Monday Marketing Tip #6: Promote Your Blog with Headline Animator

Monday June 11, 2007

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a way to create a branded link to your blog that was constantly updated with the latest headlines? While it's certainly technically possible to syndicate blog headlines via RSS, you typically can't just stick that in your social networking profile, discussion forum signature or e-mail signature.

A couple of years ago, FeedBurner introduced their Headline Animator service, which solved the problem by creating an animated GIF file -- something you can easily use in just about any venue. The only problem was that the headline animator only came in one size and style -- 200x67 pixels with gray gradient background and a prominently displayed FeedBurner logo. Plus, the headlines were only one line long and typically not long enough for many headlines:

This past December and January, FeedBurner overhauled their Headline Animator service with a number of useful enhancements, the most important of which is the ability to create highly customized headline animations using your own backgrounds. This allows you to keep a consistent branding as well as create IAB standard ad units for use in advertising networks.

So now I can easily post a links to one or more of my blogs in my social networking profiles and e-mail and discussion forum signatures like so: