It started in the most natural way, someone read a post of mine and wrote one in response. I liked the response and respected the blog that it came from. I wanted my readers to know about it. It happened more than once. So I setup a feature called Two in a Row. It looked like this:
Two in a Row
Read this
Leaving a Guy a Place to Stand (the post on my site)Then read this
Giving a Guy a Place to Stand (the post on the other site)
I had built an outlink. Later, when my post became archived, I transferred the outlink to the post.
On the surface, a cynic might say such outlinks only serve the receiving site, but I disagree on several points. Here’s my best thinking on it.
- These outlinks serve readers and serving readers is why we’re here.
- Outlinks to quality sites get readers to associate us with good information, which means they’re likely to return.
- If I combine quality content with quality outlinks, the receiving blogs will be inclined to link back when the occasion arises. After all, they are already reading my blog, or the outlink would never have happened.
- Outlinks connect my content to other quality content which underscores the relevancy of my content and that of the receiver.
All of these values add strength to the community. In terms of community, generosity is always good.
–Me “Liz” Strauss
The rest of this week: More on Links and How Google Ranks Pages