Who do you link to, and how do you link to them? Meg makes a fair point in her snarky post (her words, not mine) about her blog turn-offs - that indiscriminate linking is not a good thing. She points out del.icio.us and other link lists are no substitute for real blog content.
Meg also challenges us to say what we think, rather than echoing what everyone else says. Fair enough - here are my four simple rules for linking with style:
- Rule 1: Don’t add a link without context - the link itself is valueless without some supporting text that allows the reader to make an informed decision on following it (or not).
- Rule 2: Only add a link to add value - don’t link just for the sake of it, make sure that the linked post/page supports the argument you are making in your post.
- Rule 3: Don’t add a hundred of them without a really good reason - you might be reporting on a group writing project, and this is OK - I’ve done it myself - but please don’t just make a Top 100 (or even a Top Five) without adding some text on why you think they are worth ‘top’ status (this is about adding context, rule one applies)
- Rule 4: If in doubt, put yourself in the reader’s shoes - is this a link that you would be happy to follow yourself if you were reading a similar post on someone else’s blog?
That is about it - four rules. If you can think of any more, please let me know and I’ll add them.
Hi Andrew
“Indiscriminate linking” is one way of looking at it. It’s when you’re inundated with post after post that contain nothing but reference to what the person “twittered” that day or the links they saved on del.icio.us, or what they stumbled. The easy answer is to say simply “unsubscribe”. The reluctance is that there’s great stuff in between.
I’m all for linking. But as Snoskred comments on my post, why not do a weekly (or twice a week) round up, and as you say, add a little value to it.
Nice rules, BTW
I have noticed quite an increase in the del.icio.us posts to the Bumpzee RSS communities. In fact earlier today when I went to read my feeds, the first 5 posts I saw on the do follow community were all del.icio.us link posts.
I am a huge fan of linking. I link like there is no tomorrow. However I would never inflict that del.icio.us stuff on my blog readers - I have no idea if you use it or who uses it, to be honest. I never even look at who the delicious posts are from, I simply scroll right past, but I did notice a major increase in them recently on a couple of the Bumpzee feeds I read regularly.
If I’m going to link, I’ll take the (small amount of) time and effort to put together a wrap up post. I save the links for once a week, and my blog readers know it, and that has taken a once slow day on my blog (sunday) to the most busy day on my blog. People love those wrap up posts because it often shows them blogs and articles they may never have seen before.
I wrote an article a while back - Blog Wrap Ups Made Simple And Easy which might be worth a read if you’re considering a wrap up option.
I wonder, are you reading the Bumpzee RSS feeds? If not, add them to your reader for a couple of weeks and you’ll soon see that echo chamber effect in action.
I think it is fantastic to sometimes pay attention to what the big names in blogging are saying, but I also think it is important to always put your own spin on it otherwise that echo effect can get way out of control. I have seen some bloggers take an article with numbers, eg 7 ways to (whatever) - they link to the original post, and they write their own thoughts on one, two, or maybe all 7 points the original blogger made.
Do you have a crazy egg on your site? I installed one a while back after Darren mentioned it on Problogger, and it is surprising how many people do click on links within posts - and very interesting to see how some links get clicked more than others, too.
Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org/
Hi Meg,
thank you for your comment.
I was using “indiscriminate” in the sense of “without discrimination”, i.e. they haven’t put much thought into it. I follow a few blogs that do it - on one I don’t mind the del.icio.us links as he is a friend whose links I like to look at anyhow. On the rest it is a little like watching someone else playing with themselves - unless you’re attracted to them their self-indulgence is a bit of a turnoff
I love the weekly roundup post, must get back into the habit myself.
Best regards, Andrew
Hi Snoskred,
thank you for your comment.
I only subscribe to the Australian Blogs Community RSS feed on BUMPzee at the moment, but I do need to subscribe to the others - and I agree 100%, it is very annoying reading page after page of other people’s del.icio.us links.
I don’t believe I’ve ever quoted someone famous without adding my own spin on it - at least I’ve tried never to do that consciously, and may have slipped. It’s about the reframing thing (which I do bang on about too much sometimes, admittedly) - I might run into a bad salesperson at a furniture store and reframe that as a lesson on blogging/consulting/life - and I might also read a Seth Godin post, and reframe that the same way. I think that the criticism would be a little fairer if all I ever did was just add to the echoes - but I agree wholeheartedly that fully original posts read better, and I’ve written more than a few of these also. I also agree that every blog is not for every reader.
I’ve done a few wrap up posts - was meaning to make it a weekly habit
- not quite there yet
Thanks for the tip on the crazy egg - I’ll add it to my todo list
Best regards, Andrew
Andrew - great analogy
Hi Meg,
thank you
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that kind of self indulgence - it is healthy. Just… if I’m not into it, they shouldn’t expect me to watch
Best regards, Andrew