For bloggers looking to expand their readership, this article has the perfect solution – utilizing the WordPress.com Follow Button. Despite its association with WordPress.com, this button can also be used on self-hosted WordPress blogs. If you’re new to the concept of WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress, be sure to check out our guide on the differences between the two platforms and how to migrate your site from WordPress.com to WordPress.org.
Enabling the Subscription Module
The WordPress.com Follow Button is available for WordPress.com users and those using the Jetpack plugin. Before we dive into the details, let’s take a look at the Subscription option offered by the Jetpack WordPress Plugin. Within Jetpack, there is a module called Subscription, which simplifies the process of blog subscription for readers. To get started, enable the subscription module from the Jetpack > Settings and save your changes.
Adding the Subscription Option
Once you’ve enabled the subscription module, you can now add a checkbox that allows your blog commentators to subscribe to your blog updates and comment notifications. Here’s an example of how this option would appear on your live site after enabling it.
To view your subscribed users, navigate to Jetpack > Site Stats. At the bottom, you’ll find a snapshot of how many people have subscribed to your blog using Jetpack subscriptions. You can click on the “blog” or “comments” link to see the subscriber details. Here’s a screenshot to give you an idea.
Leveraging the WordPress.com User Base
What makes the WordPress.com Follow Button even more interesting is the substantial number of WordPress.com users subscribing to blogs. In my case, out of the 22,000 subscribers, approximately 5,000 are WordPress.com users. Considering WordPress.com’s vast user base, wouldn’t you want your content to be promoted and marketed there as well?
Using WordPress.com Reader Feature
WordPress.com also offers a feature called Reader, which functions as an RSS reader for WordPress.com blogs and other blogs with RSS feeds. As a blog reader, you can access posts by logging into WordPress.com directly, using the WordPress iOS or Android app, or by enabling instant notifications for new blog posts. You can configure your desired delivery options here.
In summary, incorporating Jetpack subscription options and the WordPress.com Follow Button can significantly expand your blog’s readership. Now is the perfect time to ensure that your readers can subscribe via Jetpack subscriptions or the WordPress.com Follow Button. You can learn more about the WordPress reader and the following feature on their official website.
Adding the WordPress.com Follow Button
Now that you understand the benefits, let’s add the WordPress.com Follow Button to your blog. The only requirement is to have the Jetpack plugin enabled. If you meet this requirement, head over to the follow button generator page and create your custom WordPress Follow Button.
Feel free to configure options such as showing follower count or displaying your blog’s name. A quick tip: if you have fewer than 100 followers, it’s advisable not to show the follower count just yet.
Next, copy the button code and navigate to Appearance > Widgets. Add a text widget and paste the code. You can place it anywhere in your sidebar widget or even after your blog post by editing the theme file. When your blog readers are logged into their WordPress.com account, they can follow your blog with a single click. If not, they’ll be prompted to log in without leaving your site. Because this button is familiar to WordPress.com users, they’re more likely to click on it.
To further increase your subscriber count, try engaging with related niche blogs on WordPress.com. Leave thoughtful comments and include the WordPress.com Follow Buttons on your sidebar. By doing so, you’re more likely to convert readers from those blogs into your subscribers.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to view how many people have subscribed using only the Follow Button, so we can’t provide specific stats on its effectiveness. Nonetheless, this button takes up minimal space on your blog and has the potential to attract new readers. I can’t see any reason not to utilize this valuable subscription option on your blog. Give it a try and let us know how many new subscribers you gain!
