Linkers Losing Out With Link Lackluster

I’ve been slammed more than a few times for my opinions on link lists by whiners who think that glorified link lists are content. Yes, that was mean to say, but I mean what I say. Link lists as posts are fine when used occasionally, but not consistently, as blog content. Here is a lovely example of what I mean:

While there are some successful blogs out there that are predominantly link blogs they generally add value to the content they link to and/or do it on the back of having built an audience around some other factor…Setting yourself apart from the millions of other blogs out there means you need some sort of unique selling proposition – linking to the same stuff everyone else does is just not going to do it for you.

I’m not anti link blogs – but I think bloggers (especially new ones) need to have realistic expectations about what they can achieve with them. If you’re going to be a link blogger make sure you either mix in some truly original posts, link in a unique way that is an attraction in itself or be able to find the most wonderful mind-blowing collection of links ever known to humankind!
ProBlogger – No One Links to the Linkers

Darren Rowse highlights a post he found by Andrew Garrett called “No One Links to the Linkers”, which I recommend you read.

Site Search Tags: write, writing, writer, link, linker, lists, content, link+popularity, connect, connecting, linkability, value
Copyright Lorelle VanFossen, member of the 9Rules Network

Member of the 9Rules Blogging Network

4 Comments

jamesthoenes

Posted June 19, 2006 at 7:26 am | Permalink

Back when the web was new, everyone had a favorite links page. I am sure I am not the only one that tended to hunt for links to follow. That is really what “surfing the net” is. You really relied on the help of others to find links to good content.
Back then, Google did not exist. The other search engines were not very useful. In fact, Yahoo was really just a collection of links.
Now it is much easier to find good content on the web. Using any of the search engines will get results that will help you find what you need.
Links, just for the sake of links, is kind of useless.
A link with an opinion is useful. A link to a resource and why is useful. A list of my favorite links as content just doesn’t hack it anymore.
BTW, I alway rely on the links to resources here because they come with useful descriptions on what I’ll find there and what use it will be to me.
Thanks

Edrei

Posted June 19, 2006 at 7:35 am | Permalink

When you come to think of it, that’s why del.icio.is was created. To showcase your favourite links and otherwise free your content from becoming just another link farm. Link lists are alright when you have a point. Not many people realize that and at the end of it, to me at least…it’s just another form of spam.

John

Posted June 19, 2006 at 11:26 am | Permalink

Interesting ideea

Petit

Posted June 22, 2006 at 5:00 pm | Permalink

Hey Lorelle!

You get away with anything, I’d say 😉
When I read your post I’m not aware this is a chain letter.
It’s about “no one links to the linker”, right?
So what happens? Well of course I follow the link – is that stupid?
And more interestingly I land on a blog commenting on and linking to the original author’s blog.
And I follow *that* link and finally come to read the interesting post entitled, what do you know, “No one links to the linker”.

How come I got that far?
I guess I’m in the exact position to follow links to read intersting stuff.
Why do I?

One answer may be that when I blog, it’s often because I found some interesting thing on another blog, and I comment and link. It certainly is harder to come up with something original and interesting enough to get readers.

Another is: simply because I know you wouldn’t link to anything less than interesting.

You get away with it again!
How do you do ( it ).