I recently came across a post on SocialMouths about 15 powerful blogging blogs to follow. I do my best to keep up with the movers & shakers in my niche and I recommend you follow the movers & shakers in your niche too!
I was already following several of the bloggers mentioned on the list of 15, but the ones I wasn't, I added to my reader.
And by the way, if following more blogs about blogging isn't something you want to make time for, no worries. Stick with me and I'll do my best to cull the good stuff and pass it on to you here. 
Speaking of passing on good information…
Why is it important to follow the movers & shakers in your niche?
Well, I'm sure we could come up with a lot of reasons why (tell us why you think it's important in the comments!), but one of the main reasons I do is because I watch them. I watch what they do, what they don't do, what seems to work for them and what doesn't.
Let me tell you, these are bloggers that know how to run a successful blog. And since we're all bloggers, we can learn a lot from how they do what they do.
Of the powerful blogging blogs to follow, what is the one thing every. single. blogger on the list has?
No need to look through them all, because I'll tell ya.
They all have an email sign up form on their site. They don't just link to their email sign up form, they make their email sign up form front and center.
Why is an email form so important?
Email subscribers are more valuable than RSS subscribers. It's true. Why? Because having an email subscriber means having permission to make direct contact with someone in the event you want to market your own product, generate some extra buzz, get feedback, etc.
Of course, spamming your email list and thoroughly annoying them will make the whole operation backfire, but having access to specific people can be priceless.
Big bloggers everywhere are talking about the importance of building your email list. In fact, many say it's one of the most important things you can do as a blogger.
So what should you do?
Put your email subscription form directly on your site, of course! Make signing up as easy as possible. Don't make a reader click through if they don't have to.
How do you put your email form on your site?
Well, the process will depend on the service you use, however, I'll go over the steps in FeedBurner since it's a popular and free choice.
1. Login to FeedBurner.
2. Choose the appropriate feed by clicking on its name.
3. Click on the "Publicize" tab.
4. Click "Email Subscriptions" in the left column.
5. Copy the code in this box:
6. Paste that code into a text widget on your blog. (Here's how to use widgets in WordPress.)
That's it!
I actually already have one…I didn't know how important it was, though. Thanks for always providing clear instructions!!
That's always encouraging, isn't it Monica? I love it when I do something brilliant without even realizing it.
Hey Amy,
Thanks for the mentioning Socialmouths! I love your post, mostly the simplicity to explain technical matters, it's very clear.
Just followed you on Twitter and hope to stay in touch.
Thanks for stopping by Fancisco and thanks for the follow. I very much appreciate your blog and look forward to digging into the archives when I get a chance!
I'll be doing this today. Thanks Amy for making things so easy to understand. Although I don't always comment your posts are always helpful!
I'm so glad it's helpful.
I've been reading your blog faithfully for the last month or two and have already learned SO MUCH! You explain things clearly and simply enough for even computer challenged people like me!
Thanks!
Gina
I'm so glad. Thanks!
When we put our newsletter sign-up in a pop-up window our sign-ups went from 5 or 10 a day to 25-40 a day!
I put it off and put it off because I didn't want to "offend" anyone with our pop-up but I sure wish I would have done it sooner!
Tawra
Wow! That's great!
Thanks. I actually just added this the other day. Glad to know it's important. Wish I knew how to make a more custom-looking one. Perhaps too complicated for me, though
FeedBurner is good, but free and unsupported. if you prefer a more feature-rich, supported (but not free service), try FeedBlitz.
For a feature comparison, see http://kb.feedblitz.com/article/AA-00444
Thanks!
Phil Hollows
Founder
FeedBlitz, LLC
http://www.feedblitz.com
good call. i actually didn't have one on my current site. wondering if the one i just put on will generate more email subscribers than i was getting before
Thank you for the tips!
I don't have many email subscribers, and I was wondering how to go about encouraging more people to subscribe via email. Thanks for the idea!
I did this, and moved it above the fold (just above the posts), and I already have more email subscribers in one week than I've had in the life of the blog! Thanks!
amy, i love all your simple, easy tips. thank you.
You're welcome!
Thank you, Amy! Going to add one right now!
♥ Michelle
Just did it in TypePad…thanks! You would think that after blogging as long as I have I would have done this by now! Kim
Oh man, I've got a corner on the gotta-do-that market for sure!!
I've done the feedburner thing and have a place where readers can subscribe. What I'm not sure how to do is to check on who has subscribed…is there is place I can go to see the email addressses of subscribers or even a number of people who've subscribed?
Thanks so much!
Wendy, the technically challenged blogger
See how challenged I am? I put my email address instead of my website. Maybe that is more of a reading challenge…sigh.
Oh no worries. You'll soon be a pro…there's a lot to remember at the beginning!!
Yes, login to FeedBurner, click on your feed title. Click on the "Publicize" tab–>Email Subscriptions–>Scroll down to the very bottom and click the link that says "View Subscriber Details." You should be able to see all your email subscribers listed then.
Is there a way to do this in the directory on my blog. I have buttons for signing up for my feedburner, but it goes to signing up for my feed. I want them to sign up for my actual email, but I have to go directly into my code to change it. I can do that, but am technically challenged as well. I use Cyber duck and am hosted by IXWebhosting (which I HATE and am planning on changing soon.
When you say "I want them to sign up for my actual email" you mean you want them to subscribe to your feed via email, correct? If so, login to FeedBurner, click on your feed title, click the "Publicize" tab, then "Email Subscriptions" on the left. That will take you to "Subscription Management" and you'll want to copy the code in the first box that you see. Paste that code into a widget in your sidebar on your blog. I hope that helps!
I did it! Cuz you said too of course:)
Thanks
Amy!!
LOL! Man, I wish my kids were so agreeable.
I am having a bit of difficulty with this. I followed your instructions and cut and pasted the code into the box, then I clicked save, and the code went from 8 -10 lines of code to 3. It shrunk. Then when I checked my site, the "enter email" is there and the 'powered by feedburner' is there but there is no field to type and email address in. How do I keep the code from shrinking? Is there another way to activate it without pressing 'save'?
I've done this at least 6 times wondering what I'm doing wrong.
Any thoughts?