Why Full Text Feeds Actually Increase Page Views

Previous discussion is here…)

Techdirt: Why Full Text Feeds Actually Increase Page Views (The Freakonomics Explanation):

However, in our experience, full text feeds actually does lead to more page views, though understanding why is a little more involved.  Full text feeds makes the reading process much easier.  It means it’s that much more likely that someone reads the full piece and actually understands what’s being said — which makes it much, much, much more likely that they’ll then forward it on to someone else, or blog about it themselves, or post it to Digg or Reddit or Slashdot or Fark or any other such thing — and that generates more traffic and interest and page views from new readers, who we hope subscribe to the RSS feed and become regular readers as well.  The whole idea is that by making it easier and easier for anyone to read and fully grasp our content, the more likely they are to spread it via word of mouth, and that tends to lead to much greater adoption than by limiting what we give to our readers and begging them to come to our site if they want to read more than a sentence or two.

Interesting piece following up on a discussion I’ve been involved in. I can see the logic, too. Consier me, if not fully convinced, heavily swayed.

You might also want to read:

  1. more than you possibly want to know about RSS feeds… Okay, I think I have the RSS feeds figured out. Maybe. Here is what I’ve found out about why (some) folks are magically seeing partial...
  2. Team looking forward to full-strength Rivet San Jose Mercury News – Team looking forward to full-strength Rivet: His illness was mentioned in passing after he was traded to the Sharks in...
  3. Followup 2: Truncated RSS Feeds Kill Conversations Chuqui 3.0.1 Beta: followup: Truncated RSS Feeds Kill Conversations and Long Term Traffic: Technology Evangelist: The answer seems to be there’s no really good answer,...
  4. followup: Truncated RSS Feeds Kill Conversations and Long Term Traffic: Technology Evangelist Chuqui 3.0.1 Beta: Truncated RSS Feeds Kill Conversations and Long Term Traffic: Technology Evangelist: So, I want to toss this out. Once you decide you...
  5. Truncated RSS Feeds Kill Conversations and Long Term Traffic: Technology Evangelist Truncated RSS Feeds Kill Conversations and Long Term Traffic: Technology Evangelist: I am so tired of truncated RSS feeds. Why do you continue to work...