Comments on: 4 Characteristics of a Useful Link Post

By: LPT » Twit-Links: November 24-30

LPT » Twit-Links: November 24-30 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:55:55 +0000

[...] been torn for a while now trying to decide whether or not to do link posts here. After all, I finally broke down and created this blog (after IABC was terrific enough to make [...]

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:44:11 +0000

Thanks for a great post. It helps us all to be a resource for our readers. We need to include our thoughts about the links and not just have a list.

I like to see the link love posts. I find lots of interesting blogs and people that way.

By: Links loved, Twitter as aggregator — (|_| Drink Deeply |_|)

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:07:21 +0000

[...] link meme through Harry’s excellent response to Bob’s thoughtful consideration of how best to do link posts. From the standpoint that there can never be enough love, I’m continuing the trend. This here [...]

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:39:41 +0000

@Dorian - I'm so glad it hit home. I really enjoyed your take on the link post, by the way.

By: Dorian aka coffeesister |_|)

Dorian aka coffeesister |_|) — Sat, 31 May 2008 06:42:56 +0000

I'm really glad you followed up on this topic. Since Carolyn Bahm's ‘Once Upon a Bloggy Night’ link meme nearly 2 weeks ago, I've been tempted to do a link post for the 1st time. Not that I'm a fiction writer mind you -- that's Rhodester's department ~_^ -- but I enjoyed discovering which blogs she reads regularly. The reason I'd never considered a strictly link-lovin' post is that I do include links to other blogs whenever their content inspires me or what I'm writing reminds me of something I've read. As I read your tho'ts & the feedback, I'm now envisioning a place for a pop of link love each week amidst the persistent lovin'. ^_^ I'd already been working on a link post this week so will proceed, keeping all this good advice in mind but maintaining my unique take on it as I can't help but do w/everything. Thanx to each of you who've taken part in this conversation & you, Bob, for your tho'tfulness & timeliness in hosting it. <3 (|_|*cheers*|_|) “[Link] love is the condition in which the happiness of another [blogger] is essential to your [post].” -- Robert Heinlein [w/a twist he'd appreciate] Dorian aka coffeesister |_|)s last blog post..CHOOSE choice

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 30 May 2008 21:10:51 +0000

@ David – Thanks for stopping in! I can see what you’re saying about the link text within the a post. More than that isn’t especially pleasing to the eye.

By: David

David — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:10:30 +0000

I really enjoy your insightful view of writing ideas for an online audience. I have your blog feed on my blog for my readers to see your posts.

I try to put links within the context of my blog posts, such as:

“See what people on StumbleUpon have to say about Trellian” (StumbleUpon is the link)

I generally try to keep the link text down to 3 words or less, unless the meaning is lost.

By: 05/30/2008 Writing Jobs and Links | PoeWar.com Writer's Resource Center

05/30/2008 Writing Jobs and Links | PoeWar.com Writer's Resource Center — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:11:25 +0000

[...] 4 Characteristics of a Useful Link Post: This is the reason why I added some context today. [...]

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:41:05 +0000

@ Colleen – cool! I’m glad it was useful.

@ John – you’re welcome. I love the job links at your site, especially. I like the others, too – always sends plenty of traffic my way

@ Chris – I think it’s important to be liberal with the links, but also keep them useful. It can be hard to do, to be sure.

@ Joanna – I figured we were on the same page, or at least within a few pages

@ Liz – I hadn’t thought about it in that context: link posts instead of commenting. I guess it really is, like I mentioned in the article, about continuing the conversation, no?

@ Sharon – I agree. Context is key.

@ Rebecca – You’re quite welcome.

@ Bamboo – I agree. I can get headlines anywhere.

By: Bamboo Forest

Bamboo Forest — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:36:28 +0000

Remind me to be more careful when I post a comment.

By: Bamboo Forest

Bamboo Forest — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:27:51 +0000

I think link posts will be ideal when there is a short summary underneath each link;Instead of me having to rely on trial and error. The title may not be enough for me to really gauge if it's worth my time clicking. We can't expect what we write to be all encompassing. There are going to be other minds out there who touch on things we never would have. In that case, what could be more useful than relevant and useful links for the reader of ones blog? Bamboo Forests last blog post..I Survived Abercrombie & Fitch

By: Rebecca Smith

Rebecca Smith — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:36:28 +0000

Great info, Bob. Thanks. As a relatively new blogger, I appreciate your advice and perspective.

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:44:19 +0000

I’ve done both kinds of link posts. The long lists usually happen when I’ve collected a lot of links and haven’t posted in a while. However, I prefer the link posts where I can provide a context, and those are also the posts I prefer to read. If you’re going to suggest that I read something, then you should tell me why you think it’s important for me to do so.

By: Liz @ Creative Liberty

Liz @ Creative Liberty — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:27:41 +0000

Great post! I do a links post every week and I find the points you make about what makes a good post to be valid. I coalesce my links around my blog's topic (creativity and the creative process) and that seems to work for me. I don't always have time to comment on other blogs, so the link posts also serve double duty as a nice way to reach out to other bloggers in my general topic area. Liz @ Creative Libertys last blog post..Surf’s up: Creativity links for May 28, 2008

By: Joanna Young

Joanna Young — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:54:03 +0000

Thanks for the follow up Bob. You’ve identified the characteristics that I’d call ‘useful’ too.

I tend not to go beyond 5 in a list… unless it’s a post you’d expect someone to bookmark for future reference.

Joanna

Joanna Youngs last blog post..70 Million Definitions of "Blog" And Counting

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:46:46 +0000

I agree. I rarely link but when I do link it's because I know that my readers will find my link useful. Chriss last blog post..7 Things That I Should Have Done Before Becoming A Father

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:08:30 +0000

Thanks for the mention Bob. I include writing links because I do consider my site to be a "Writer's Resource Center" which means that I not only want to give them good information, I want to point them to good information. Its the same reason I post jobs, because I like my site to be an all-around resource, and there are a lot of writers out there looking for work. John Hewitts last blog post..05/29/2008 Writing Jobs and Links

By: Colleen Vanderlinden

Colleen Vanderlinden — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:48:41 +0000

Good one Bob. I needed this now. I’m planning on doing a weekly Sunday link love post on my About.com blog, but I don’t like seeing just a list of links—what you said about adding context to the links was dead-on.

Colleen Vanderlindens last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Ants on Peonies