Keenpath

An Ideal Feed Subscriber

What makes an ideal web feed subscriber?

Originally when I thought of this question, it seemed quaint, possibly silly, maybe even unimportant. But realizing how much as I use, benefit and subscribe to web feeds, I figured why not come up with a short list of the traits of a loyal, and happy feed subscriber.

Ideal Web Feed Subscriber

Would an ideal subscriber have some or all of the following traits?

• (Assuming you provide a full text feed) Clicks the link to view the original post on your website even though they read it in their feed reader anyway
• Subscribes to your feed in multiple feed readers
• Syndicates your feed by placing it in a feed display widget on their blog/website

Gaining an Ideal Web Feed Subscriber

• Provide useful content (and often if appropriate)
• Provide full text feeds (no excuses to do otherwise unless you want to be stingy)
• Ofter simple ways to subscribe and consider offering a widget of your own, or use another service to do so easily (iGoogle, Netvibes, Bloglines)
• Make iPhone app or Facebook app that provides a feed (good for further engagement)

These are a few humble ideas; that I plan to implement further and experiment across various websites that I create and manage.

Parting thought: Services like Twitter, completely change the game on this. (For example, I follow @TechCrunch on Twitter, but do not subscribe to the RSS feed. Mostly as an experiment to see how often I’m drawn to TechCrunch.com via Twitter as opposed through a feed reader.)

Your Account Is In Good Standing

You know the feeling. When you get an invoice in the mail from one of your service providers, you wonder as you are opening it, what is really inside of that little plastic window?

An invoice that I receive regularly contains a simple, but brief communication blurb that says “We appreciate customers like you who pay on time. Your account is in good standing.” While this gives me the added reassurance that I am staying on the ball and making sure they get their money on time, there is another element within the statement.

Having been a customer for over 5 years, I can recall that the first invoice statement I received from them had the same phrase on it. While it is possible that the wording could have been modified, that isn’t important, and would likely go unnoticed.

The overall theme is that customers, clients, friends, and family like two things: consistency and reassurance. A consistent message, whether through a mission or value statement, speaks volumes. Reassurance, not the type to coax a scared animal out of a corner, but rather the undeniable truth of the matter, presented with a useful fact.

Try it. Put it in to practice. Be more genuine, show an added measure of transparency, and put value in someones, or an organizations day.