Do you really care about how many subscribers a blog has?
If you’re thinking about placing an ad but it doesn’t display the subscriber count, you might want some reliable way of finding out on your own. In this case, you might care.
Let’s say you’re someone who has more than a passing interest with traffic stats and you’re curious to find out how your favorite blogger is doing with respect to the subscriber count - you might be curious enough to want to know.
While I’m no psychologist, in theory I think the presence of a blogger’s feed chicklet, especially if it has an attractive subscriber count, has some measure of influence over whether or not someone places an ad or becomes a new subscriber.
I’ve always been curious about those who don’t show off their subscriber count. Having done that early in my blogging career, I know of at least 2 reasons why someone might not choose to display the feed chicklet:
- The blogger wants people to sign up on the basis of content quality. He feels good about this because people are signing up without being unduly influenced by the ”crowd factor.”
- The blogger is waiting for the subscriber count to hit a certain “magic number” before finally adding the feed chicklet. This could range anywhere from 100 to a thousand or somewhere in between. It’s totally subjective.
I know a few who have over a thousand subscribers yet they haven’t put up a feed chicklet. Why? I don’t know. Maybe they’re never going to do it or they’re waiting for an even higher number. Who knows? In fact, let me ask you…..are you a blogger with thousands of subscribers but you don’t have the chicklet up? Perhaps you could tell us the answer to this mysterious question in the comment section.
So, does it really matter whether a blog shows its feed circulation?
Again, I think it does.
Serious bloggers are social creatures and most of them care a whole lot how many people are congregating at their blogs. They aren’t exactly writing for themselves! And if they are fortunate to have a sizable community, they’re going to want to show it off to the world. Find me a blogger who hates having 5,000 subscribers and I’ll pay you a million dollars a month for the rest of your life. Fat chance!
While mulling over the possibility of signing up I always ask myself:
- “Was I inspired?”
- “Was the writing good?”
- “Do people leave a respectable amount of comments?”
- “Was the design attractive?”
- “Was the material relevant to my needs?”
- “Did I feel compelled to roam around the blog, checking out other articles?”
- “Was the author authentic, personable and friendly?”
While asking myself these questions, I’ll subconsciously look for the feed circulation box. Does the blog have at least 100 subscribers or more?
If the answer to these questions were more than favorable, I would sign up or place an ad right away.
Having said that, there are exceptions to this. I wouldn’t care if a gardening blog had a million subscribers for I have zero interest in that area!
Readers are social animals and if they see a lot of people gathered in a particular spot, it’s going to make them think something important is going on. How did you react the last time you were at the mall and you saw a group people clustered around the entrance to your favorite store? Did it at least pique your interest to check it out? You probably did because subconsciously you didn’t want to be left out. It’s no different in the blogosphere.
Getting back to the topic at hand, how do you find out the number of subscribers a blog has? Here’s how:
- First, you need to know if the blogger is using Feedburner.
- To find out, go to that person’s blog and click on the orange RSS icon at the bottom of your browser - you’ll be taken to the RSS feed page. (Alternatively, you can click on the RSS icon at the blog itself - it should lead you to the same page).
- Look at the address in your browser - if it has “feedburner” in there, you’re in luck.
- At the very end of that address, you’ll find the name of its feed - copy that to your clipboard - you’ll be needing this.
- Paste the feedname at the end of: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~fc/feedname
And viola! You have your answer.
Take Adversity University as an example. Click on the orange RSS icon at the bottom of your browser for this blog and you’ll be taken to a page with an address that looks like this:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/AdversityUniversityBlog
See where it says AdversityUniversityBlog? That’s my feedname. Simply copy that and put it in place of feedname:
- http://feeds.feedburner.com/~fc/feedname
Go ahead and click this:
See what I mean? It’s pretty easy to find out if you’re curious enough. If a blogger tells you he has X amount of subscribers, this is how you can verify it. However, if you find that a blogger does not use feedburner, then I’m truly at loss of words. I have no idea what to do in this case. Anyone out there know?
Credit goes to Enhance Life for this information. And now I’ve passed it on to you. Have fun playing detective!
P.S. I’m still planning to bring you new video posts in the very near future so hang around for that. You’ll have an opportunity to hear me speak directly to you for the first time, which I hope will make this an even more interesting place for you to gather. Wink, wink.
If you liked this post and you want to be notified of the next one, subscribe via Email or Full Text RSS Feed. I would love to have you as part of the community!
Welcome! I'm the founder and professor of Adversity University specializing in personal development for spiritual beings having a human experience. To see a speaking demo tape and other information, please click 
10:57 pm on February 8th, 2008 1
I can see where it might interest someone to know a bloggers feed from a business sense as you’ve mentioned Stephen about placing an ad. Maybe it does also encourage someone to subscribe if they see there are already a high number of subscribers. That would not even figure into my thinking about becoming a subscriber.
Maybe you could compare my take on it as someone who prefers the quiet country life and another person who thrives in a fast paced city.
Please understand I am not being negative on your take on this, just that I have a different one. It would be a whole different animal if I was in this for a business venture.
I tried several web sites, a few came back with the numbers. A few were blocked, no doubt by some sort of script. My blog and others I checked that are based on TypePad did not go to anything but a blank page.
That might be true for my site, LOL, but I checked another one on TypePad that I am certain must have feed traffic and it too went to a blank page.
xo xo
Deb
11:15 pm on February 8th, 2008 2
Deb:
I’m glad you voiced your opinion even if it was different from mine. That’s why we have comments. As long as the dissenting voice(s) honors and respects the opinions of others, they will be heard here.
Thanks for your input. I can see why you wouldn’t be swayed by subscriber numbers. It is impossible to tell of its influence on everyone. But I know how it affects me.
11:58 pm on February 8th, 2008 3
Stephen,
I tried this on my blog, divinepurposeunleashed, and it said stats not enabled for this blog. But I do have feedburner. I don’t have many subscribers, (I focus on newsletter subscribers more), but I’d be curious why it doesn’t show. Thanks
MichelleVan’s last blog post..Listen to Live Your Purpose Radio
12:00 am on February 9th, 2008 4
To finish my thought above…. I do not show my feedcount as it is low, but people might think I don’t have readers, and I do… we have readers but not as many subscribers… Maybe because I don’t have the feedcount enabled to show on my site you can’t access it?
MichelleVan’s last blog post..Listen to Live Your Purpose Radio
3:01 am on February 9th, 2008 5
I’m just learning the ropes and the lingo in Blog Land (and still working to get one going - smiles). I look for ones whose articles resonate with my heart or have added value for my life. The connection with like minded people on things that interest me would probably take precedence over the numbers. At least that’s how I see it right now. Thanks for giving the great “how to” which will help me as I move forward to put my own thoughts out in the universe soon and to check the stats if I feel so inclined.
Sharmaine
7:32 am on February 9th, 2008 6
Michelle:
When I clicked on the orange RSS feed button at the bottom of my browser while at your site, this is what appeared as being your feed address:
http://divinepurposeunleashed.com/feed/
Apparently Feedburner is not being utilized as the feed address. This is why the above method doesn’t work for your site. I looked at your sign up box. Apparently, you’re using a different signup system, not Feedburner.
That’s the best explaination I can give about why the above method is not working for you. You are not using Feedburner as part of the feed address. If anyone out there has a better explaination, feel free to join in on the discussion.
7:34 am on February 9th, 2008 7
Sharmaine:
I appreciate your input about what would inspire you to sign up at someone’s blog. I see that the numbers don’t seem to influence you. That’s cool - perhaps the subscriber count doesn’t influence the rate of signups as much as I thought?
Interesting discussion we’re having. Thanks for piping up and joining in.
8:07 am on February 9th, 2008 8
Thanks Stephen for the interesting information!
I think that whether or not a blog shows subscriber numbers depends on why the blogger is blogging. Not everyone is blogging to attract advertisers. Other bloggers may have some other traffic indicator on display.
That being said, I look at the feed circulation when I read a blog too.
8:26 am on February 9th, 2008 9
Hi Laura!!
I’m glad you stopped by to drop in with your thoughts. Okay, so you’re kinda like me. You do tend to look for the subscriber count. Hmmmm…..cool.
You’re right - it all depends on why the person is blogging. Right now it may not look like I’m monetizing my site but in a way I am. If you look at the “Hire Stephen” tab above, you’d see that I make it abundantly clear to readers and visitors that I am available to speak professionally or serve as a life/speaking coach. I may not have advertisers (yet) but I might add them down the road.
Like I mentioned, it’s hard to determine whether or not the feed circulation influences the majority of people out there to sign up or place an ad. All I know is that a blogger goes ga-ga when he reaches, say a thousand subscribers. It’s an ego thing. And why not? Who wouldn’t feel good about having that many subscribers? Any blogger who is serious about making a difference is bound to feel good about that. In fact, many of the are probably stats addicts….like me. Cough, sputter, ahem.
So the bottom line is: is the blogger showing the feedcount to satisfy his own ego? Or is it to attract more readers? Or a little bit of both? I’d say both.
What do you think?
1:11 pm on February 9th, 2008 10
Stephen, as you know I just recently hit 104 subscribers and went to the 100+ mark for the first time. Since then my stats have been back in the 90+ numbers. Slade Roberson suggested that if I wanted to show my stats on my blog to wait until I was consistently over 100. For me, 100 was my first exciting goal reached. I reached it and celebrated with an article about it. The people that I reach with my message are more important to me than the numbers and it is good to see the numbers growing. I have been on a steady uphill climb since my first article in June 2007. It is good to know other opinions about blogging. Thanks for sharing these ideas. It gives me something else to think about.
Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker’s last blog post..Child Abuse Prevention Websites
2:12 pm on February 9th, 2008 11
I am always impressed at a large subscriber number. But it is also a little intimidating. You wonder if you bother to leave an intelligent comment if it would even be read. Or, answered. That is the fun part of commenting
All big blogs started with four relatives and one friend reading them.
I go mostly for the content and especially the proficiency in writing ability. Those I will hang in there with while they grow.
But, I have to admit you are a great Sherlock Holmes!
5:35 pm on February 9th, 2008 12
Some of the RSS readers, like Google’s, will tell you the number of subscribers reading the feed you are reading. Again, it isn’t the whole picture as it only tells you how many subscribers using that reader, but is works for feeds other than feedburner ones. Of course, if you use multiple feed sources, as I accidentally did in the early days, it still doesn’t help you…
Benjamin’s last blog post..Practice to be Crisp
5:47 pm on February 9th, 2008 13
Hi Stephen
I can see why as an advertiser it would be important to know how high a person’s subscriber count is - but why does it matter as a reader?
I started reading Christine O’Kelly’s blog not too long after she started it. I had no idea how many subscribers she had - but one read of her great stories and I was hooked. Now that she recently announced she has more than 800 I have mixed feelings (I know - I should be grateful and happy for her!!)
But like you said, I start to wonder whether my comments will be lost in the crowd….on the other hand I have been amazed at some of the personal responses I have received from some of the “big bloggers” in response to my comments…
So maybe it all boils down to the importance of connection and authenticity - some never achieve it and some bloggers can make you feel it no matter how big they get - and feedburner doesn’t have a chicklet that can measure that!!
Liz Fuller’s last blog post..Business Blog Challange Number Five: An Independent Embalmer and a Funeral Home
10:17 pm on February 9th, 2008 14
Patricia:
And you are to be congratulated for reaching the 100 subscriber mark. The fluctations you speak of is actually quite normal, especially over the weekend where people tend to read less. I find that interesting because I figure people would have more leisure time to read over the weekend.
That tells me people are secretly reading blogs at work! Hehehe.
Glad this article gave you some food for thought.
10:22 pm on February 9th, 2008 15
Corinne:
I know what you mean about feeling somewhat intidimated when you’re at a site with such large numbers. You wonder if your comments will ever see the light of day, especially if there are a lot of comments at the blog you’re looking at. You also wonder if the blogger will personally respond back to you.
It pays to find out if the blogger has a comment policy. Sometimes they get way too many to respond back to but if you send them a private email, they might respond back to you. I know of a few very popular bloggers who are very good about responding back via email. The next time you’re at a big blog, try that and see if you get a response.
You’re right that all big blogs started with a couple of relatives and friends as their readers. We all got our start that way.
I think you echoed what most people believe and that’s they’ll sign up if both the quality of the content and writing skills are to your liking. The numbers may or may not influence you. Interesting viewpoint - thanks for sharing.
10:28 pm on February 9th, 2008 16
Benjamin:
You do bring up a valid point about how some feed readers don’t tell the whole story. My understanding is that if the blogger is using Feedburner for its syndication system, it will include several, if not all, feed readers in its subscriber count.
For instance, my Feedburner reports includes feeds like Google Reader, Feedblitz, Google Feedfetcher, Bloglines, Firefox, Windows RSS Platform and many, many others. Of course, if you aren’t using Feedburner, then you’re right, a bloggers feedcount won’t tell the whole story.
In fact, I remember when I first started blogging over at Bloggers, I only had Feedblitz as my email syndication system. It wasn’t until I switched to Feedburner when I saw my subscriber count shoot up.
Great point - thanks for sharing. One question for you…when you’re evaluating a blog as a potential subscriber, do the numbers influence you or does it not matter?
4:26 am on February 10th, 2008 17
Hi Stephen,
Yes, Feedburner does try and include everything, but can only include RSS services that report back subscriber numbers, and not all do - there has also been a glitch over the last few days which has caused numbers to go up and down. But generally, it is a good indicator.
As to what I personally look too… I do try and focus on the content, although I have to admit that if I see there are only 10-50 readers, I wonder how good the blog is, if it isn’t brand new. Likewise, if I see >2,000 I figure it must be pretty good. What the pseudo psychologists call social-proof. If other people read it, it must be good enough for me to read too.
That said, I try not to be too much of a sheep! For blogs that are written by friends or associates, I don’t care how many other readers there are.
-Benjamin
7:17 am on February 10th, 2008 18
Benjamin:
Thanks for coming back and responding to my question of whether or not a subscriber count matters to you. Way cool. It’s interesting to get everybody’s take on this because not everyone will agree on this topic. It makes for a great conversation! Thanks for participating heartily.
I knew about a glitch that Feedblitz was having (they were reported grossly inflated numbers a few weeks back) and that affected Feedburner’s numbers. A lot of bloggers woke up one morning to see thousands of new subscribers for their blogs - their joy was short-lived due to this glitch. The glitch caused my numbers to soar to 6 thousand. I stared at the number, trying to commit it to memory before it went away. Haha.
8:01 am on February 10th, 2008 19
Hi Stephen
I was thinking about Benjamin’s point - for blogs written by friends or associates - he doesn’t care how many readers he has - he’s going to read it anyway. As bloggers, I think we take it one step further - if I know of a blog I like even if it doesn’t have a lot of subscribers - I do what I can to promote it, link to it or talk it up - hoping to see those numbers grow!
Liz Fuller’s last blog post..Coffee Break
8:35 am on February 10th, 2008 20
Liz:
I love what you said about a blog that might not have a lot of subscribers but that if you liked it enough, you’d find ways to help promote it, link to it and talk up a storm about it.
That’s actually what I did when I first came across Christine O’Kelly’s Self Made Chick. You mentioned her in a comment above.
When I first read her blog, she didn’t have the feed chicklet but like you, I was hooked and started to help by first promoting via some link love and then later interviewing her via “Stephen Hopson Interviews.”
I love your generous nature! We are alike in that way.
1:14 pm on February 10th, 2008 21
Stephen thanks for sharing. What a great tip! I like displaying my reader numbers - even though the numbers are still quite low. My blog was started just about two weeks ago. Create A Great Sunday!
Shelley’s last blog post..“You Can Do Anything You Want…
10:12 pm on February 10th, 2008 22
Most bloggers these days don’t give due credit to where they got the information from. I really appreciate the fact that you did. Thank you.
SH @ Enhance Life’s last blog post..Fake It and Flaunt It? (Even Personal Development Bloggers Do It!)
7:35 am on February 11th, 2008 23
SH;
You’re welcome.
7:15 pm on February 12th, 2008 24
Stephen,
Thanks for the reply to my comment…..
1. I’m not sure what rss button comes up at the bottom of your page. Will you please click it again and see if it defaults to feedburner and then let me know…
2. I’m concentrating on subscribers to my newsletter, so that’s my sign up form..
3. I have feed stats NOT ENABLED on feedburner. (by choice) .. maybe that’s why it doesn’t show!
MichelleVan’s last blog post..When Life Give Your Lemons, Reinvent Yourself!
7:29 am on February 13th, 2008 25
MichelleVan:
By the way is that actually your name? MichelleVan? Or is that your first and middle name put together? It always made me wonder.
Well, thank you for replying to this post. Your #1 comment doesn’t make sense - I don’t understand the question. Please clarify. There is no RSS button to speak of that shows up at the bottom of my page. What page are you referring to?
As for #2, I understand that you’re concentrating on obtaining newsletter subscribers, which is why you do not have Feedburner enabled. That’s pretty clear. Thanks for clarifying why Feedburner isn’t connected to your site.
9:47 am on February 13th, 2008 26
Hi Stephen
Maybe I really shouldn’t jump in here - but what MichelleVan is referring to is a previous comment you made about viewing her site and clicking on the RSS button on the bottom of your browser. Sounds to me like you may be using firefox and have a feature added to check feedstats on pages you visit - or something like that. She’s not referring to your blog site.
(at least that’s how I read it)
Liz Fuller’s last blog post..Online Reputation Management and Business Blogging
10:01 am on February 13th, 2008 27
Liz:
I think you’re absolutely right. I must have misinterpreted her comment. Yes, she meant the RSS button on the bottom of my browser. Correct.
Thanks for helping with the correction/clarification. you’re welcome anytime to input your thoughts!
9:29 am on February 17th, 2008 28
Stephen,
Liz got it right. A button on the bottom of your browser. What is that? I have one that shows in my URL when there is an RSS option… Is that the same?
My name is Michelle Vandepas.. Long before I was open and ‘out’ on the internet, I just used MichelleVan as a shortcut and nickname. it kinda stuck.. but I forget to write my whole name now as I’ve been doing MichelleVan for so very long!
I guess I’ll retrain myself so that it is consistent!
MichelleVan’s last blog post..Personal Growth, Financial Abundance, Corinne Edwards - Interview
3:27 pm on February 17th, 2008 29
MichelleVan:
Yes, that small orange button at the bottom of your IE browser is the RSS subscribe button for someone’s blog or website. If it’s lit up, you’ll be taken to a page to subscribe via RSS.
When I hit the orange icon, I am able to bookmark under “feeds” in the bookmark section of my browser. It’s easier for me to see the blogs I subscribe to via RSS - they’re all listed right there.
When the blog has something new, it is seen in bold in the bookmark of feeds. If I want to delete it, I simple delete it - no need click an “unsubscribe” button or anything.
4:00 pm on February 17th, 2008 30
ahh. it is all clear to me now! I use Firefox.
MichelleVan’s last blog post..Personal Growth, Financial Abundance, Corinne Edwards - Interview
4:36 pm on February 17th, 2008 31
I have a few blogs with 1 subscriber, and I think that’s me
It’s not my mother though, she doesn’t know how to turn on a computer 
Tejvan Pettinger’s last blog post..The Stumbleupon Effect
6:18 pm on February 17th, 2008 32
Tejvan:
That’s funny - well, we all started out that way, didn’t we? Our earliest subscribers had to be ourselves, family and friends. Hopefully over time you’d see the numbers grow. For some growth is rapid while others is a slow, gradual growth, which is what’s been happening here at Adversity University.
The key, I found, is to be in it for the long haul and not to be in a rush to become an overnight sensation. Thanks for dropping in - I greatly appreciate it.
1:49 am on February 25th, 2008 33
Just found you through StumbleUpon. I think you have convinced me to add a chicklet. I have well over 1,000 subscribers, but it never really occurred to me that it was important to some people. I don’t sell ads.
Your tip didn’t work for my site and all of my feed subs come through Feedburner - I have them routed to do that. It must be a setting that I have chosen in Feedbuner that prevents it.
Still, I look forward to trying it elsewhere.
Kami Huyse’s last blog post..Polluting the Social Media Channels: An Opportunity for Public Relations
7:19 am on February 25th, 2008 34
Kami:
I’m not sure why it didn’t work - hmmmmm - well, I’m no technical person but like you said, maybe it’s a setting you chose in Feedburner or something. Not sure.
But in any case, congrats on having over 1,000 subscribers. That’s quite a milestone for any blogger! Best of success in 2008!