What Criteria Factors Into Your Link Love/Round-Up Posts?
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No matter what you call them; Link Love, Link Round-Up, Post Round-Up, Article Round-Up, or another; they are all the rage around the blogosphere. It is indeed a great way to not only show some love and respect to fellow bloggers, but to share some pretty awesome post finds with your readers.
It’s true, some do use them as “filler” posts, but that’s OK too. They are almost always at least somewhat useful, and they do take a little time to set up. However, if you’re the type to only post once per week, don’t make a month’s worth of posts just round-ups; your readers will not appreciate it.
Anyhoo, back to the point…..what, if any, criteria do you use to factor what link(s) goes into your roundup posts? Do you have a set list of “rules” and go LOOKING for great posts? Do you just happen upon a cool post and think, oh my I must save/share this! Or is it something different?
Now obviously “great content” is a given…or at least it better be…so I’m looking for any other thoughts that run your mind on what makes an article worthy of inclusion.
Curiosity abounds…..
Dennis
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Tags: Article Round-Up, Blog Articles, Link Love, Link Round-Up, Post Round-Up
Jaq @ Net Age Web Design
Kev
Latief@AnotherBlogger
sherry
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:47 am
A big thank you to those that have shown me love with inclusion into your link-love posts. I apologize for not saving and sharing them here, but I will in the future!
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
For me, it just has to be unique. If it’s another “10 steps to make money online”, no way it’s going to make a link love on frogstr
In fact I don’t make a lot of link love post, when I read something I think is worth it, I just write a quick post. Just like I did recently for the Google presentation.
When I read a post, if it’s unique, catch my attention and brings value, it’s a winner!
Ben Tremblay.
Ben Tremblay´s last blog post..BenTremblay: @orinthe I agree with you and understand your point, but because of search.twitter.com, followers will come naturally if you are active.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
hey Dennis,
Good question. I have no problem with “filler posts” if they include good (or entertaining) info and good links.
I link to other posts that I find exceptional. Being pretty new to blogging and reading other blogs, I am surprised and impressed that there is some really great stuff out there. The truth is there is also a lot of mediocre stuff, or worse yet, borderline garbage (but then again, maybe one man’s garbage is another man’s ambrosia, I don’t know). But I figure if enough of us link to the cream, it will rise to the top!
~ Steve, aka the ambrosia-seeking trade show guru
Steve | Trade Show Guru´s last blog post..Top 3 Trade Show Display Design Mistakes
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I have to apologize if I’m not 100% clear on what a link roundup post is, however I’ll tell you if I’m going to link out to another post in an article it has to for one be a very iintelligent well written article that I feel me readers will appreciate and two it has to be somewhat relevant to the article at hand. Perhaps Dennis you could give me the full definition of linklove/roundup.
Gerald Weber SEM Group´s last blog post..10 Examples of Creative Twitter Uses
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
For me to link to a post in my (not quite)weekly post, it must be unique, entertaining, and something that either I feel is important to pass along or my readers would enjoy.
Admittedly, part of the reason I don’t post a link post each week is because I never seem to have the time to hunt down great posts…I’m working on a solution to that however…
Nick´s last blog post..Violent Video Games and Violent Behavior - Correlation: Not Cause and Effect
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
@Gerald, for some examples of these types of posts, check out the following:
The “Speedlinking” posts here.
All the posts on this page.
tThe “What’s Up Wednesdays” posts here.
Hope these examples help clear this up for you. I know it’s not exactly a definition, but it may be easier to understand these by viewing examples rather than for someone to try to explain/describe them.
Nick´s last blog post..Violent Video Games and Violent Behavior - Correlation: Not Cause and Effect
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
A lot of the time for me it is all about giving back to those who have been active on my blog. I just chose my favourite posts from the last week from my most active commenters.
I don’t really do link love posts anymore, but I love reading them on other blogs, because it gives me a way to find new blogs.
Tom - StandOutBlogger.com´s last blog post..SMART Goal Setting For 2009
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
You probably know I don’t do roundup post. In most cases, I do link out to those who deserves the link love in my article based on the following reasons
1. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours
2. Getting the attention of fellow bloggers
3. Lastly and most importantly, providing additional resources for my readers
4. The very last one, telling the bloggers, “hey, it’s been a while since you linked out to me. Care to show some love now?”
Do you fall into any of the categories?
Yan
PS: I’m seeing a decent # on your susbcribership, are we celebrating a 200 mark soon?
All the best and happy holidays.
Blog Tips for Beginners´s last blog post..101 Blogging Tips I’ve Learned in 2008
December 24th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I don’t do a lot of Link Love post. When I started, I figured that it would be a regular feature, but now I am just trying to focus on building my content to my site. The link love is doled out when I am feeling like showing some love for my readers and/or I see something that really catches my eye.
Sorry, no real formula for generating link love.
Freddie Taylor´s last blog post..IME#1: Conclusion to How to Create an eBook with Help
December 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Mostly it’s posts that make me say “Ah-haa!” … a sort of revelation type post written with a sense of humble humor.
Caleb´s last blog post..My $5 Indefinite Advertising Special
December 24th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Well for me to include a post in a link love it really has to teach me something, and it must be something new. I will never link to a “10 Wordpress Plugins” list.
Blog for Bloggers´s last blog post..How Much To Post: That Is The Question
December 24th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
As I regularly read posts on the blogs I read, I will save those that I think will be helpful to my readers, I have a special bookmark folder, title Must Reads and that is where I save those posts that stand out.
Also, there are certain bloggers who know the importance of networking, helping each other to rank and link building and so they are generous with link juice, if you link to them they will always link back, I feel the same way so I link to them, as long as the posts are relevant to my readers.
Link luv is trippin again, that is not my last post
JR’s Internet Marketing Strategies´s last blog post..15 Great Wordpress Plug-Ins: SEO, Subscribers, Bounce Rate and More
December 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I’ve never had a link round up, so to speak, but I have participated a couple of times on Blog Day, where one lists 5 blogs that other people may not know anything about. I have obviously used links to other’s blog posts whenever they can enhance my post, and I’ve thought about a link love article from time to time, but it just seems like so many other people do it that I wouldn’t be doing anything different.
Then again, there is one of Yan’s last posts that I thought was very creative: http://thoushallblog.com/101-blogging-tips-i-learned-in-2008/
Mitch´s last blog post..Answering Someone Else’s Marketing Questions
December 25th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I’ve never done it before…My blog is kind of new anyway..But I’m going to try it - I need to network with bloggers better
MEJI - 365Hustle.com´s last blog post..CutePDF Writer - My Christmas Present
December 26th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Ben - “when I read something I think is worth it, I just write a quick post.”
I prefer this method myself, if I have enough to add to it. It not only gives specific link love, but a nice way to add fresh content and get the discussion flowing.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Steve - “The truth is there is also a lot of mediocre stuff, or worse yet, borderline garbage”
This is the problem with so many entering a niche just because they see others are successful. Everyone copies off the one before them and no one but the first (who ever that may be) actually knows what he/she is talking about…..more “personal experience” articles is what’s needed.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Gerald - Nick’s examples are spot on. Basically it’s a “round-up” of posts a blogger finds on multiple blogs, that he/she wishes to share with their own readers.
Nick - slick
December 26th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Tom - “I just chose my favorite posts from the last week from my most active commenters.”
I like this idea. I’m thinking up different ways to start doing it in the new year.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Yan - your #3 is the best way for sure as it’s win-win-win. Do you research other posts in any specific manner before writing yours?
Point taken on #4
I hope to be seeing 200 soon, thanks for noticing!
December 26th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
JR - care to share that list of “certain bloggers”?
Thanks for sharing your methods of saving links as well.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
MEJI - welcome aboard! Yes, networking with other bloggers and building your community is what it’s all about!
December 26th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Do you research other posts in any specific manner before writing yours?
I’m guessing you are referring to #3. They are already there in my Google bookmark. All I need is to pick the best one to link to.
Yan
Blogging Tips´s last blog post..101 Blogging Tips I’ve Learned in 2008
December 26th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Sure I can share the list, it’s at Grizz’s site and can be found here: http://makemoneyonlinegrizzly.com/friendz-of-griz/
Also, check out the “niche support” page he links to at the bottom of that post, good link partners can be found there.
JR’s Internet Marketing Strategies´s last blog post..15 Great Wordpress Plug-Ins: SEO, Subscribers, Bounce Rate and More
December 27th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Yan - ah ok, I get all mine via email.
December 27th, 2008 at 10:18 am
JR - thanks! I’ll check out both ASAP.
December 28th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I started doing round-up posts in the last couple months. For me, it was a way to share all those ‘water cooler’ interesting facts I’d found during the week.
As I find interesting articles and posts during the week, I store them in my stumbleupon account (http://afhill.stumbleupon.com). Then at the end of the week I look back at what caught my eye during the week. Depending on what I see, I may or may not have a theme. For example, this week I did some major housecleaning on my blog, so my resources will likely be more about information architecture and wordpress plugins. Next week it could be about something else..
http://www.afhill.com/blog/category/series/wrap-up/
Andrea Hill´s last blog post..Social Media Mullets
December 28th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Andrea - I like your methods. Do you use the “series plugin” for that category too?
December 30th, 2008 at 3:03 am
@Dennis - what series plug-in?
I have ’series’ as a category and ‘wrap-up’ as a sub-category, so I use standard wordpress categorization..
Andrea Hill´s last blog post..What’d I Miss? Top Findings from 12-22 - 12-28
December 30th, 2008 at 11:19 am
It’s amazing how things work out. As i went to the original download page I discovered the plugin was no longer supported; however, this one was mentioned instead…
http://unfoldingneurons.com/neurotic-plugins/organize-series-wordpress-plugin
I haven’t used either yet, as I haven’t really done a series of posts, but I hear they do amazing things as far as ease of use for the reader.
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I don’t really do link love posts (at least not yet). If I write a post that I think others have had a good input or interesting view of I will link to them. But it is usually be people who I am subscribed to- I don’t go search out new authors.
Jen´s last blog post..How to Determine Your Posting Frequency
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Hey Jen, that’s pretty much the way I am. I’m subscribed to many as it is (and ever growing).
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I’ve only just started this for 2009 and I purposely haven’t read the other comment as I didn’t want them to effect the way I responded to the question. I plan to link to those posts or blogs I found especially interesting. The amount of posts I do will depend on how many interesting blogs I come across.
Sire´s last blog post..Commenting 101 Important Rules For 2009
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Excellent plan Stan - err - Sire. I like it.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 pm
OK Dennis, that one went completely over my head. Did I miss something? That’s in regards to ‘Stan’
Sire´s last blog post..Commenting 101 Important Rules For 2009
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
LOL Nah nuthin really, just an expression.
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Yep, got me again. That is one I haven’t heard of before. I actually went through your comments to see if I mimicked something that ‘Stan’ said previously. Nope, no Stan, and so I just had to ask. Thanks mate.
Sire´s last blog post..Aussies, How Much Are The Banks Overcharging You?
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
NP buddy.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:02 am
When I round up posts to link to I usually do it because, like Andrea, I want to share some recent resources that I have found. I read and comment on dozens of articles each day. I bookmark the ones that are especially good so that I can link to them later.
At other times, I might be solving one of my own questions or I am looking for opinions on a topic. So I’ll link to ‘voices’ in the industry.
And of course, sometimes it is a ‘filler’ post.
Shirley´s last blog post..Velvet Blues Is Now Comment Friendly!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
@ Shirley - LOL @ filler post. No problem there as long as it’s useful. I dunno about others, but i always find good links in those posts.
I like your style with it too.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:34 am
[...] What Criteria Factors Into Your Link Love/Round-Up Posts? [...]
January 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am
[...] in the spirit of Dennis Edell’s post about link love posts, here are a few sites that I haven’t gotten around to linking to yet, but deserve [...]
January 21st, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I think that if a post really grabs my attention in any way, in regards of having useful information, entertainment, etc., then I like to share it with the readers.
~ Kristi
Kikolani | Poetry, Photography´s last blog post..My Flickr Meme - Creating A Mosaic
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 21st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
@Kikolani | Poetry, Photography,
Hey Kristi, long time no see, thanks for joining us again!
Kikolani | Poetry, Photography Reply:
January 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
@Dennis Edell, Your welcome. I took a little online hiatus… had a lot of stuff going on. But getting back into the swing of things, starting with some new posts and catching up on my subscriptions.
~ Kristi
Kikolani | Poetry, Photography´s last blog post..My Flickr Meme - Creating A Mosaic
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 21st, 2009 at 7:32 pm
@Kikolani | Poetry, Photography, totally understandable and welcome back!