New to SITS? Welcome!! Go read this to get started.
Welcome to the weekly blogging tip and Saturday Sharefest comment game! This week I’m talking about why you should use Feedburner.
Your blog has an RSS feed so people can subscribe to it and read it in a feed reader, and using a service called Feedburner provides you with tools to make the most of your feed. (If you don’t know what an RSS feed is, check out RSS in Plain English.) Some of the benefits of using Feedburner include…
Keeping track of approximately how many subscribers you have. It’s smart to analyze the traffic and subscribers to your blog on a regular basis to help you see trends. But be aware that Feedburner does not provide an absolute number of subscribers. You might find that you have 30 subscribers one day and 70 the next day. How can that be? The number of subscribers Feedburner reports is the total number of individuals who requested your feed on a given day. Naturally, not everyone accesses their feed readers daily, so the number of subscribers fluctuates. For a more complete explanation, see this post by ProBlogger.
Ability to offer email subscription to your blog. Subscribers will get an email every time you publish a post. I don’t always get to open Google Reader everyday, so I have email subscriptions to the blogs that are most important to me.
Ability to change your feed location without losing your subscribers. This is especially useful if you migrate your blog from one platform to another (i.e. Blogger to WordPress), or if you start a whole new blog and want to keep the subscribers from your old blog. Your subscribers are following the Feedburner URL, so all you need to do is change the “feed source” in your Feedburner account and your followers will continue to get your posts from your new blog.
How To Burn Your Feedburner Feed
Here’s a nice video blog that demonstrates setting up a Feedburner feed.
Visit the site and log in with your Google account. Enter your blog’s URL next to “Burn a feed right this instant.” Click next, enter a name for your feed, and you’re all set.
Now you want to be sure your blog readers subscribe to your blog using the Feedburner feed – and ONLY the Feedburner feed. If you have links to both feeds available on your blog, some people might end up subscribing with your original Blogger or WordPress feed, and this will result in an inaccurate estimate of your blog subscribers. Here’s how to do it:
- Under the “Publicize” tab in Feedburner, click on the Chicklet Chooser. Select the little orange RSS button (big or small – your choice) and then scroll to the bottom of the page and copy the HTML code. Go into your blog’s sidebar widgets and either add the code from Feedburner. I recommend you put this at the very top of your sidebar.
- Go to your Blogger dashboard and click on Settings > Site Feed. Enter your Feedburner feed (something like http://feeds.feedburner.com/yourfeedname ) where it says “Post Feed Redirect URL.” Be sure to click Save Settings! If you’re a Blogger user, be sure to read “5 Tips to Enhance Your Blogger Blog with Feedburner.”
- WordPress users can use the FD Feedburner plugin.
There are a lot of other useful tools available through Feedburner. I recommend activating the following:
- Under the “Optimize” tab: Activate the Browser Friendly, SmartFeed, and FeedFlare options .
- Under the “Publicize” tab: Activate Email Subscriptions and FeedCount options.
Now, let’s play a game! Here are the rules for the SITS Saturday Sharefest:
- Leave a comment here with a link to one of your best blog posts (or just your main URL if you prefer).
- After you leave your comment, visit the link of the person who commented BEFORE you.
- Comment on their post and be sure to say “Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest” in your comment.
Now, go leave some comments! And please visit my blog, Mom Improvement.
SITS Girls Bloggy Boot Camp now has tickets available for the Phoenix and San Francisco events!
Want to subscribe to SITS and get an email each time we post? Just click here.
And, as always, when you see this:
LEAVE A COMMENT.
Glad the work day is over! Boy is it warm outside.
.-= Lauren´s last post: Q&A with Jennifer Erin Valent, Author of Fireflies in December =-.
I am happy to say that its’ a glorious warm spring day in FL!!
.-= Anita´s last post: St Patrick’s Day Wordless Wednesday =-.
I finally set up an email feed option. Wish I would have done that a lot sooner!
.-= Melissa @Cellulite Investigation´s last post: "Dear Cellulite, …" =-.
Thanks for the tips!
its all good
Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
It is my 15 yr anniversary today, and we are going out for dinner,
plus kids. Oh well
.-= cyndejolene´s last post: Where did the week go? =-.
Happy Saturday!
I hope everyone is enjoying their day! It’s super sunny here.
Still trying to figure out the whole feedburner thing. Read my latest post http://alisonagnew.blogspot.com/2010/03/frugal-wall-art.html
Feedburner makes a bit more sense now. I’m still not sure if I’m going to use it, but now I know how to if I decide on it!
.-= Ms. Pony´s last post: This is a vase, right? =-.
Happy Saturday!! Enjoy your weekend!! Working today, but can’t wait for Tomorrow!!
And Next weekend- Pumpkin’s 1st Birthday Party!!
.-= lindsay garrett´s last post: Look. =-.
I’m having an awesome giveaway from singer/songwriter Sara Lynn. http://zaftigdelights.blogspot.com
.-= Sandie Russo´s last post: Meet Singer/Songwriter Sara Lynn ~ Review & Giveaway! =-.
I’m having an awesome giveaway from singer/songwriter Sara Lynn on my blog.
)
http://zaftigdelights.blogspot.com
.-= Sandie Russo´s last post: Meet Singer/Songwriter Sara Lynn ~ Review & Giveaway! =-.
I am brand new to blogging (2 weeks old), but loving it. I am also loving all the advice here. Come check me out!
makingitworkmom.blogspot.com
I really need to learn more about this. I have no clue what a RSS feed is and don’t currently use one. I need to go read RSS Feed for Dummies! Happy Saturday everyone!!
.-= Michelle aka GirlyGirlBead´s last post: Statement necklaces – what do you think? =-.
This is a great post! Really good info!
.-= Kim@SoManyKids´s last post: Goodnites Bedtime Theater Review and Giveaway =-.
Happy SITS Sharefest ladies!
Trying to tweak my feedburner now, it’s doing my head in but I shall keep on keepin’ on!
Stop by and show me some love
x
.-= Holly Homemaker´s last post: FlogYoBlog Friday Babyyy! =-.
Hi all! So excited that I just opened my Etsy shop! Come take a gander!
new EtsyNameSpace.Mini(9566078, ‘shop’,'thumbnail’,4,1).renderIframe();
Happy Saturday!
Ladies:
I’ve been told that I’m having issues with leaving comments on my blog. Would you please stop by and say hi to see if it’s now working properly?
Thanks,
Katie
.-= k´s last post: chandelier made of 14,000 tampons =-.
Happy Saturday from Sunny Brazil! Yay for the weekend
Tanya
http://www.thelocal.com.br/
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest! I hope you’re all having a good day.
http://1seakell.blogspot.com/
.-= Niki´s last post: Email warning. Change your passwords! =-.
Saturday’s nearly over girls, roll on Sunday lunch!
In fact I have a question, do you Americans have Sunday Lunch, as in roast beef, yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, gravy? Not sure… maybe you go out, or is Sunday Lunch not a big thing your end? Love a very confused Brit.
.-= Millennium Housewife´s last post: Things I Have Said To My Husband Today =-.
I’m so glad it is Saturday! And the sun is even shining! Yay!
Happy Saturday from Sunny Brazil!
Yay for me.. I just installed my feedburner 2 weeks ago, now if I could only figure it all out! Thanks for all the advice here.
Tanya
http://www.thelocal.com.br/
Thanks for all the awesome info!
.-= Krysten´s last post: Globetrotting =-.
Good info-I have so much to learn about all of this!
Happy weekend, everyone!
.-= BethanyS´s last post: Thursday Thoughts =-.
HappY Saturday from Sunny Brazil!
Yay for me .. I just installed feedburner 2 weeks ago, now I just have to figure it all out!
Tanya
http://www.thelocal.com.br/
As someone who doesn’t even use a feed reader this was very imformative.
Decoybetty.com
Thanks so much for posting this on RSS, I’ve never understood the point of it before. Guess I need to get this soon!
Lots of free MP3 Downloads, coupons and freebies at Super Saturday Savings on the blog today!
.-= Heather @ Check Out The Fabulous´s last post: Super Saturday Savings!! =-.
I haven’t considered Feedburner yet. Thanks for the info!
.-= Bekah´s last post: Totally Fabulous =-.
Happy Saturday from snowy Missouri!
.-= Janet´s last post: It’s Like I Have ESPN or Something =-.
We’re enjoying the nicest weekend yet this year down here in SC! Happy Saturday ladies!!
.-= Jenn´s last post: Forcing cats to be cute, gardening, and other things =-.
Thanks for the post about Feedburner. I appreciate it.
Virginia
.-= Virginia from Lady V dZine´s last post: Aloha! =-.
The MIL is now gone. Let the weekend begin.
Now, I got the post for today… Mojito time
Cheers to all
.-= The Garden Bell´s last post: Aren’t MILs Fun….. =-.
Can’t wait to read a bit more about feedburner. I didn’t really know how it works, although I have the option on my blog.
Happy Saturday!
.-= Tammy´s last post: Starbucks Giveaway begins Monday! =-.
Good advice on Feedburner. I have it on my blog but don’t understand it much. And I wondered why the numbers change so drastically each day!
.-= Cashier´s last post: Step Away From the Doughnuts =-.
I appreciate these posts that explain things so well!
.-= Richella´s last post: Weekend fun =-.
Having a great weekend… weather is nice (for the time being) and getting outside is great!
.-= Kim @ seven thirty three´s last post: So Teenage Angst-y (and a Winner) =-.
What? Am I late?
.-= Birdie´s last post: I’ll Fly Home To You =-.
How’s Saturday been so far for everyone? It’s not over yet… there’s still some time to have fun!
Hugs!
Paloma.
.-= Paloma´s last post: Time traveling… to the past! =-.
Twitter: editorialicious
says:
So beautiful today – and we finally figured out how to use our wrap in the back with the baby. So a nice long walk to the beach and not a stroller in sight!
.-= Christa´s last post: In Honor of Paloma’s 10th Tooth (An Upper Molar), A Photo Series =-.
So glad to see spring start to appear!! Robins, warm weather and no more snow!! Yippiee! We’re going to be getting geared up for Easter soon on our website!! Stop by often! Have a super weekend gals!
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!!!
Twitter: MelanieFoust
says:
I’m running late as I’ve been at a wedding all day! Hope you’ve had a great Saturday.
I won my first award today! Swing by to check it out!
.-= Deconstructed Life – Fashion and Beauty from a Gritty City´s last post: Award Time! =-.
i spent all day making fake infomercial videos with my sister. now…i can roll call. rock out!
http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/2010/03/ghetto-rigging.html
I need to look into Feedburner for sure!
.-= liz´s last post: A Snot-Be-Goner =-.
Happy Saturday! Thanks for the FeedBurner tips!
.-= Lindsay @ Kids Are Teachers´s last post: Into the Wild a.k.a. My Backyard =-.
Happy SITs Saturday Sharefest:-)
http://susieshomemade.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-make-sit-upon.html
FINALLY! The weekend! Woohoo… any plans?
Twitter: MommieDaze
says:
I’m late today. Happy Saturday!
.-= Mommie Daze´s last post: Are You a Closet Phineas and Ferb Fan? =-.
Happy Saturday Sharefest!
This is one of my favorite posts…
In spite of the fact that I totally had to humiliate myself to write it.
There Wasn’t Even Room For J-E-L-L-O!
It’s been a busy Saturday for our family. I’m so glad to be in my bed wearing my pajamas.
.-= hotpants´s last post: Giveaway Winner, Target Pervert & more =-.