Optimize Your Feed for Engaging Conversation

Using feed readers and news aggregators are becoming more popular. But are you losing out on some engaging conversation?

As more read your content using these tools, you’ll need to find ways to compel them to engage in the conversation. Making it easy for your audience should be part of your blog strategy.

One way to do this is with FeedBurner FeedFlare. Two examples, then the solution.

Here’s the feed from Ben & Jackie’s Church of the Customer blog, as seen in SharpReader (click on images to enlarge):

If I wanted to quickly email this or post it to del.icio.us, I’d have to do so manually (though Sharpreader does have a quick e-mail feature).

UPDATE: Jackie fixed this right after this post.

Now let’s look at TechCrunch:

I can email, see who’s linking to the post via Technorati, post to del.icio.us or even enter the conversation with the other seven comments. Both of the feeds shown here are powered by FeedBurner.

Here’s the solution, plus another neat way to gain new subscribers.

After you sign into your FeedBurner account, go to the Optimize tab and then choose FeedFlare from the left menu:

The first column (Feed) allows you to optimize your feed in the manner that Techcrunch has done.

The second column (Site) allows you to optimize your site and get new subscribers. I recommend the same choices with the addition of the "Subscribe to this feed" option.

To get these links onto your site, scroll down on the FeedBurner Optimize screen to find the code and instructions:

Easy stuff. Allow your readers to involve themselves and others in the discussion.

So you read my site and I read yours. From a users perspective, I’d love it if some publishers would start publishing these links into there feed. Especially the email and comments function.

If you’re favorite feeds are not doing this, let them know. After all, you’re part of their audience.

Maybe I’m wrong. If you’re using FeedBurner (or something else), what’s stopping you from putting this into play? As a reader of feeds, is this something you find useful?

Related Posts:
Blog Tracking: SharpReader
Are Your FeedBurner Feeds Discovered?

Related Links
FeedBurner: FeedFlare Overview

Technorati Tags: FeedBurner, FeedFlare, RSS, Feeds, Blog Strategy, SharpReader

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