#1 Mistake Most Blogs Do

As much this might surprise most bloggers, #1 mistake most blogs are doing not publishing their content via e-mail, a supplement their RSS feeds.

Just think about it: while RSS growing strong, still only penetrates about 5-6% American online population. Furthermore, according a recent BlogAds survey, "only 12 percent blog reading audience said used RSS always or often".

If you're delivering your blog content only via RSS, you're missing out about 80% or more potential regular readership/followship.

THE KEY BLOG PROBLEM

There are millions blogs already, but really few people have time watch more than a few daily. But if they come back just once a week, they can be quickly overwhelmed with amount new content.

That's why it's crucial provide a "best of", a helping hand guide your readers "must-read" content you publish ? delivering this content either a standalone "blog-zine" or part your regular e-mail newsletter.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Deliver your blog posts they are written via RSS, but then also publish a regular (weekly or monthly) e-mail e-zine with your "top blog posts" those are still not RSS.

Don't do just one channel, do both.

E-mail still #1 end-user content delivery channel ... whether we like or not. Using e-mail (as a supplement RSS) deliver our content just good business practice, at least now.

THE CHRIS PIRILLO EXAMPLE

Chris Pirillo publisher one most popular sites net, Lockergnome.com. He was actually first proclaim e-mail being dead.

But still, while he preferrs his subscribers use RSS instead e-mail, isn't stopping him from using or promoting either RSS or e-mail.

COMPARING BLOGS, E-ZINES, E-MAIL AND RSS

If you're reading this article thinking blogs are actually "beyond e-mail", just consider following reality.

RSS e-mail are content delivery channels; tools enable us deliver our content end-users. Blogs e-zines other hand are two different internet media content formats, differing how/what content provided presented through them.

RSS/e-mail blogs/e-zines cannot be directly compared. Blog content e-zine content can both be delivered via RSS e-mail, there no direct business/logical relation between, example, blogs RSS.

Blogs are "personal" conversations, opinions news, delivered a linear structure, usually written a more personal style, confined a limited number content types.

E-zines other hand are more similar magazines or newspapers, carrying content presented a complex non-linear content structure, having ability carry many different content types that do not mix well together if provided through a linear content structure.

A typical e-zine might include:

- an editorial;

- a leading article, representing prevailing topic a specific e-zine issue;

- supporting articles, clearly structured show they are secondary leading article;

- links "best of" blog posts given timeframe;

- links most relevant forum topics posts;

- a news section;

- a featured client case study;

- different advertisements (banner ads, textual ads, advertorials etc.);

- a featured consultant;

- a Q&A section;

- a featured whitepaper;

- etc.

Providing all this content demands a complex content structure a strong experienced editor. The blog format simply does not provide level structure needed effectively present such a complex content mix.

But that's not say that blogs are any way inferior e-zines, they're just different. And businesses need both, they need deliver both via RSS e-mail.

Personal preferences towards content delivery channels internet content media formats have no place business. What matters what our audiences want how they want it.

Copyright 2005 Rok Hrastnik

Rok Hrastnik author »Unleash Marketing & Publishing Power RSS«, acclaimed best most comprehensive guide RSS marketers by leading RSS experts. The complete guide RSS marketers: http://rss.marketingstudies.net/index.html?src=sa2