If you are new here…

January 6, 2008

The “subscribe to my RSS feed” lead on some web sites is starting to get old. I’m not going to link here because I don’t want to look like I’m singling anyone out. But I’ve run across a lot of weblogs (using StumbleUpon) where the first line under the title is something along the lines of “if you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed.”

Maybe this works and maybe it doesn’t — it’s hard to argue with metrics. But speaking for myself, I often hit that sentence and just move on.

I subscribe to RSS feeds when I’ve read a post or two or three that I like, not immediately after landing on a new site. I want to know what you have on offer before I subscribe. It’s like being met at the door by a salesperson who says “hey, are you going to buy something? huh? huh? Please buy something!”

If you’re trying to push me into subscribing before I’ve read the first paragraph, that suggests to me that your primary interest is in gaining new readers, not writing on your subject. And if the plea is set five times larger than the rest of your body copy, then you’re telling me the strategy isn’t working very well and you feel the need to shout.

I understand the value of the so-called “call to action” and reminding people they can subscribe to an RSS feed. But maybe you should put it at the end of your post instead of the start? Then I’ll think “yes, that was a good post, I think I will subscribe for awhile.” But don’t waste your first impression by begging for repeat visits.

Posted in Blogosphere