Give Your Readers Options

Today I want to share with you one important tip that’ll help you get more subscribers: give your readers options.

Everyone follows blogs in different ways. Some swear by Bloglovin, while others may get their blogging fix via Facebook. If you’re focusing on only one, you’re limiting your audience. Having a variety of options doesn’t take much more time, but the results are worth it.

So what options should you give your readers?

RSS

If you have a blog, you already have an RSS feed. I suggest you sign up for Feedburner, which gives you tracking options. Once that’s set up, make sure you link to it on your sidebar or menu! You don’t know how many blogs I come across that do not have these links listed. Potential subscribers are not going to want to work to subscribe. Make it easy for them and they will!

Bloglovin

I personally don’t use Bloglovin, but I know a bunch of people that do. Create an account and then claim your blog. You’ll have to copy and paste some code into a new blog post, but once your blog has been verified, you can delete it. And again, make sure you have a link visible so people can actually subscribe!

Email

If you sign up for Feedburner, you’ll also have access to email subscriptions. Just enable them and copy and paste the code they give you in a sidebar or page. If you’re on Blogger, there’s a gadget you can place on your sidebar.

Twitter, Facebook, and Google+

Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ are great resources for notifying readers of new blog posts. While your RSS and Bloglovin feeds will automatically update, you’ll have to put more effort into updating your social media accounts. However, there are ways to have them automatically update when a new post is published, so if you’re not a fan of social media they can still work for you. I would suggest you take a little time and update them manually though. No one likes being spammed with links. Plus, you’ll have more success if you craft updates yourself.

GFC

I honestly hate GFC, but for many people it’s the preferred way of subscribing to Blogger blogs. Place the gadget on your sidebar and fellow GFC users can subscribe in one click. I know a lot of bloggers rely heavily on GFC for subscribers, but remember that not everyone uses it. Make sure you provide other options for non-GFC users.

Hello Cotton

Another great option is Hello Cotton. Sign up for an account, fill out your profile, and link your blog. Now people will be able to follow you and see your posts in their newsfeed. There is also a great section where you can discover new blogs. Make your way onto the popular page and you might even gain some new followers!

Once you’ve set up these methods of subscribing, please make sure you link to them in a highly visible space. It won’t do any good if no one knows these options are available. Also, be sure to keep your eyes open for other subscription options. I’m not saying you have to sign up for everything, but definitely check out various resources and see how they can benefit you. You want to be where your readers are, so if that means opening an account on another site, go for it. In most cases, there will be little effort involved, but the rewards have the potential to be great.

What is your preferred method for subscribing to blogs?