Linking Relationships
The blogosphere is a web of connections made by links from blog to blog. The strongest relationships and the links that last longest are those that are made between bloggers.
If you want a link from a blogger you’ve not yet met, you’re really asking for a vote of trust. The link I give to your blog or your blog post means that I’ve tied my name to yours. Naturally any blogger would be more inclined to give your link a home, if you show it will be in the blogger’s best interest.
Who wouldn’t want to link to you if your link improved their readers’ experience in some meaningful way?
3 Easy Steps to Persuade a Quality Blogger to Link to You
Choose carefully when finding home for your links. Hopefully, you’re starting a long-term relationship. You want to be part of a network of quality people. Let’s imagine that the blogger you want to link to is me.
Here’s how you might persuade me in three easy steps.
- Do Your Homework
- Plan a Link that Adds Value
- Persuade an Individual (not sir or madam)
Get to know me and my blog. Make a a project of finding out who I am and what I write about. Study my blog and my readers’ comments. In other words, do a little homework.
So many people peddle their blog posts from blog to blog without even bothering to read the front page. You’ll stand out if when you say, “I’ve been reading your blog . . .” and what follows that shows that you really have. Chances are, if you show a real interest in my blog and your idea is off, I might suggest a new idea for you to try.
No one needs a link on their blogroll. No one needs a random blog post that’s unrelated to a blog’s readership. Find a reason that your post that ties well to one I wrote. Show how your post expands on a topic that my readers have an interest in. Explain how the subject your content compliments mine or offers a point of view my readers might enjoy.
When you send that email, be personal and gently persuasive. Don’t talk about yourself; talk about what you are offering.
Please be simple and brief. Realize that I wasn’t waiting with nothing to do until your email came and that I probably still have plenty to get done. Doesn’t everyone these days? I want to see a compelling reason for your using your link. I can’t say “yes” to everyone, but it’s not fun to say “no” either. It’s real luck when a clear thinker comes along — someone who knew exactly what to offer that really does add value for my readers.
You lose nothing if I refuse. Make a good case, and a friendship could be starting. If you researched the blog you want to link, you’ve probably learned a few new things.
If your post goes up, you’ve made a connection to a quality blog. Hopefully that blog will grow into old age with yours, sharing many links along the way. We’ll all meet to discuss how the bloggers who come asking for links never seem to do their homework, don’t show how they’ll add value or personally offer a compelling reason why we might want to link.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Very smart post Liz!
It’s really just using the same things we learned as kids from our moms: you are knnown by the company you keep, so make sure you link your name to someone you can trust; be thoughtful and polite and it will come back to you a thousand times; treat others as you wish you be treated. Just because you’re in cyberspace doesn’t mean you throw common sense out the window, and are allowed to be a jerk. Let’s hope we never lose sight of that fact.
Anita Bruzzese
http://www.45things.com
Hey Anita!
Thanks! Yeah, I guess, I’ve turned into the “mom” that’s saying it now. I’m cool with that.
I love this part that you wrote Just because you’re in cyberspace doesn’t mean you throw common sense out the window, and are allowed to be a jerk. Let’s hope we never lose sight of that fact.
We can hope. 🙂
I think #3 is the most important point – whenever I see any “dear sir” emails or messages I delete them immediately. My name is all over my blog – it ain’t hard to find it.
Hi Jeremy!
I know what you mean. It’s kind of sad that folks don’t know better.
I have people write asking how to be an S.O.B. on the day that the exact information is sitting boldly on my front page.
(You should stop by open comments if you have a minute . . . we’ve a nice conversation going on there. 🙂 )
Great post Liz. Thanks. You should consider making it into a session in SOBCon.
Very helpful from a newcomer to the conversation. Thank you.
One problem are the bloggers who want the benefits of the social networking, but aren’t really interested in the conversations themselves or being in relationship to the human beings involved.
One’s comments or links lie there like so much wasted breath.
Is it about power? Is it a way to say, “I am the thought leader here, and you are not.”
I find the lack of mutuality disrespectful.
Thanks for being different! And always helpful.
Hi Codswallop!
Thank you for that great idea!
I’m going to use this as part of my presentation. 🙂
You’re a genius, like I’ve always said.
Hi Karl!
It’s easy to start to think that online works SO differently than the 3-D world does. That can’t possibly be true . . . we’re still people.
Do you think there is more of a lack of mutuality here? Or that it’s more noticeable because it is easier to quantify through comments and links left unanswered — it’s harder to do the equivalent in person. 🙂
Good point. In fact, I think the web, and social networking on the web in particular, have both contributed to the possibility of mutuality and increased participation in the conversation.
In the businesses I work with, it’s usually the people with titles and positions of power on the organizational chart who have the voice in the business. Once online, everyone has a voice and a chance to share their wisdom, creativity and passion for life and work. There’s somehow room for everyone at the table.
You are a key leader in this transformation.
Hi Karl,
I don’t know how key I am. . . .
I agree that here there is room for everyone at that table. Maybe that’s why it’s so obvious when a voice is missing or when reciprocity doesn’t happen. :
Liz, you are so right, this is just like talking to a stranger or making business with them.
you touched the right points.
Tanny
http://www.Learn2Earn2.com
It’s quite fortuitous that I should read this article when I’ve been toying with the idea of writing an article about trust myself, portions of which emerged earlier in todays post:
“It is inevitable that trust will be the number one currency on the web. Trust is more easily given than it is bought. The more people who trust something or someone, the more value is given, which will therefore (most likely) attract more trust and amass more value.”
And trust as a currency — while being free from exchange rates — is often difficult to sell but earns some excellent interest…
Hi Wayne!
I hear your thoughts on trust and I smile. I so agree. When we work in a world where we cannot see, trust is more than currency it is a vital statistic. 🙂
Excellent interest. yes.
I suppose it’s about building upon one success with another.
The allure of making money from ‘blogging means money making schemes often come before trust, respect and authority — which is like putting the cart before the horse!
The same has obvious implications for link-building campaigns, too…
Hi Wayne!
I suppose people have always looked for a faster way to their goals. After all dealing with other people can be so . . . so messy. 🙂
It’s just too bad that bloggers always choose the easy way out and request for a link outright, rather than spending time doing a little homework 🙁
Yeah, Pelf,
It’s sad that we forget that at the other end of the link there is a person.