How to Expose Fake RSS Feed Subscriber Numbers
It seems like every where I go (as far as blogs are concerned), I seem to come across RSS feed subscriber numbers that look a little odd. They're odd because there aren't a whole lot of comments to coincide with the high subscriber count. That's almost impossible.
If you think what looks like an official FeedBurner chicklet showing the RSS feed subscriber count couldn't possibly be faked, guess again. How many of you check the source of the page? Where's that chicklet coming from? I can tell you with utmost certainty that I could make a chicklet like that and even make it look correct in the source of the page in under 2 hours, and that's with me being out of practice in coding. It would be even easier for me to fake a FeedBurner plain text feed count for all my feeds since I'd only have to edit the widget in the sidebar.
Why would someone fake their RSS feed subscriber count?
It's a marketing gimmick and it's unethical. Seasoned bloggers know that you don't show your RSS feed subscriber count if it's below 100 because it could have a negative effect on the casual reader. Some of them won't show it until it's above 200 (like me), or 500, or even 10,000 (see "Dosh Dosh Reaches 10,000 Subscribers (and the Reason Why People Subscribe to a Blog)").
The unscrupulous blogger will fake his or her RSS feed subscriber count in order to positively influence the casual reader into subscribing. It's very likely that the unscrupulous blogger has less than 50 actual RSS feed subscribers.
There's a free online tool that will expose the fakers.
I want to thank Grizzly for his article, "The Rating Blog – How to Game Your Stats" and for pointing out this online tool.
You can enter any FeedBurner feed address here: Feed Analysis v1.1 Analyzes Your FeedBurner Feeds. In just a few seconds, you'll get the complete feed statistics for a specified period. What you choose to do with the information, if you find a faker, is entirely up to you.
My own RSS feed statistics.
I was going to go through the trouble of capturing some screen shots and put them here, but I figured it was a waste of effort. My RSS feed subscriber count, as of right now, is 271 and that includes people who are subscribed to all 3 feeds. According to the tool, my blog is worth between $690 and $1380 in US dollars. I average 21 new RSS feed subscribers per month.
Of course, some of the numbers are based on the last 3 months, a tumultuous time for me. I left the Philippines for 30+ days and didn't write a whole lot while I was in the US. Doing stuff like that has a tendency to disrupt anything.
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That's a pretty cool tool even not for trying to bust someone. I've often been surprised that feedburner doesn't offer up any prettier stats/analysis.
Sigh. It says I've got 6 months before I get near 1000. Damn machines.
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Stop bragging, Matt.
That was really cool to check those stats! It says Wednesdays tends to be the worst day of subscribed visitors and Monday is the best. Good thing since I make sure I post on Mondays!
I read so much about the fluctuations of Feedburner stats and questions about how accurate the info is, I just don't get how Feedburner works. One day I see my subscriber numbers being 140 or so, and the next day it drops to 125. I don't get it.
The subscriber count doesn't actually change that much. If your subscribers don't look at their feedreaders every day, the numbers fluctuate. It's based on readers, not true subscribers.
Well, mine is really from Feedburner. I had no idea RT. You just know how all this stuff works and that's impressive.
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I'm so glad that I left all that shit behind. I used to get so wrapped up at looking at my RSS feed count. I've since deleted my feedburner account and am happy I don't have to worry if people are subscribing to my feed. I'm glad that people like Griz and Vic have the ability to tell it like it is.
Wow…never knew that some one will fake their number of subscribers…
BTW the feed analysis link u gave is awesome…
I used to login to my feedburner account to know the stats of the feeds…but now i have just created a bookmark of feed analysis with my feed burner url..
so it's very easy for me from now on to check my feeds stats…Thank you very much RT Cunningham..
Why use Feedburner anyway? I don't believe in outsourcing my blog RSS/XML myself.
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That's your choice. I'm just telling people how to check on the people that supposedly use FeedBurner counts, but lie about it.
I'm glad you posted this. I noticed your RSS stats are similar to mine – as are your Alexa rankings.
I've been suspicious about this for a long time, as you see folk who don't seem to get much traffic claiming to have thousands of subscribers. It's complete crap. And I think I lot more people fake them than many people realise.
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Hi,
Because I think for myself, I will subscribe to a blog because I like its content, independently of the number of subscribers.
I know the Doshdosh blog and is indeed a good one.
Kind regards,
José
I've seen a lot of sites with silly numbers, but finding out if they are true numbers has never really be a big deal for me. The RSS Tool is cool dodad though-thanks
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