Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

Are You Capturing Your Blog’s Leads?

February 12, 2009 | Feature, Marketing

The truth of the matter is that most bloggers SUCK at marketing. And, do you know what the biggest proof of that is?

Duh award They don’t capture their blog’s leads. And here I mean – an email list.

Too many bloggers concentrate on their blog traffic and the number of RSS subscribers they have. When asked about “subscribers” to their blog, they automatically think RSS subscribers.

When is the last time you saw an effective marketing campaign use RSS? Answer: Never.

Also, us bloggers think RSS is dirt simple and that everybody knows what to do with that big orange icon on your site. But, that isn’t true. An overwhelming majority of the people on the Internet have no CLUE what an RSS feed is, much less what to do with it.

Email, however, is the lowest common denominator of internet communication. EVERYBODY who is on the Internet (or damn close) has an email address and knows how to use it. Everybody who comes to your blog has an email address.

So, capture it!

If you’re already capturing email addresses into a mailing list, then pat yourself on the back and then get busy optimizing your opt-in rate and collecting more leads.

And if you’re not capturing leads, what are you waiting for?

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  • At last, somebody who's willing to stand up and be counted!

    I've never really "got" RSS, and agree that most people have no idea what it is, or how to use it (and probably me included).

    That's why we try to include an email subscription form on our various blogs, because "normal people" are more comfortable with this mechanism.

    I also suspect they're more likely to read what you send them as it took a little bit more commitment on their part (i.e. giving you their email address) in the first place.
  • Mmm... now that I think about it, it would seem absurd to think that everyone (let alone, half that is) using the Internet knows what RSS is.

    If only Aweber accepted PayPal...
  • I created a Subscribe Page on my blog that explains there are 2 ways to subscribe to my blog via email and via RSS feed. I have the email box right there and an explanation of how to use RSS. I also have the box to subscribe to my newsletters. I can tell from my stats that readers do click on this page and subscribe one way or the other. I highly recommend it. View my page as an example here:

    http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/subscribe-t...
  • Do you recommend a service like feedburner? or something better that you've found?
  • You just convinced me to make an email list. When i look at my RSS subscriptions, most of them are subscribed via email anyway.
  • This is a very nice Idea David, I agree with you 100%
  • I can't agree more.

    I like the feature of following a blog and having the update sent to my email. All too often I find a blog I am interesting in and only see the RSS feed. That is great but I am not running pipes but I am always checking my email.

    That is why all Quired built websites come with a follow feature that captures the email address of the follower. It is a must to help business owners build a valuable list. Marekting 101 isn't it?
  • I agree with you. Most people doesn't understand what is RSS feed exactly. They even don't know if they are already subscribed, where is the place to check the message.
    Email is a powerfull tool of communication.
    But today, many people also have a full of unread inbox.
    Do you have any idea how to make them read your email?
  • Do you have any tips into how exactly to convert your readers into subscribers? I've been slowly building my newsletter list over the past few months, but would love to hear your ideas on how to supercharge those sign ups.

    Thanks,
    Matt
  • Your right, most people do not have a clue what to with RSS. I was talking to friend the other day about wordpress. In the conversation, I brought up RSS feeds, of course I was met with a blank stare.
  • I totally agree, David. In my opinion, the people who subscribe to your email newsletter are the ones who REALLY follow you and your blog.

    Sure, Twitter is great and all but how many people follow other people just to have more people hopefully follow them?

    And RSS, it's my belief that Twitter will overtake RSS in the preferable way of "following" someone's blog.

    Great post!

    Wesley
    The Geek Entrepreneur
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