I suppose some of these could be said for leaving comment as well. I'd rather link to someone because the content was relevant to a point I am trying to make.
I will definitely keep these in mind next time I link to someone from my site(s).
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
Ronald a lot of these most bloggers do to a small extent all the time, and you can fall into patterns of frequently linking to a smaller group of people because those are the ones who link to you the most, and who might be most aligned to your own point of view.
Even if you make a concious effort to link to some different people, I am sure a large number of the people you choose to link to might be in some way "payback" because you have noticed them linking to you in the past.
Many of these characteristics are a positive thing for whatever your point of view is, because it can inherently grow critical mass to a certain way of thinking.
As an example it is very rare for me to link out to blogs which aren't using some kind of dofollow because a lot of my feed reading time is now spent in the dofollow community I created.
Ronald Huereca
· 2 years ago
32 forms of linking truth.
I suppose some of these could be said for leaving comment as well. I'd rather link to someone because the content was relevant to a point I am trying to make.
I will definitely keep these in mind next time I link to someone from my site(s).
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
Ronald a lot of these most bloggers do to a small extent all the time, and you can fall into patterns of frequently linking to a smaller group of people because those are the ones who link to you the most, and who might be most aligned to your own point of view.
Even if you make a concious effort to link to some different people, I am sure a large number of the people you choose to link to might be in some way "payback" because you have noticed them linking to you in the past.
Many of these characteristics are a positive thing for whatever your point of view is, because it can inherently grow critical mass to a certain way of thinking.
As an example it is very rare for me to link out to blogs which aren't using some kind of dofollow because a lot of my feed reading time is now spent in the dofollow community I created.
Bill
· 2 years ago
You liked something they wrote, and wanted to share it with your readers?
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
Bill that is partially point 14, but I expanded it a little because if you are sharing good content with your reader you are hoping they will stick around for more good content.
Without that angle on the reason to link out, it wouldn't class as payola, so wouldn't be on the list. :)
There is also the additional factor that most people linking out would link out to someone already in their feed reader rather than searching Technorati or Google Blogsearch for a definitive review.
It is quite possible the reason someone ends up in your feed reader in the first place is because of one of the items listed above.
There is nothing ethically wrong with most of the things I have listed above, other than perhaps a total denial that this kind of linking happens.
Bill
· 2 years ago
You liked something they wrote, and wanted to share it with your readers?
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
Bill that is partially point 14, but I expanded it a little because if you are sharing good content with your reader you are hoping they will stick around for more good content.
Without that angle on the reason to link out, it wouldn't class as payola, so wouldn't be on the list. :)
There is also the additional factor that most people linking out would link out to someone already in their feed reader rather than searching Technorati or Google Blogsearch for a definitive review.
It is quite possible the reason someone ends up in your feed reader in the first place is because of one of the items listed above.
There is nothing ethically wrong with most of the things I have listed above, other than perhaps a total denial that this kind of linking happens.
RT Cunningham
· 2 years ago
I try to let people know why certain blogs are being linked to up front. I don't know if that qualifies as full disclosure or not, but it's usually the first thing on one of those types of pages.
Honestly, I don't know how you could link to someone and not fall into one of those categories, even by accident. I probably fall under number 14 a lot, but I don't think it has anything to do with demonstrating authority.
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
RT you link out so much I am frankly amazed at your level of productivity, and you "sell" the links extremely well, so I don't regard your drivebys the same as speedlinking posts.
I think it is frankly impossible to disclose every motivation when linking through to someone and many motivations are subconscious.
RT Cunningham
· 2 years ago
I try to let people know why certain blogs are being linked to up front. I don't know if that qualifies as full disclosure or not, but it's usually the first thing on one of those types of pages.
Honestly, I don't know how you could link to someone and not fall into one of those categories, even by accident. I probably fall under number 14 a lot, but I don't think it has anything to do with demonstrating authority.
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
RT you link out so much I am frankly amazed at your level of productivity, and you "sell" the links extremely well, so I don't regard your drivebys the same as speedlinking posts.
I think it is frankly impossible to disclose every motivation when linking through to someone and many motivations are subconscious.
Utah SEO
· 2 years ago
Wow, that's quite a comprehensive list. I can't think of anything that wouldn't fit into one of those categories.
Utah SEO
· 2 years ago
Wow, that's quite a comprehensive list. I can't think of anything that wouldn't fit into one of those categories.
Stephen Welton
· 2 years ago
You can relate to their purpose or you value their objective and want to see them succeed?
It's your mom? (:op
It is a great way to introduce yourself sometimes but I think you have compiled some of the underlying motivation of some bloggers.
Steve
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
You can relate to their purpose or you value their objective and want to see them succeed?
19. actually started off as something like that and I twisted it slightly further because of one link I saw yesterday.
I personally gain a great deal of satisfaction sending people lots of traffic and bringing them into the limelight.
At the same time you hear people (top bloggers) questioning why they didn't receive a "via" link, and because you empathise with the point of view, you could possibly have a subconscious or concious motivation in bringing the content to the attention of your readers.
It's your mom? (:op
Damn I owe my mum so much, if she ever stated blogging she would get link dropped at every possible occasion.
It is a great way to introduce yourself sometimes but I think you have compiled some of the underlying motivation of some bloggers.
I suppose if someone is blogging purely for themselves, with the blog blocked such that it can't be indexed by the search engines, no comments or trackbacks allowed, and no way to subscribe, a total black box, maybe even just on a desktop installed copy, then none of the above will creep in.
Whilst the list seems comprehensive, I did actually leave a few out.
Stephen Welton
· 2 years ago
You can relate to their purpose or you value their objective and want to see them succeed?
It's your mom? (:op
It is a great way to introduce yourself sometimes but I think you have compiled some of the underlying motivation of some bloggers.
Steve
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
You can relate to their purpose or you value their objective and want to see them succeed?
19. actually started off as something like that and I twisted it slightly further because of one link I saw yesterday.
I personally gain a great deal of satisfaction sending people lots of traffic and bringing them into the limelight.
At the same time you hear people (top bloggers) questioning why they didn't receive a "via" link, and because you empathise with the point of view, you could possibly have a subconscious or concious motivation in bringing the content to the attention of your readers.
It's your mom? (:op
Damn I owe my mum so much, if she ever stated blogging she would get link dropped at every possible occasion.
It is a great way to introduce yourself sometimes but I think you have compiled some of the underlying motivation of some bloggers.
I suppose if someone is blogging purely for themselves, with the blog blocked such that it can't be indexed by the search engines, no comments or trackbacks allowed, and no way to subscribe, a total black box, maybe even just on a desktop installed copy, then none of the above will creep in.
Whilst the list seems comprehensive, I did actually leave a few out.
Bill
· 2 years ago
Maybe 14, Andy, but your introductory paragraph makes it sound a little like all links are payola of one type or another, and sometimes links are just references - not to demonstrate your own authority, but rather to share with your readers something that you've found.
Stephen's first point is a good one, too.
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
Certainly within business blogging where any kind of concious goal has been set, there can be some kind of payola in almost every linking action.
You demonstrate your expertise extremely well through your blog, and that would be much harder to achieve if you didn't reference technical documents.
If you have readers you are trying to <ul> <li>Satisfy them</li> <li>Educate them</li> <li>Convert them into customers</li> <li>Hope they might link to you</li> <li>Help them see your point of view</li> </ul>
Linking out is a good thing to do, it is one of the hallmarks of good blogging and my favorite blogs are typically those that link out to others views frequently.
I have said I have linked to people for many of these reasons, in all honesty it is approaching half, but certainly more than 10 on the list.
That being said, it would be very hard to categorise altruistic anonymous editors on Wikipedia as linking as some form of payola, although many of those also create pages to improve their own standing within the Wikipedia community.
I agree sometimes links are just references, but here is an example.
Everyone was recently just writing about Mahalo. I wrote about it a couple of days later than many, a day later than most. I got to the end of the post and was just about to hit the publish button, and I consciously thought to myself, "oh I suppose as I like the service I should really give it a link" - I am sure most of my readers didn't need it, plus I think I had a reference earlier in the article as well.
Bill
· 2 years ago
Maybe 14, Andy, but your introductory paragraph makes it sound a little like all links are payola of one type or another, and sometimes links are just references - not to demonstrate your own authority, but rather to share with your readers something that you've found.
Stephen's first point is a good one, too.
AndyBeard
· 2 years ago
Certainly within business blogging where any kind of concious goal has been set, there can be some kind of payola in almost every linking action.
You demonstrate your expertise extremely well through your blog, and that would be much harder to achieve if you didn't reference technical documents.
If you have readers you are trying to <ul> <li>Satisfy them</li> <li>Educate them</li> <li>Convert them into customers</li> <li>Hope they might link to you</li> <li>Help them see your point of view</li> </ul>
Linking out is a good thing to do, it is one of the hallmarks of good blogging and my favorite blogs are typically those that link out to others views frequently.
I have said I have linked to people for many of these reasons, in all honesty it is approaching half, but certainly more than 10 on the list.
That being said, it would be very hard to categorise altruistic anonymous editors on Wikipedia as linking as some form of payola, although many of those also create pages to improve their own standing within the Wikipedia community.
I agree sometimes links are just references, but here is an example.
Everyone was recently just writing about Mahalo. I wrote about it a couple of days later than many, a day later than most. I got to the end of the post and was just about to hit the publish button, and I consciously thought to myself, "oh I suppose as I like the service I should really give it a link" - I am sure most of my readers didn't need it, plus I think I had a reference earlier in the article as well.
jim
· 2 years ago
great article and great list. Couldn't think of a new reason I enjoyed every word
jim
· 2 years ago
great article and great list. Couldn't think of a new reason I enjoyed every word
Lord Matt
· 2 years ago
Sometimes I link to people just to get their eyeball. SometimesI link because I want people to think I am nice.
Mostly I link to tel people what I am talking about (I link to myself a lot) but sometimes I also link just to let people know what I am reading (like this).
Lord Matt
· 2 years ago
Sometimes I link to people just to get their eyeball. SometimesI link because I want people to think I am nice.
Mostly I link to tel people what I am talking about (I link to myself a lot) but sometimes I also link just to let people know what I am reading (like this).
Tinu
· 2 years ago
I link because I can't keep my big mouth shut. This is SO diggable...
Tinu
· 2 years ago
I link because I can't keep my big mouth shut. This is SO diggable...
Mark from Bloglyne.com
· 2 years ago
@Tinu - I am right there with you *grins*
@Andy - I am still at the point where I am hoping folks will just leave comments or BUMP my articles... at this point if somebody leaves a comment, I usually try to find a way to mention them in an article or something... so, I can really relate with the reasons outlined in this article.
Mark from Bloglyne.com
· 2 years ago
@Tinu - I am right there with you *grins*
@Andy - I am still at the point where I am hoping folks will just leave comments or BUMP my articles... at this point if somebody leaves a comment, I usually try to find a way to mention them in an article or something... so, I can really relate with the reasons outlined in this article.
Simonne
· 2 years ago
Until reading your article, I just linked. I never thought about the author of the blog, I didn't care too much time for reciprocity (be it about links or comments), I always tried to build relevant links for my articles (or to put in there my affiliate links, which I almost gave up, as they barely show any benefits for my bank account). Now, you gave me a lot of ideas and reasons to link ;) I liked your list.
Simonne
· 2 years ago
Until reading your article, I just linked. I never thought about the author of the blog, I didn't care too much time for reciprocity (be it about links or comments), I always tried to build relevant links for my articles (or to put in there my affiliate links, which I almost gave up, as they barely show any benefits for my bank account). Now, you gave me a lot of ideas and reasons to link ;) I liked your list.
Alex Goad
· 2 years ago
Hey Andy,
This is a great post. Most of the links you describe are happening every day, used by people that turn their noses up at "creative" or "manipulative" linking, yet they are largely uninclined to turn the loop onto themselves.
I know you're a big fan of complete disclosure. I for one think it has to stop somewhere. On the otherhand, the hypocrisy of some really gets to me.
Sorry for rambling. Bumped.
Alex Goad
· 2 years ago
Hey Andy,
This is a great post. Most of the links you describe are happening every day, used by people that turn their noses up at "creative" or "manipulative" linking, yet they are largely uninclined to turn the loop onto themselves.
I know you're a big fan of complete disclosure. I for one think it has to stop somewhere. On the otherhand, the hypocrisy of some really gets to me.
Sorry for rambling. Bumped.
Teli Adlam
· 2 years ago
If something catches my attention, I link. But, I'll admit that I've been guilty of linking for more than a few of those reasons listed.
Sometimes it's difficult to find content or anything link worthy outside of your small circle of friends because that small circle of friends is all we know.
Maybe it's time to do a "spread the link love" game where we all link to some new blog that we've never heard of before...just because. :)
~ Teli
Teli Adlam
· 2 years ago
If something catches my attention, I link. But, I'll admit that I've been guilty of linking for more than a few of those reasons listed.
Sometimes it's difficult to find content or anything link worthy outside of your small circle of friends because that small circle of friends is all we know.
Maybe it's time to do a "spread the link love" game where we all link to some new blog that we've never heard of before...just because. :)
~ Teli
Mike
· 2 years ago
On the whole I link out because I believe it adds value to the article I've written. It either reinforces what I'm saying or adds some background. Sure, a little bit of link love back never goes amiss but I don't remember ever linking out to someone purely with that intention in mind.
However some of the other points definitely pricked my conscience and you've made me think about how I link out in the future.
Mike
· 2 years ago
On the whole I link out because I believe it adds value to the article I've written. It either reinforces what I'm saying or adds some background. Sure, a little bit of link love back never goes amiss but I don't remember ever linking out to someone purely with that intention in mind.
However some of the other points definitely pricked my conscience and you've made me think about how I link out in the future.
lakedaemon
· 2 years ago
Great post Andy, and thanks for the Blogger Trackback advice, have used it to trackback here, though I don't know if it succeeded. May have balls it up...
lakedaemon
· 2 years ago
Great post Andy, and thanks for the Blogger Trackback advice, have used it to trackback here, though I don't know if it succeeded. May have balls it up...
All Comments
I suppose some of these could be said for leaving comment as well. I'd rather link to someone because the content was relevant to a point I am trying to make.
I will definitely keep these in mind next time I link to someone from my site(s).
Even if you make a concious effort to link to some different people, I am sure a large number of the people you choose to link to might be in some way "payback" because you have noticed them linking to you in the past.
Many of these characteristics are a positive thing for whatever your point of view is, because it can inherently grow critical mass to a certain way of thinking.
As an example it is very rare for me to link out to blogs which aren't using some kind of dofollow because a lot of my feed reading time is now spent in the dofollow community I created.
I suppose some of these could be said for leaving comment as well. I'd rather link to someone because the content was relevant to a point I am trying to make.
I will definitely keep these in mind next time I link to someone from my site(s).
Even if you make a concious effort to link to some different people, I am sure a large number of the people you choose to link to might be in some way "payback" because you have noticed them linking to you in the past.
Many of these characteristics are a positive thing for whatever your point of view is, because it can inherently grow critical mass to a certain way of thinking.
As an example it is very rare for me to link out to blogs which aren't using some kind of dofollow because a lot of my feed reading time is now spent in the dofollow community I created.
Without that angle on the reason to link out, it wouldn't class as payola, so wouldn't be on the list. :)
There is also the additional factor that most people linking out would link out to someone already in their feed reader rather than searching Technorati or Google Blogsearch for a definitive review.
It is quite possible the reason someone ends up in your feed reader in the first place is because of one of the items listed above.
There is nothing ethically wrong with most of the things I have listed above, other than perhaps a total denial that this kind of linking happens.
Without that angle on the reason to link out, it wouldn't class as payola, so wouldn't be on the list. :)
There is also the additional factor that most people linking out would link out to someone already in their feed reader rather than searching Technorati or Google Blogsearch for a definitive review.
It is quite possible the reason someone ends up in your feed reader in the first place is because of one of the items listed above.
There is nothing ethically wrong with most of the things I have listed above, other than perhaps a total denial that this kind of linking happens.
Honestly, I don't know how you could link to someone and not fall into one of those categories, even by accident. I probably fall under number 14 a lot, but I don't think it has anything to do with demonstrating authority.
I think it is frankly impossible to disclose every motivation when linking through to someone and many motivations are subconscious.
Honestly, I don't know how you could link to someone and not fall into one of those categories, even by accident. I probably fall under number 14 a lot, but I don't think it has anything to do with demonstrating authority.
I think it is frankly impossible to disclose every motivation when linking through to someone and many motivations are subconscious.
It's your mom? (:op
It is a great way to introduce yourself sometimes but I think you have compiled some of the underlying motivation of some bloggers.
Steve
19. actually started off as something like that and I twisted it slightly further because of one link I saw yesterday.
I personally gain a great deal of satisfaction sending people lots of traffic and bringing them into the limelight.
At the same time you hear people (top bloggers) questioning why they didn't receive a "via" link, and because you empathise with the point of view, you could possibly have a subconscious or concious motivation in bringing the content to the attention of your readers.
Damn I owe my mum so much, if she ever stated blogging she would get link dropped at every possible occasion.
I suppose if someone is blogging purely for themselves, with the blog blocked such that it can't be indexed by the search engines, no comments or trackbacks allowed, and no way to subscribe, a total black box, maybe even just on a desktop installed copy, then none of the above will creep in.
Whilst the list seems comprehensive, I did actually leave a few out.
It's your mom? (:op
It is a great way to introduce yourself sometimes but I think you have compiled some of the underlying motivation of some bloggers.
Steve
19. actually started off as something like that and I twisted it slightly further because of one link I saw yesterday.
I personally gain a great deal of satisfaction sending people lots of traffic and bringing them into the limelight.
At the same time you hear people (top bloggers) questioning why they didn't receive a "via" link, and because you empathise with the point of view, you could possibly have a subconscious or concious motivation in bringing the content to the attention of your readers.
Damn I owe my mum so much, if she ever stated blogging she would get link dropped at every possible occasion.
I suppose if someone is blogging purely for themselves, with the blog blocked such that it can't be indexed by the search engines, no comments or trackbacks allowed, and no way to subscribe, a total black box, maybe even just on a desktop installed copy, then none of the above will creep in.
Whilst the list seems comprehensive, I did actually leave a few out.
Stephen's first point is a good one, too.
You demonstrate your expertise extremely well through your blog, and that would be much harder to achieve if you didn't reference technical documents.
If you have readers you are trying to
<ul>
<li>Satisfy them</li>
<li>Educate them</li>
<li>Convert them into customers</li>
<li>Hope they might link to you</li>
<li>Help them see your point of view</li>
</ul>
Linking out is a good thing to do, it is one of the hallmarks of good blogging and my favorite blogs are typically those that link out to others views frequently.
I have said I have linked to people for many of these reasons, in all honesty it is approaching half, but certainly more than 10 on the list.
That being said, it would be very hard to categorise altruistic anonymous editors on Wikipedia as linking as some form of payola, although many of those also create pages to improve their own standing within the Wikipedia community.
I agree sometimes links are just references, but here is an example.
Everyone was recently just writing about Mahalo. I wrote about it a couple of days later than many, a day later than most. I got to the end of the post and was just about to hit the publish button, and I consciously thought to myself, "oh I suppose as I like the service I should really give it a link" - I am sure most of my readers didn't need it, plus I think I had a reference earlier in the article as well.
Stephen's first point is a good one, too.
You demonstrate your expertise extremely well through your blog, and that would be much harder to achieve if you didn't reference technical documents.
If you have readers you are trying to
<ul>
<li>Satisfy them</li>
<li>Educate them</li>
<li>Convert them into customers</li>
<li>Hope they might link to you</li>
<li>Help them see your point of view</li>
</ul>
Linking out is a good thing to do, it is one of the hallmarks of good blogging and my favorite blogs are typically those that link out to others views frequently.
I have said I have linked to people for many of these reasons, in all honesty it is approaching half, but certainly more than 10 on the list.
That being said, it would be very hard to categorise altruistic anonymous editors on Wikipedia as linking as some form of payola, although many of those also create pages to improve their own standing within the Wikipedia community.
I agree sometimes links are just references, but here is an example.
Everyone was recently just writing about Mahalo. I wrote about it a couple of days later than many, a day later than most. I got to the end of the post and was just about to hit the publish button, and I consciously thought to myself, "oh I suppose as I like the service I should really give it a link" - I am sure most of my readers didn't need it, plus I think I had a reference earlier in the article as well.
I enjoyed every word
I enjoyed every word
Mostly I link to tel people what I am talking about (I link to myself a lot) but sometimes I also link just to let people know what I am reading (like this).
Mostly I link to tel people what I am talking about (I link to myself a lot) but sometimes I also link just to let people know what I am reading (like this).
@Andy - I am still at the point where I am hoping folks will just leave comments or BUMP my articles... at this point if somebody leaves a comment, I usually try to find a way to mention them in an article or something... so, I can really relate with the reasons outlined in this article.
@Andy - I am still at the point where I am hoping folks will just leave comments or BUMP my articles... at this point if somebody leaves a comment, I usually try to find a way to mention them in an article or something... so, I can really relate with the reasons outlined in this article.
This is a great post. Most of the links you describe are happening every day, used by people that turn their noses up at "creative" or "manipulative" linking, yet they are largely uninclined to turn the loop onto themselves.
I know you're a big fan of complete disclosure. I for one think it has to stop somewhere. On the otherhand, the hypocrisy of some really gets to me.
Sorry for rambling. Bumped.
This is a great post. Most of the links you describe are happening every day, used by people that turn their noses up at "creative" or "manipulative" linking, yet they are largely uninclined to turn the loop onto themselves.
I know you're a big fan of complete disclosure. I for one think it has to stop somewhere. On the otherhand, the hypocrisy of some really gets to me.
Sorry for rambling. Bumped.
Sometimes it's difficult to find content or anything link worthy outside of your small circle of friends because that small circle of friends is all we know.
Maybe it's time to do a "spread the link love" game where we all link to some new blog that we've never heard of before...just because. :)
~ Teli
Sometimes it's difficult to find content or anything link worthy outside of your small circle of friends because that small circle of friends is all we know.
Maybe it's time to do a "spread the link love" game where we all link to some new blog that we've never heard of before...just because. :)
~ Teli
However some of the other points definitely pricked my conscience and you've made me think about how I link out in the future.
However some of the other points definitely pricked my conscience and you've made me think about how I link out in the future.