An easy trick for inflating a RSS feed subscriber's count

Midwest · 08-04-2008, 10:29 PM

I know that most bloggers are honest when it comes down to their RSS feed subscriber's count..but there might be other bloggers who would rather prefer to game this count, in order to show their visitors/potential advertisers that their blogs really have a strong readership base, as well.

I saw a short video over at TechCrunch.com on this topic and thought to share it with you. Now, I'm not going to encourage you to do what is depicted in the video, but more to make you aware of this flaw in FeedBurner's system

Here's the clip I was talking about.. ( via TechChrunch.com )

masterweb · 08-04-2008, 10:33 PM

Thanks for sharing with us dude, BTW: i think inflating suscribers as also any other stat from a site is really pathetic...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midwest

I know that most bloggers are honest when it comes down to their RSS feed subscriber's count..but there might be other bloggers who would rather prefer to game this count, in order to show their visitors/potential advertisers that their blogs really have a strong readership base, as well.

I saw a short video over at TechCrunch.com on this topic and thought to share it with you. Now, I'm not going to encourage you to do what is depicted in the video, but more to make you aware of this flaw in FeedBurner's system

Here's the clip I was talking about.. ( via TechChrunch.com )

Midwest · 08-04-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masterweb

Thanks for sharing with us dude, BTW: i think inflating suscribers as also any other stat from a site is really pathetic...

You're welcome, Masterweb. And I agree with you here: it's nothing more pathetic than just gaming your websites'/blogs' stats. I mean, if you aren't able to show some real stats, why the heck are you still wasting time as webmaster?

masterweb · 08-04-2008, 10:50 PM

that's the wrong point (i think), i could be the best webmaster around the net but low earnings, traffic and stats doesn't means i'm a bad webmaster, coder, web designer...it just means i'm not a good marketeer or seller, or some like that (i don't know the right adjective in english) is just i must continue developing sites and letting other to manage them. As example i'm a bad coder, a bad witer but i'm good (i hope so) as network manager...you got my point?.-

So instead inflating stats i think is better change estrategy, concept and then continue ahead, without pishing people...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midwest

You're welcome, Masterweb. And I agree with you here: it's nothing more pathetic than just gaming your websites'/blogs' stats. I mean, if you aren't able to show some real stats, why the heck are you still wasting time as webmaster?

Midwest · 08-04-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masterweb

that's the wrong point (i think), i could be the best webmaster around the net but low earnings, traffic and stats doesn't means i'm a bad webmaster, coder, web designer...it just means i'm not a good marketeer or seller, or some like that (i don't know the right adjective in english) is just i must continue developing sites and letting other to manage them. As example i'm a bad coder, a bad witer but i'm good (i hope so) as network manager...you got my point?.-

So instead inflating stats i think is better change estrategy, concept and then continue ahead, without pishing people...

Yep, I get your point here

And changing the strategy on how you're marketing/administrating your site might some time be a wise move, as you've pointed out too..

Mr.Bill · 08-05-2008, 07:56 PM

Though if a site just started is producing good content people may not subscribe but if they see higher numbers they may think twice and go what am I missing then subscribe. It has been an old business trick for ages even before the internet. Something like a new checking account you can start with check #100 or 50k one way makes it look like a new account the other makes it look older. Works for car dealerships also. So a slight inflation is not a harmful thing so long as its not being done to sucker a potential buyer of the site.

Midwest · 08-05-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Bill

Though if a site just started is producing good content people may not subscribe but if they see higher numbers they may think twice and go what am I missing then subscribe. It has been an old business trick for ages even before the internet. Something like a new checking account you can start with check #100 or 50k one way makes it look like a new account the other makes it look older. Works for car dealerships also. So a slight inflation is not a harmful thing so long as its not being done to sucker a potential buyer of the site.

Hmm..interesting. Never heard of such a similar trick to work in real life too

Mr.Bill · 08-05-2008, 08:10 PM

Think radio stations inflate listener count tv stations viewer count, list goes goes on now the technique used in the video may not be the same but the inflation technique has and always will be

Probably go as far to say some election votes are inflated also

Midwest · 08-05-2008, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Bill

Think radio stations inflate listener count tv stations viewer count, list goes goes on now the technique used in the video may not be the same but the inflation technique has and always will be

Probably go as far to say some election votes are inflated also

I wouldn't wonder to hear that even votes are inflated too. I mean, anything is possible

08-04-2008, 10:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Midwest Qdoos Admin Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pitesti, Romania Posts: 506 Rep Power: 2 iTrader: (1) Midwest is extremely busy	An easy trick for inflating a RSS feed subscriber's count I know that most bloggers are honest when it comes down to their RSS feed subscriber's count..but there might be other bloggers who would rather prefer to game this count, in order to show their visitors/potential advertisers that their blogs really have a strong readership base, as well. I saw a short video over at TechCrunch.com on this topic and thought to share it with you. Now, I'm not going to encourage you to do what is depicted in the video, but more to make you aware of this flaw in FeedBurner's system Here's the clip I was talking about.. ( via TechChrunch.com ) __________________ The #1 marketplace for webmasters \| Learn to make money online @ MyPPCAdvertising dot Info \| Basic information about domains @ DomainNames101 dot Org \| Personal blog\| Check out some of the services I offer. Cheap prices and quality work guaranteed!

08-05-2008, 07:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr.Bill Salesman Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 54 Rep Power: 1 iTrader: (0) Recent Blog: [CaRP] Failed to open file: 7 Mr.Bill has no status.	Though if a site just started is producing good content people may not subscribe but if they see higher numbers they may think twice and go what am I missing then subscribe. It has been an old business trick for ages even before the internet. Something like a new checking account you can start with check #100 or 50k one way makes it look like a new account the other makes it look older. Works for car dealerships also. So a slight inflation is not a harmful thing so long as its not being done to sucker a potential buyer of the site. __________________ ▌Free Proxy Promotion ▌Myspace Proxy

08-05-2008, 08:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr.Bill Salesman Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 54 Rep Power: 1 iTrader: (0) Recent Blog: [CaRP] Failed to open file: 7 Mr.Bill has no status.	Think radio stations inflate listener count tv stations viewer count, list goes goes on now the technique used in the video may not be the same but the inflation technique has and always will be Probably go as far to say some election votes are inflated also __________________ ▌Free Proxy Promotion ▌Myspace Proxy

Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.qdoos.com/general-webmaster-chat/1262-easy-trick-inflating-rss-feed-subscribers-count.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
Feedburner video watched almost 15.000 times this week	This thread	Trackback	08-13-2008 03:03 PM