Most Popular Blog Posts vs RSS

Since we have about 30% more site visitors and RSS subscribers over the past 2 months (post digg malarkey too) I thought I’d update the list of most popular blog posts for Online Marketing Blog. Such a roundup can be a great way to reveal interesting content to readers that are new or who haven’t been long time readers of a blog.

Most popular web page posts according to web stats – past 12 months excluding home page:

• RSS Button Maker
• Social Bookmarks Tool
• Getting Listed in News Search Engines
• 25 Tips for Marketing Your Blog
• Must Read Search Marketing Blogs
• Interview with Adam Lasnik of Google
• New Rules for Social Media Optimization
• Blogger Relations 101
• OMB Resources
• New Matt Cutts Videos

The RSS buttons tool made by Thomas is 200% more popular than the next most popular item, which is understandable. It ranks #1 on Google, Yahoo and MSN for “RSS Buttons” and because users of the tool have the option to include a link back to it when they place the button code on their blog, there are over 60,000 links pointing to it. Also, it’s an older item. The more time a post has been published, the more likely it will have had readers.

Most popular posts via RSS Feed according to Feedburner stats – all time:

• Blogger Relations 101
• Must Have Directory Submissions
• Must Read Search Marketing Blogs
• SEO for Newbies
• Blogs Rock for SEO, SMO and PR
• Lowdown on Spamming Social Media
• Why Use Social Media With Your Press Release
• Jill Whalen Interview – SEO Seminar Minneapolis
• RSS Feeds and Online PR
• Resources for BtoB RSS Marketing

The difference in popularity between blog post web pages and entries in the RSS feed is pretty interesting. It gives some great insight into what people respond to based on the format in which they’re exposed to your content. The reading and clickthrough to RSS feed entries are not influenced by finding the content on another blog, through search or social media since the content is being delivered via RSS subscription in a reader of some sort.

What I’m not 100% sure on is whether the change in topical interest since the last time I did this reflects the changes in content being posted or audience interest. I suspect it’s both.