Andy Beard - Internet Business Systems Discussion - Latest Comments in Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

lakedaemon — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:04:46 -0000

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...

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

lakedaemon — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:04:46 -0000

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...

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Mike — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:35:16 -0000

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Mike — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:35:16 -0000

However some of the other points definitely pricked my conscience and you've made me think about how I link out in the future.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Teli Adlam — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:18:32 -0000

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

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Teli Adlam — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:18:32 -0000

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

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Alex Goad — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:45:53 -0000

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Alex Goad — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:45:53 -0000

Hey Andy,

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Simonne — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:45:18 -0000

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Simonne — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:45:18 -0000

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Mark from Bloglyne.com — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:49:29 -0000

@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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Mark from Bloglyne.com — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:49:29 -0000

@Tinu - I am right there with you *grins*

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

AndyBeard — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:28:37 -0000

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

AndyBeard — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:28:37 -0000

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.

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.

I agree sometimes links are just references, but here is an example.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

AndyBeard — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:58:24 -0000

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

AndyBeard — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:58:24 -0000

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.

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.

Whilst the list seems comprehensive, I did actually leave a few out.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Tinu — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:58:02 -0000

I link because I can't keep my big mouth shut. This is SO diggable...

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Tinu — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:58:02 -0000

I link because I can't keep my big mouth shut. This is SO diggable...

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Lord Matt — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:53:38 -0000

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).

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Lord Matt — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:53:38 -0000

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).

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

AndyBeard — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:38:40 -0000

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

AndyBeard — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:38:40 -0000

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.

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

jim — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:21:00 -0000

great article and great list. Couldn't think of a new reason
I enjoyed every word

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

jim — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:21:00 -0000

great article and great list. Couldn't think of a new reason
I enjoyed every word

Re: Top 32 Forms of Linking Payola

Bill — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:09:19 -0000

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.