Bloggy Basics: How and Why to Burn a Feed

Do you burn a feed?  Do you know what a feed is?

Let's start with the basics.  What is a feed?

A feed is simply the web feed that sends information to subscribers.  You may hear it called web feed or news feed.  It works like a newspaper subscription.  For a reader to get your feed, they must subscribe.

A feed is delivered via email or rss reader.  An rss reader is an easy way to collect all recent updates to your favorite blogs without having to bookmark them or open each individual blog - all your blogs are right at your fingertips.

Next step: Why burn a feed?

As a blogger, your readers are of utmost importance.  It is critical to make it easy for them to come back or you risk losing them.  A feed allows them to subscribe either via an rss reader or via email. It makes it easy for them to come back.

Also, many web graders and search engines rank blogs with a feed higher than those that do not.

How do I go about burning a feed?

The most popular way to burn a feed is to use Feedburner.  First, create an account through Google (same as your blogger account login).  Feedburner will walk you through the simple setup step by step.  Once you have burned your feed, explore some of the options.  Under the "Optimize" tab, make sure you select to make your feed browser friendly and a SmartFeed (to make it compatible with the most readers).  Once your feed is set up, you will need to enter the feed address into Blogger.

Take your feed address (click on "edit feed details" to view and copy your feed address) and open blogger.  Go to your settings page. Click on "Site Feed."  Paste the feed address in the box for "Post Feed Redirect URL."

In the box above, click to either burn your whole post or just a partial post. Full posts are easier for subscribers to read and easier to get on mobile devices. Partial feeds require subscribers to click through to your blog to access the full post.  Partial feeds in theory will increase your traffic numbers but may deter some subscribers who don't want to take the extra step to click through.

How do I let readers subscribe via email?

While you are in your Feedburner account, click on the "Publicize" tab.  Just choose the language for your emails.  Copy the HTML code. Go in to blogger Design. Add an HTML gadget. Paste the HTML code. Drag the gadget to where you want it. Save and view!

Keep checking back for more helpful blogging tips and more Feedburner tips.

What do YOU need help with?  Let me know in the comments! 




Read more from the Bloggy Basics series which started on my other blog here:

• Explanation of Bloggy Basics
• Networking
• Create Your Own Blog Button in 5 Steps
• HTML Code: Center
• Growing Readership in 5 Steps

This post is linked up in Works for Me Wednesday because, ya know that growing readership works for me!  Please support Kristen from We Are THAT Family as she answers the call to open a maternity house in Africa called Mercy House.