSMany bloggers use FeedCounter service to display their number of RSS Readers. While this is a good idea, it can be bad for bloggers with a feed count of say below 50. I have seen many bloggers use FeedCounter on the first day of starting their blog. I took a screenshot from a blog so that I can prove my point.
This is not a good strategy for keeping your readers. Do you think anyone would like to read a blog that no one else is reading?
Most of your first time visitors will never subscribe if they see a low number of RSS readers on your FeedCounter. So I suggest that you don’t place a FeedCounter on your blog until you have a feedcount of at least 50.
The same goes for TopBlogSites, Alexa Rank, Traffic statistics or anything that shows a count.
Once you start getting good traffic, you can place all these counters to bring in even more readers.
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Posted on September 19th, 2006 | Category: Blogging |
Yvonne
September 19, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Great point, John. I’d say it’s more advisable to not flash your low Feedburner count around, than it is to turn your comments off to make sure new visitors don’t realise no-one’s commenting on your posts :/
It’s a shame many of us judge the worth of a blog in these ways, but I won’t deny I do that a lot too.
John T P
September 19, 2006 at 6:13 pm
I won’t advice anyone to turn off comments just because they have low traffic. Readers may comment on your blog if you ask them for their opinion on the post. Just make sure you continue the conversation by replying to their comments.
If you want more comments on your blog, start by commenting on other related blogs.
menghua
September 19, 2006 at 6:20 pm
oops… i guess you are talking about my site right? okok.. i’ll try make some changes after this.. thanks
Kyle Eslick
September 19, 2006 at 9:32 pm
I too have noticed this on a lot of sites. While my reader count is above 50, I choose not to display my count publicly, as I’m not sure it really does any good.
It probably also depends on the bloggers opinion of what are alot of readers. For someone that does this for a living (or for income), under 100 isn’t many, but someone who blogs for fun, 10 may be alot.
Either way, I think you make some good points John!
John T P
September 19, 2006 at 9:47 pm
menghua - I am talking about all blogs with a feedcount less than 50
Cory
September 20, 2006 at 3:19 am
well what about Topsites that require the showing of buttons so that people can vote for the site so they can have a higher number?
still great post John.
John T P
September 20, 2006 at 3:26 am
I am talking about everything that shows a count.
MacStansbury
September 20, 2006 at 5:06 am
So, what you’re saying is, I need to get 15 more subscribers before I use the chicklet?
(this would be the saddest example of my fishing for subscribers, ever)
John T P
September 20, 2006 at 5:36 am
Other than content, many people judge by factors like the number of feed readers and comments before they subscribe to a blog, so it is better you don’t let your visitors know if you have a low number of feed readers.
Jason Drohn
September 20, 2006 at 7:05 am
John, this in no way is intended to blow up your post. I come here often and am always met with some great content.
First of all, Menghua, I apologize because you should not have been singled out. Doing something you enjoy doing is not a bad thing and you should never be chastised for it. We all start somewhere. Kudos to you for starting. So many people in this world say they are going to do something and then don’t back it up.
As far as everyone else, it is your site! Put all the buttons and ranks and anything else you want on there! If you don’t like that a button you have shows a low rank, try to increase it! It is as fun to find a blog that just starts and watch it climb the ranks as it is to find a great site that has been around forever. If you have good content, the traffic will come!
The reason you started writing was for your own personal benefit and expression. Keep it that way!
Yvonne
September 20, 2006 at 8:18 am
I think the post was more addressing those who’d like to keep readers sticking around for the long term. Like so:
:/
But speaking from personal experience, I showed my feed count from the start. Letting the world know I only had six readers didn’t seem to hurt at all. In the end, it’s really about writing good and regularly updated content.
Jason Drohn
September 20, 2006 at 8:28 am
Absolutely Yvonne. I totally agree with you. It truly is up to the blogger. I had the feedcount up the first day I started as well.
Shivaranjan
September 21, 2006 at 1:49 pm
I agree with you Jason. My feed count was also up from the day I started using feedburner.
Robert Irizarry
October 4, 2006 at 3:59 am
I have to agree with you John. Many people are influenced by seeing counts on sites. Zero counts or low counts are equated, consciously or subconsciously, with poor content regardless of subject matter or its popularity. If you blog on a niche subject, as I do, then I think these can do even more harm. We often have a short time to grab our reader’s attention and a counter that suggests low readership is just another prompt for the reader to move on.
Robert Irizarry
Anshul
December 6, 2006 at 1:11 pm
John
I disagree with this. BLog reading is not like having a car. Its not like I will not buy a swift as I dont like the design. A blog might have 10 readers but that does mean I will not get hooked on to it. You read a blog if you like the content and the presentation. Altho having 0 readers is kinda embarrasing.
ms.place
December 7, 2006 at 2:36 am
This is fantastic advice, which I will be sharing with people at work. We are investigating blogs as a group and have begun to create our own to see how they work.
I have a counter, and it now has over 3,000 hits after less than a month of activity.
I have commented on other blogs and linked sites of interest. 7 sites now link to my blog.
I have a regular readership.
I give my readers the courtesy of visiting their blogs and commenting.
I mix up the content of my blog, but I make sure to “feed” the interests of my regular readers.
Though my readership is steadily increasing, I hope to double it within two months.
I average from 1-5 comments on my posts. This is up from zero. I believe I receive comments on my inconsequential thoughts because I maintain a relationship with my readers.
This blog is a “practice” vanity blog. Once I determine my area of expertise, I will go for the gusto. Blogs that concentrate on one defined subject area seem to get the most exposure.
Advise like yours is valuable. You speak from experience, and I am going to try a few of your ideas.
Thanks!