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.
So, in your opinion, which one counts the most? Traffic or subscribers?
Stephen is a communications consultant based out of the UK. You can connect with him on Twitter or check out his LinkedIn profile. | Email Stephen
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Darika
Shouldn’t that read “However comparing both feeds TechCrunch has almost ten times as many subscribers as Mashable.” (not readers)
Subscribers is a great metric (and one that can indicate community & regular followers) but most stats start and end with actual eyeballs.
It doesn’t surprise me they’re so different. Mashable moved away from just breaking news and invested in keyword rich, longtail, feature content. I visit knowing I want to look at something in particular, the sheer volume would drown my RSS reader otherwise.
Techcrunch still pushes the news and has a narrower focus on the industry and b2b rather than everything social media.
Michael White
I believe that FeedBurner calls the click through traffic from subscribers ‘Reach’. Reach in a way is really the captivated traffic from subscribers and is important – but subscribers are also important. Personally I believe traffic is more important. The affirmation of subscribers is great but useless unless people are actually reading your content.