stedavies.com - Communications Consultant

{ 2 Comments \ Tags: None \ Jun23 }

{ 2 Comments \ Tags: None \ Jun9 }

There’s a handy a trick I’ve known for a while (sorry I can’t remember the source) which allows you to view a FeedBurner subscriber count even if it’s not visible on a site. It doesn’t work in all cases but it’s basically a flaw in Google FeedBurner.

To find our the number of subscribers to a FeedBurner feed all you are required to use is this URL – http://feedproxy.google.com/~fc/ – along with the user’s FeedBurner name. Still with me?

Here’s an example:

My FeedBurner name is prblogger (that what this blog used to be called) so all you are required to do to view my subscriber account is this:

http://feedproxy.google.com/~fc/prblogger

Easy.

You can do it with other blogs too. Surprisingly I compared the two heavyweights of the Social Media blog world and the results are interesting. I’ve always thought Mashable and TechCrunch to be on a par in terms of size and readership. Granted TechCrunch has always had the upper-hand but in my own sphere of friends, colleagues, peers and industries (PR, marketing and media) it’s Mashable that seems to be the de facto social media news source.

However comparing both feeds TechCrunch has almost ten times as many ~~readers~~ subscribers as Mashable.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~fc/techcrunch

http://feedproxy.google.com/~fc/mashable

This is only one measure of course and if we were to take a look at traffic data using Compete.com you’ll see that Mashable has surpassed TechCrunch since May last year. My thoughts are it’s down to Mashable’s link baitable retweetable content.