No Love For Your RSS Feed? Turn it Into an Email Newsletter

By Rebecca Murtagh | Rebecca's Thoughts on . . .

Turning Your RSS Feed Into An Email Newsletter Could Increase Readership & Engagement

Despite the explosion in creation of RSS content in recent years, RSS feed adoption remains low. Only 10% of users in a recent Pew Internet Study report getting digital news via RSS which comes in third after email only dominated by the web, identified as the #1 source for news online.

Where do consumers get their news?

Increase Visibility and Engagement of Blog Content With Email

Whether you update your blog and other sources of RSS content (news, press releases, etc.) once a day, week or month, the content is of no value if it is never read. Many that would be interested in this content will never subscribe to the RSS feed, and subsequently will miss some, or much of what is published. Because many readers don’t understand what RSS is, or how to subscribe, they take their chances that they might miss something and visit the blog when they can. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could notify them via email every time you post?

Share Your Blog As An Email Newsletter

One of the easiest ways to automate this process is to use a solution that automates the process for you.  When you publish a post, an email will automatically be sent to those who have enrolled.  Branded messages make it easy to notify email subscribers every time you add a new blog post, press release, promotion or announcement to your RSS feed.

Benefits of RSS to Email

• Create a branded message to notify others of new posts.
• Raise awareness and improve engagement of posts.
• Automatic email generation every time you post, no further action required.
• Invite subscribers to subscribe to RSS feed on your blog (much easier to most than the RSS concept).
• Promote Engagement with content, which can greatly enhance sharing and impact on organic search visibility on the topic.
• Exponential increase in email usage from mobile devices increase awareness of your blog.

Below is an informative video produced by Aweber, which offers this solution, explaining the barriers to RSS feeds and how automatically generated emails could eliminate this barrier between writers and their audiences.

RSS to Email Solution Providers

AWeber is one email list and broadcast solution that offers RSS to Email.
Constant Contact also offers RSS to Email, as does Mail Chimp.

Tips for Inviting Enrollment in Blog Email Newsletters

Automate: Automation is key which is why most will want to manage this from a program that will create the list and automate distribution of the blog when new posts are published.

Keep it simple: Enrollment should be quick and easy.

Direct reader to the online version: Setting the email to introduce the topic and refer the visitor to the online content for the entire post will promote sharing, comments and engagement.

Set it and Forget it! Email solutions make it easy. Create a template, add the URL for your RSS feed, copy and paste the html for the form into your website and the program does the rest for you.

Below is a sample, which is enrollment in my Blog Newsletter. When you enter your email address below, or to the right, you will receive an email notification every time I publish a new post on this blog.

Are you sharing your blog via email? How has it worked for you?

Or, is this a new concept you will likely test?
Please share!

 

Full disclosure: I personally use both Constant Contact and Aweber, as does my digital marketing firm which has a business relationship with both entities.

Simple RSS to Email by AWeber Communications
Learn more about Simple RSS to Email by AWeber Communications

LinkedIn Endorsements to be Weighed in Search

By Rebecca Murtagh | SMO - Social Media Optimization

Endorsements Will Impact Search

If you’ve logged into LinkedIn in recent weeks you have noticed that endorsements have been added to profiles. Endorsements will soon be weighed in search results according to Inc. Magazine. Higher visibility in search could translate to more business or hiring for those active on the world’s largest professional network with 175 million members.

Endorsements require only a click. Recommendations, which remain, required someone actually taking the time to write a brief review or synopsis on their experience with you.

How Endorsements Work

You can endorse anyone in your network. Anyone in your network can endorse you. You can click on the skill of any individual with endorsements to see who has endorsed them for that skill. For individuals you are not connected to, avatars of those who have endorsed that person appear as long as they are 3rd level connections or closer to you. If they are outside that circle (further than 3rd level connections or group) a generic avatar appears.

How to Increase Endorsements on LinkedIn

Endorsements offer more value than appearing in search. They let those interested in what you do gain insight from others that know you. People love reviews when they shop for products and services, so why not people? Endorsements as mini-reviews. The more you have, the more credible and trusted you are. There are a few ways to increase endorsements:

1. Endorse others. Endorse those you have hired or worked with and social media etiquette is that they will reciprocate by endorsing you. Added benefit is endorsements show up in update timelines, enhancing visibility to others.

2. Ask connections to endorse you. Reach out to those you have worked with and ask them to endorse you.

3. Invite those you interact with on various platforms, such as blogs, social media, at events, etc. to endorse you.

In fact, if you like this post, I welcome your endorsement!

Will Google Calculate Endorsements in Search?

Given Google’s interest in connecting people, places and things in its Knowledge Graph, and zest for identity verification, one could expect Google to weigh indicators like size of network, frequency of posts and number of endorsements in search. Proof and/or verification from Google will tell us in coming weeks and months.

I frequently speak on the relationship between social media and search so I will be very interested in how this evolves.

Has this post changed your perception of endorsements?

Election Day 2012 – Google, Foursquare and Your Vote!

By Rebecca Murtagh | Rebecca's Thoughts on . . .

The Role of Social Media and Search on 2012 Presidential Election Day

Amidst what many have called one of the most important Presidential Elections in United States history, Google and Foursquare are doing their part to get out the vote.

Google Doodle Election Day 2012

No Excuses!
Don’t know where to cast your vote? The Google.com home page features a search function to help you find your local voting location and hours.

Casting your vote offers its own reward, but Foursquare is also doing its part to promoting the vote to the social media landscape throughout the United States.

Foursquare Polling Place Check-ins

Foursquare has historically awarded those who vote when they check into their polling place, with a special “I Voted” badge.

The 2012 Election will be no exception. The 2012 Election badge is available to all who check into their local voting location.

So, be sure to check-in after you’ve cast your vote!