Setting up FeedBurner for WordPress can be a bit overwhelming, but fear not! In this step-by-step guide, we’ll break it down into simple, easy-to-understand terms. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to set up FeedBurner for your WordPress site. Plus, we’ll sprinkle in some SEO optimization tips to help you boost your website’s visibility on search engines.
Step by Step Guide to Setup FeedBurner for WordPress
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let’s understand what FeedBurner is and why it’s essential for your WordPress site.
What is FeedBurner?
FeedBurner is a web feed management service provided by Google. It helps you optimize and track your site’s RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, making it easier for readers to subscribe to your content.
Now, let’s get started with the step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Create a Google Account
If you don’t already have one, you’ll need a Google account to use FeedBurner. Visit the Google Account creation page and follow the simple steps to set up your account. Be sure to choose a memorable username and password.
Step 2: Visit FeedBurner
Once you have your Google account ready, head over to the FeedBurner website by typing “FeedBurner” into your search engine or visiting feedburner.google.com.
Step 3: Sign In to FeedBurner
Click on the “Sign In” button and enter your Google account credentials to access FeedBurner.
Step 4: Burn a Feed
After signing in, you’ll be taken to the FeedBurner dashboard. Now, it’s time to “burn” your WordPress feed.
Click on the “My Feeds” tab.
This is where you’ll manage all your feeds.
Enter your WordPress feed URL.
Your WordPress feed URL typically looks like this: http://yourwebsite.com/feed
. Replace “yourwebsite.com” with your actual domain.
Click on the “Next” button.
FeedBurner will verify your feed, and you’ll see a confirmation message if it’s successful.
Step 5: Customize Your Feed
Now, let’s make your feed look appealing and informative.
Give your feed a title.
This title will appear when users subscribe to your feed. Make it clear and catchy.
Choose a feed address (optional).
You can customize the web address of your feed, but this is optional. If you’re unsure, you can leave it as is.
Click on the “Next” button.
Step 6: Configure FeedBurner Settings
FeedBurner offers various settings to optimize your feed. Let’s go through them:
Publicize
Publicize lets you share your content on social media automatically. You can set up Twitter and other social platforms here. This helps you reach a broader audience.
Optimize
In the “Optimize” section, you can activate services like SmartFeed, BrowserFriendly, and FeedFlare. These features enhance your feed’s compatibility and user experience.
Monetize
If you’re interested in making money from your feed, this section allows you to enable AdSense for Feeds.
Troubleshootize
This section helps you identify and fix issues with your feed. It’s handy for troubleshooting any problems that may arise.
Configure these settings according to your preferences, then click “Next.”
Step 7: Get Your FeedBurner Feed URL
Now that your feed is configured, it’s time to get the FeedBurner URL.
On the next screen, you’ll see your FeedBurner feed URL.
It will look something like this: http://feeds.feedburner.com/yourfeedname
.
This is the URL you’ll promote for users to subscribe to your feed. Copy it and keep it handy.
Step 8: Redirect Your WordPress Feed to FeedBurner
To ensure that all your subscribers use the FeedBurner feed, you need to set up a redirect from your WordPress feed to FeedBurner.
Install and activate a plugin like “FD FeedBurner Plugin” on your WordPress site.
Go to the plugin’s settings and enter your FeedBurner feed URL.
This step ensures that anyone who accesses your WordPress feed is automatically redirected to your FeedBurner feed, helping you keep track of subscribers.
Step 9: Promote Your Feed
Now that your feed is set up, it’s time to let your audience know about it.
Add a subscription widget to your WordPress site.
You can use a plugin like “RSS Subscribe” or “Jetpack” to add a subscription widget to your site’s sidebar or footer.
Share your FeedBurner URL on social media.
Let your followers on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms know that they can subscribe to your feed.
Include a call-to-action (CTA) in your content.
Encourage readers to subscribe to your feed at the end of your blog posts.
Step 10: Monitor Your Feed’s Performance
FeedBurner provides useful analytics to help you track the performance of your feed.
On your FeedBurner dashboard, click on your feed’s title.
Here, you’ll find valuable data like the number of subscribers, click-through rates, and more. Use this information to refine your content strategy and engage your audience better.
SEO Optimization Tips
Now that you’ve set up FeedBurner for your WordPress site let’s boost your site’s visibility on search engines with some SEO optimization tips.
- Optimize Your Feed Content: Ensure your feed content is relevant, high-quality, and includes keywords related to your niche.
- Use Descriptive Titles: Craft clear and descriptive titles for your feed items. This helps users and search engines understand the content.
- Include Keywords in Your Feed Description: Write compelling feed descriptions that include relevant keywords. This can improve your feed’s search engine ranking.
- Regularly Update Your Content: Consistency is key. Regularly update your website with fresh, valuable content to keep your audience engaged and attract search engine traffic.
- Optimize Images: Compress and properly name your images before adding them to your feed. Use alt text for images to improve accessibility and SEO.
- Create SEO-Friendly URLs: Ensure your WordPress permalinks are set to include keywords and are easy to read.
- Mobile Optimization: Make sure your website is mobile-friendly as mobile optimization is crucial for SEO.
- Submit a Sitemap: Use a plugin like Yoast SEO to create and submit a sitemap to Google. This helps search engines index your content more efficiently.
- Internal Linking: Incorporate internal links within your content to guide readers to related articles on your site.
- Monitor SEO Performance: Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor your website’s SEO performance, identify issues, and track improvements.
By following these SEO tips, you can improve your WordPress site’s visibility in search engine results and attract more organic traffic.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up FeedBurner for your WordPress site and learned some valuable SEO optimization tips. Now, your website’s RSS feed is optimized for subscribers, and your content is better positioned to rank higher in search engine results. Keep monitoring your feed’s performance and continue creating valuable content to grow your audience and increase your site’s visibility. Good luck!