Myth: An RSS Feed Can Replace a Mailing List

Myth Crusher MondayWhen I first started this blog (I recently reflected upon this blog’s beginnings in my 1000th post from last week), I thought that I could just forget about having a mailing list and could deliver everything by RSS.

But I quickly came to realize that not everyone is ready for RSS (it’s kind of geeky tech thing still :-) ) and even though I’ve introduced a free RSS reader here, still most people sign up for the mailing lists that I offer.

Of course, there are a variety of tools that allow you to send your RSS feed via email and I use one right here (Note to self: I need a more customizable solution and it IS on the to-do list). Still, there is something to be said to connecting DIRECTLY to your email subscribers.

Email Marketing Is Ultra-Personal

Even though you can write a blog in a very personal manner to your readers…email is another step closer to your readers. You are getting into their personal email inbox, so you need to be just a bit more personal and speak directly one-on-one. You also want to be able to deliver extra content and offers that aren’t necessarily posted to your blog.

Consider Your Readers’ Preferences

Finally, consider that some of your subscribers may not want to receive your blog updates, but they might be interested in your newsletter, an email course or whatever you’re offering. It’s about giving them exactly what they want and if you rely on RSS only, you might be missing out.

So while you can strategically blend your email marketing and RSS, I’d personally never rely completely rely on RSS to deliver my business messages.

If you’ve got some strategies to share…or have a question or comment – just post below.

7 Responses to “Myth: An RSS Feed Can Replace a Mailing List”

  • I’ve been thinking about this for months and it’s driving me batty. Right now I am surging ahead in attempts to build up my feed readership (and I point more towards the email option), but…

    I also want to start a newsletter, or a combination newsletter-blog post thingy via AR, or or or or……

    My biggest ACK! moment is when I have 100 on one and 100 on the other, all I will be wondering is how to get each on the other also!!

    is this making any sense whatsoever? :-)

  • Alice Seba
    Twitter: aliceseba
    :

    I do believe that if you use Aweber to manage your RSS mailing, you can control how the mailings look and you can send out other emails to your list. If that is correct (perhaps an Aweber user can confirm??), then you might not feel like your splitting your efforts.

    Not sure if that helps with your headache at all. ;-)

  • I know that I only check most of the blogs in my RSS reader once in a while–but I look at email constantly. I take this into account in my marketing and offer both email and RSS versions of my blog and my four e-zines.
    Shel Horowitz, author of Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers and six other books

  • As far as I know, the only RSS feature in Aweber is their “blog broadcast”…a nifty little feature in itself as you can customize the templates and such so it doesn’t look like a feed, but it sends ONLY the latest post(s) like a feed.

    So if you were to ALSO have a newsletter, it would still be separate…..unless for some reason you published the newsletter on the blog.

    As far as I know…

  • You make some great points in this post. I could not agree more. Not everyone is ready for RSS.

    I know quite a few people that don’t even understand how to read the RSS once they sign up for them.

  • Tonya Hedrick:

    I am requesting “Press Release for Profits”

    My business partner and I are in a position to begin “getting the word out” about our speaking and coaching to empower women. I know a little about PR, but very little. Eager to learn.

    Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!

    Blessings,
    Tonya

  • Alice Seba:

    Oops…Tonya, you posted this in the wrong place. I’d recommend reposting at the appropriate thread, just so you don’t get missed.

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