In 2010, we wrote our widespread step-by-step information on how to setup FeedBurner. A bit of over a yr in the past, we determined to cease utilizing FeedBurner for all of our websites. Ever since we now have obtained tons of of questions on varied FeedBurner bugs, points, and so on. On this article, we are going to speak about why it is best to keep away from utilizing FeedBurner. For those who’re already utilizing it, then we are going to present you why it is advisable cease utilizing FeedBurner, and how one can transfer to dependable FeedBurner options.
FeedBurner is Google’s RSS feed administration service that many bloggers relied upon a number of years in the past (What is RSS?). Whereas Google hasn’t shut it down but, it has been rumored for fairly someday that Google goes to close it down.
FeedBurner hasn’t seen any options or updates for so long as we are able to keep in mind. FeedBurner API was taken down. In addition they retired the Adsense for Feeds function. All of this occurred in 2012.
So why are writing about this now – two years later?
Properly as a result of we're nonetheless getting emails from customers relating to FeedBurner. Prior to now 30 days, our outdated FeedBurner setup information obtained over 3500 distinctive guests from search engine visitors. Since FeedBurner has no help, we now have obtained dozens of bug reports and support requests.
We wish to level all involved customers to a extra updated article.
FeedBurner Options
Other than subscriber analytics and talent monetize with Adsense, FeedBurner provided two major options that bloggers beloved.
- FeedBurner gave bloggers a greater method to show their RSS feed together with providing sharing choices to customers.
- FeedBurner provided a free and straightforward means for customers to subscribe to your weblog by way of E mail.
Let’s check out how we changed FeedBurner with options which can be higher.
At Presswp, we use default WordPress feeds and handle them on our personal. Utilizing default WordPress feeds provides you the management in your feed. We advocate our customers to depend on the default WordPress performance and handle feeds on their very own. Right here is why:
Fairly Feed Show with Sharing Choices
It's essential to perceive that folks don’t go to your feed URL to learn your content material. As a substitute most folk make the most of feed readers like Feedly, Flipbook, Google’s Newsstand, and so on. These feed readers already carry out many of the duties that FeedBurner did some 5 years in the past.
In case you are utilizing FeedBurner for higher feed show and social sharing, you then don’t want to try this anymore. Nonetheless you possibly can positively educate your customers on subscribe to your web site.
Weblog subscription by way of E mail
Lots of customers nonetheless favor to obtain weblog updates by way of electronic mail, so it’s essential that you simply substitute this performance.
Whereas the JetPack plugin gives the closest different to FeedBurner subscribe by way of electronic mail performance, we strongly advocate our customers in opposition to utilizing that.
Why? As a result of identical to FeedBurner, you possibly can’t ship out unique updates to your subscribers. The one method to replace your subscribers is by making a public put up.
Since you've made the choice to do issues the RIGHT means, then we advocate you start building an email list.
Skilled email marketing services like MailChimp, AWeber, and so on will let you supply weblog subscription by way of electronic mail together with supplying you with the total energy of a sturdy electronic mail advertising and marketing platform. You get higher analytics corresponding to what number of customers opened your electronic mail, what number of clicked on it, and so on.
You additionally get larger supply price which means extra of your customers will get your updates. Final however not the least, you get the pliability and choices.
For instance, you possibly can supply a number of subscription choice (day by day updates, weekly updates, and so on) – see our information on how to create a daily and weekly newsletter.
We’re utilizing MailChimp for our web site, and it’s FREE for as much as 2000 subscribers.
Now that we now have lined the options, let’s check out how one can transfer away from FeedBurner.
Transferring Away From FeedBurner
For those who had been utilizing FeedBurner’s electronic mail subscription service, then the very first thing it is advisable do is to export your electronic mail subscribers. Merely login to your FeedBurner account and click on in your feed. After that click on on the hyperlink ‘See extra about your subscribers’.
On the following display, scroll right down to the E mail Subscription Providers part and click on on FeedBurner E mail Subscriptions. It will broaden the part, and it is possible for you to to see a hyperlink to handle your electronic mail subscribers listing. Click on on the hyperlink to see your electronic mail subscribers.
FeedBurner will now present you the listing of your electronic mail subscribers. You will note an Export CSV hyperlink above the listing. Merely click on on it, and it'll obtain your listing within the CSV format. You possibly can then import this file into an electronic mail advertising and marketing service of your selection corresponding to MailChimp, AWeber, and so on.
As a result of we use MailChimp for our web site, we are going to present you the way the import performance works in MailChimp. Most different suppliers have an identical course of.
Very first thing it is advisable do is login to your MailChimp dashboard and create a brand new listing in MailChimp.
After you've created a brand new listing, you possibly can import your electronic mail subscribers utilizing the CSV file you downloaded from FeedBurner. Begin by clicking on the Lists menu in MailChimp dashboard and choose your newly created listing. It will take you to listing administration web page. There it is advisable click on on Subscribers » Import Subscribers.
On the following display, click on on the ‘Import from a CSV or TXT file’ choice after which import the CSV file you downloaded from FeedBurner.
Upon getting imported your listing, you have to to create a RSS to E mail marketing campaign.
Totally different electronic mail advertising and marketing companies may have totally different names for this performance. In MailChimp, they name it RSS to E mail marketing campaign. In AWeber, they name it Broadcasts. Merely Google the “title of your electronic mail advertising and marketing service and weblog RSS”, and you'll find a tutorial for that.
After you've all this setup, then you possibly can flip off your E mail Subscriptions in FeedBurner, so your customers don’t obtain two emails. You are able to do this by going beneath the Publicize Tab in FeedBurner and click on on the E mail Subscriptions hyperlink within the left column.
Do not forget that when transitioning your electronic mail subscribers to a brand new electronic mail service, you would possibly lose some subscribers, however these are inactive subscribers who you most likely don’t need in any case.
Redirect FeedBurner Subscribers Again to WordPress Feed
It was frequent for bloggers to redirect their WordPress feed URL to their FeedBurner web page. Some did it with a plugin like FD FeedBurner, whereas others used their theme’s built-in performance, and the extra savvy used a code snippet.
For those who’re utilizing any of the above strategies to redirect your default WordPress feed, then please cease utilizing these immediately.
One of the best ways to verify for those who’re redirecting your feed is by visiting your RSS feed URL:
http://www.yoursite.com/feed/
If this redirects to FeedBurner, you then haven’t fastened it.
Subsequent, write a weblog put up and ask your subscribers to replace the URL and probably educate them on how they will subscribe to your web site utilizing different readers.
Vital: DO NOT DELETE your FeedBurner feed. There are some websites that may let you know to DELETE your FeedBurner feeds which supposedly will redirect your subscribers, however it doesn’t. It’s a horrible thought, and you'll lose your subscribers. Why?
As a result of whenever you delete your feed, FeedBurner will add a brand new put up notifying your readers that your feed has moved. This doesn’t routinely replace the feed URL in your person’s feed readers. If the person doesn’t take any motion inside 15 days, you then lose that subscriber ceaselessly. Moreover after 30 days, a competitor can declare your FeedBurner URL and all of the customers who didn’t replace their feeds will begin getting his updates.
As soon as once more, DO NOT DELETE your FeedBurner feeds.
Merely write a weblog put up to inform your readers to replace their URLs. Educate them with assets on how they will do it.
After that merely let the FeedBurner feed die a gradual demise.
This fashion those that don’t replace your feed URL of their RSS reader nonetheless proceed to get new content material, however all of your new readers subscribe the precise means.
Create Subscription Varieties, Subscribe Web page, and Extra
Now that you've created your electronic mail listing and defaulted again to the WordPress feed URL, it is best to make acceptable updates to your web site corresponding to take away all mentions of FeedBurner URL, replace your electronic mail signup varieties and so on.
For including signup varieties to your web site, we advocate that you simply use OptinMonster. It lets you create efficient opt-in varieties corresponding to sidebar signup varieties, after put up varieties, floating footer bar, slide-ins, lightbox popups, and so on.
We’re utilizing it on our web site, and it has helped us grow our email list by 600%.
Subsequent you most likely wish to create a subscribe web page that reveals readers how they will subscribe to your web site.
Because you’re utilizing the default WordPress feed, you've a number of flexibility and customization choices.
You possibly can add thumbnails to your RSS feeds, add other custom content to RSS feeds, or you possibly can solely create custom RSS feeds.
One other neat function that’s built-in with WordPress is class particular feeds. You possibly can enable your customers to subscribe to particular person classes with class RSS feed. Learn our article on how to allow users to subscribe to categories in WordPress.
We hope this information helped you discover a method to take care of the demise of FeedBurner and transfer on to raised choices. We strongly advocate that you simply cease utilizing FeedBurner.
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