Total Followers 132,503
I’ve heard a lot of people constantly struggling to increase their RSS subscriber count. But before complaining often people aren’t aware there are few very well reasons for such things happening. In this post I wanted to take a research on many different, design related blogs and investigate their best practices how to use RSS buttons, where to place them, how to stand out and make that RSS button easy to notice and use.
First of all you must write regular, valuable and unique content to get attraction! No one likes to read the same stuff over and over again, because they now how and where to get good information. Also don’t write one day about Windows media player and next day about tips how to attract women – have a clear focus, so you can attract people directly interested in your topic and would want to subscribe in return to get more.
Through investigating all those blogs I came to several tips what you could do to increase your RSS subscriber count:
Usually RSS button can be found on the top right area, which in my opinion is definitely the best practice. When I am visiting blogs I like, I always look on top right for RSS button and rarely I don’t find it there! Don’t forget about using catchy RSS icon or maybe use textual RSS subscriber count instead of default one.
Place RSS button somewhere near logo or above the header, so people would be able to recognize subscribe button right away!
Yes, you’ve got one RSS button on the top right of your blog, but still there are people, who want some more advanced features or even they don’t know what the heck is RSS! Use words instead of just plain RSS icons in the more descriptive way. Offer people subscription through e-mail and it is great practice to also create separate RSS page, explaining to other visitors, what RSS stands for!
This tip is one of the most important ones. You must think like new visitor- let’s say it’s the first time you visit blog, read some article you take interest in and after finishing reading it, you think about what to do next? You can scroll through related posts, read comments, but one thing you’ll notice will be RSS subscribe button – asking to you “If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to our RSS feed for FREE!!!”. For example, if I would be new reader on that blog, I enjoyed article I read through, I would definitely click on that button and subscribe! All you need to do there is ask and present proposal in eye-catchy way to grab that moment of attention!
I also like using word FREE, because some of the visitors don’t understand this RSS thing so well and word free definitely grabs attention!
Now scroll through all those many different practices and see how it looks on other popular sites. Of course, you always must think about your design and layout dividing accents and colors in smart, professional and good looking way. It is also good practice to use also heatmaps after some time when you change new design to see how design and placements works out for your visitors!
Problogger website as professional it is, there are very good “Subscribe to Problogger” section. You have all the most important features there – Subscribe button, individual page explaining what RSS is, if you do not know it yet, Twitter button and subscribe via email field. Everything in one place and above the fold, very good example.
Very good solution, subscribe background is in grungy orange color and above the fold top right placement. When you mouseover RSS feed you also can see textual message how many subscribers there are.
I think this is one of the best solutions, where little RSS button is on top right section, which is easy to find. But also in sidebar you’ll find Updates section, where you can see how many RSS readers there are and again with option to subscribe.
RSS icon in Speckyboy’s blog is extremely small, but on dark background that orange icon really stand out!
Very clear RSS message with different subscription options all in one place.
Top right and above the fold as expected – very clear message, for advanced options there are extra RSS buttons in footer.
Notice how only thing in sidebar with dark orange background is RSS subscribe section, which makes it great, yet subtle accent since every article title is styled the same way.
Something a little bit different, though I think it would be better if at least mouseover would be in orange RSS descriptive way.
Just mouseover RSS feed button and get advanced feed options.
Unique 3D RSS box and really nice rollover effect and good thing is RSS button is easily observable.
Here you’ll find RSS butons in two places as well – I think it’s a really good habit.
Simply a little bit lifted out RSS button creating subtle and elegant accent.
Dark background and three bright buttons easily approachable and understandable!
Dirty grunge style design with interesting approach, where RSS subscribe button is sort of combined together with logotype.
One of the rare examples where RSS buttons aren’t in above the fold section, but somewhere middle. Different approach also not by using classic orange color, but green one.
Very good example with two RSS buttons, where first two links on the top are in orange color, describing RSS and also there is counter to see how much people actually have been subscribed.
Scroll down the page, but RSS button always hang on top right welcoming new readers to subscribe.
There are two RSS button placements on this site as well. Above the fold and in sidebar!
Sometimes with such small RSS icon can be enough.
Everything in this site is really gorgeous and professional, but I really think they should create those RSS, Twitter buttons more appealing in order to get more subscribers. I like rollover though.
On the left side Adii keeps the most important things like logo, description, projects and welcoming RSS subscribe button which is light grey standing out on the dark background.
I consider this as good RSS displaying way – simple options and button above the fold and scrolling a little bit down, you’ll get to expanded RSS options, explanation link what RSS is and actual subscriber count!
Get The Only Freelancer crash course you will ever need to read!
Dainis Graveris is 23 years old blogger and designer, founder of 1stWebDesigner, now more silently managing everything behind the scenes. He usually hangs out in Twitter tweeting design related links and chatting with people. If you have any questions or feedback that's the best place to start! Cheers!
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 11:45
Hello I just want to ask you if it is okay to add my rss feeds on forum signature? Can I attract subscribers on it?
Monday, June 28th, 2010 23:55
A great resource. Stumbling it.
But where can i find some good looking feed counters? and how can i set them in a category menu (nav menu)?
best wishes…
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 23:51
Haven’t seen this list before. Really nice list. Thanks a lot for including Paintbits Dainis. :)
Monday, January 25th, 2010 17:03
Great post I will be making changes to my blog in the up coming weeks and will be using this post when it come time for the rss.
thanks!
Saturday, December 12th, 2009 11:04
In my opinion rss should be place after the post and in the sidebar. Which is very often display and more visible to readers.
Monday, November 16th, 2009 21:20
Impressive and cool. I like the designs of buttons. Thanks
Friday, November 13th, 2009 16:29
Very good tips! They actually gave me some pretty good ideas about rearranging my blogs RSS icons. Thanks!
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 19:04
Lol, how did you manage to turn a guide into a roundup?
Monday, November 2nd, 2009 19:47
Great tips, the most annoying thing in the world is to find a great blog and then to have to hunt around the whole site for the RSS feed. This happens a lot more times than you would think.
Friday, October 30th, 2009 07:24
thanks for the info…I have now added another more visible button since my main button is a little hidden for a new blog reader to recognize.
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 20:05
I have seen a lot of creativity for the subscribe button. Thanks for this exhaustive list.
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 18:18
My 2 cents also try to add RSS feed before post, use wp greet wordpress plugin to welcome your readers…. and let them subscribe to feeds :-)
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 03:16
Do you think it is necessary to show the no. of subscribers on blog?
Because if ones blog has only few subscribers it will give a wrong impression to others that his blog is not active, or not interesting…etc.
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 02:20
I have heard of Noupe and Smashing Magazine before but not many of the others.
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 07:01
Excellent. This Post is put together well. I think the simpler the better for RSS buttons. If it is “over designed”, the link could be missed as it won’t be identifiable.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 22:50
There are many, many ways of configuring an to look and feel of your rss subscription button for maximum appeal. You have given me a lot to consider in that regard and indicated a ton of ways it may be done citing some great examples.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 18:52
Not quite sure this qualifies as 53 best practices, versus 50 examples of how people link to their RSS. ;-) Regardless, I enjoyed it. Hoping you’ll have a follow up about how to get more RSS subscribers through off-site means (I mean how to drive them to your site by doing things not on your site). You could have the most awesome RSS button and placement but if readers don’t get the extra push to subscribe or have some sort of call-to-action then it kind of falls flat.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 19:44
Really good find. Lot of work there. Added to bookmarks.
And it`s one interesting thought about “get more RSS subscribers through off-site means”, worth to think of.
Paldies.
Get The Only Freelancer crash course you will ever need!
If not, then it's time to learn how to:
You can trust 1stWebDesigner to help you become a better web designer!
- Jacob Cass | Just Creative
Just enter your name and email below and click Get Updates!
DlibrarieD
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 19:44
Really good find. Lot of work there. Added to bookmarks.
And it`s one interesting thought about “get more RSS subscribers through off-site means”, worth to think of.
Paldies.
Harsh Agrawal
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 18:18
My 2 cents also try to add RSS feed before post, use wp greet wordpress plugin to welcome your readers…. and let them subscribe to feeds :-)
John Samuel
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 20:05
I have seen a lot of creativity for the subscribe button. Thanks for this exhaustive list.
Tobbi
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 21:30
Great collection, no. 2 & 4 are my favorites.
Decent Banners
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 03:16
Do you think it is necessary to show the no. of subscribers on blog?
Because if ones blog has only few subscribers it will give a wrong impression to others that his blog is not active, or not interesting…etc.
BunnygotBlog
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 02:20
I have heard of Noupe and Smashing Magazine before but not many of the others.
Paul Stamatiou
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 18:52
Not quite sure this qualifies as 53 best practices, versus 50 examples of how people link to their RSS. ;-) Regardless, I enjoyed it. Hoping you’ll have a follow up about how to get more RSS subscribers through off-site means (I mean how to drive them to your site by doing things not on your site). You could have the most awesome RSS button and placement but if readers don’t get the extra push to subscribe or have some sort of call-to-action then it kind of falls flat.
Jay Zuck
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 22:50
There are many, many ways of configuring an to look and feel of your rss subscription button for maximum appeal. You have given me a lot to consider in that regard and indicated a ton of ways it may be done citing some great examples.
Ayaz Malik
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 06:19
kool. i guess my blog following it perfectly XD
Sasha
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 07:01
Excellent. This Post is put together well. I think the simpler the better for RSS buttons. If it is “over designed”, the link could be missed as it won’t be identifiable.
Gabriel Scofield
Friday, October 30th, 2009 07:24
thanks for the info…I have now added another more visible button since my main button is a little hidden for a new blog reader to recognize.
Alfons
Monday, November 2nd, 2009 00:42
Nice collection! Thanks for sharing
julio
Monday, January 25th, 2010 17:03
Great post I will be making changes to my blog in the up coming weeks and will be using this post when it come time for the rss.
thanks!
greven
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 23:51
Haven’t seen this list before. Really nice list. Thanks a lot for including Paintbits Dainis. :)
irtiza104
Monday, June 28th, 2010 23:55
A great resource. Stumbling it.
But where can i find some good looking feed counters? and how can i set them in a category menu (nav menu)?
best wishes…
jin
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 11:45
Hello I just want to ask you if it is okay to add my rss feeds on forum signature? Can I attract subscribers on it?
chris
Saturday, December 12th, 2009 11:04
In my opinion rss should be place after the post and in the sidebar. Which is very often display and more visible to readers.
Waheed Akhtar
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 08:07
Thanks for sharing that list !
Amber Weinberg
Monday, November 2nd, 2009 19:47
Great tips, the most annoying thing in the world is to find a great blog and then to have to hunt around the whole site for the RSS feed. This happens a lot more times than you would think.
Ben
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 19:04
Lol, how did you manage to turn a guide into a roundup?
Indrek
Friday, November 13th, 2009 16:29
Very good tips! They actually gave me some pretty good ideas about rearranging my blogs RSS icons. Thanks!
Julia Andreson
Monday, November 16th, 2009 21:20
Impressive and cool. I like the designs of buttons. Thanks