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Blog Basics 2: How to Code Links

December 14, 2005 by Liz

I found myself this week, teaching someone how to build links for the fifth time in so many months. . . . Yeah, sometimes I’m a little slow at realizing what I should be writing about.

Even if you’re a pro who already knows how to code links, you’re going to meet someone who doesn’t know. Showing someone how can be the start of a relationship. This document explains the how to of building links.

Before I begin, many people know that the quick-and-easy way to make external sidebar links is to use Blogrolling. Fewer know that the javascript of Blogrolling causes a blog to load more slowly or that search engine spiders tend to trip on it.

The healthy blog uses external linking built by hand. It takes longer to build links individually, but it’s not hard. It’s simple formula, fill-in-the-blank. Here’s the code.

The Code

Note the space after the first a. Note the quotes around the link.

<a href=“http://URL”>Link Anchor Text</a >
Voila! Get the characters where they go and that code shows this.

Link Anchor Text

The Code Explained: The Link Itself

“http://URL”

If you want to link to the blog itself, put the blog’s home page URL.

“https://www.successful-blog.com”

If you want to link to a specific post, code a Permalink, the permanent address of the post.

“https://www.successful-blog.com/1/blog-basics-1-comments-and-comment-policies/”

Some blog software offers a link below each post marked Permalink to take you to a post’s permanent address. In some, you get to the permanent address by clicking the title of the post. In Blogger, go inside comments. Once there, go to the top and click the title of the post.

You know you have the Permalink when the address in your browser’s address bar includes words from the title of the post.

The Code Explained: The Anchor Text

The link anchor text is the name or description you give the link. It’s a good thing not to name the same link with the same words every time. Search engines realize that humans are not consistent. See the anchor text I used to link my blog Letting me be . . . in the side bar of this Successful (and Outstanding) Blog for an example.

The little bit of extra time it takes to hand code links is good. It could be just the nudge we need to consider whether a link we’re planning is quality. The Checklist for Linking to Quality Blogs is a great test for making sure the link you’re about to build will add value and serve your readers.

There I go again talking about readers. In the end everything comes down them.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Collaboration Link 3: An Event

December 13, 2005 by Liz

Collaboration Link 4: An Event
One blog sponsors an event in which many blogs contribute

This kind of collaboration occurs in many forms around the Internet. Here are two of my favorites–one that occurs often and a second that is ongoing. This may seem similar to Darren’s Bloggy Crush Collaboration Idea, but the topics here are usually more centered within a certain niche and often chosen to establish participation within a young community or to suss out a large chunk of information on a business topic. Two exapmles jump to mind immediately.

1. A Carnival Carnivals are popular because each blogger can showcase hie or her own interests and strengths to the benefit of the group. Martin, a Successful and Outstanding Blogger, is part of a Marketing Carnival at the moment that has participant writing posts. One host collects seven and compiles them together into a link list as a group publication, pointing to the articles on each individual blog.

2. Let the Comments Be the Posts David at Glittering Muse thought a friend of his had a great idea when the friend pulled a well–written comment out into the light of day. So David started an ongoing readership appreciation event called Glittering Commentari. He has advertised and invited blogs all over the Internet to look through their comments to find particularly moving, insightful, or funny comments that can stand on their own and deserve credit for the great comments they are. You can find information on how to participate at Glittering Commentari.

These collaborations are just two more ways that bloggers have found to link their efforts, ideas, and quality content to make their blogs more relevant and their communities stronger. Learning from each other and sharing what we know . . . where have I heard that before?

Didn’t think I’d find another way to get comments into a post this week, did you? he he.

Wait until you see what’s next . . . 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Collaboration Link 1: Image and Text
Collaboration Link 2: Topical
Collaboration Link 4: Movable Posts
Collaboration Link 5: An Interview
Collaboration Link 5: Begs the Question
Collaboration Link 6: Media Events

Collaboration Link 2: Topical

December 9, 2005 by Liz

Collaboration Link 2: Topical
Two or more blogs agree to write on the same topic at the same time and link their posts

Topical collaborations can take many forms depending on topic and the blog owners involved. Darren Rowse at Problogger put out a challenge last September for bloggers to choose another blogger as a subject. He called it a Blog Crush, and it was meant to get bloggers to write posts about what they admire about another blogger. The original posts were linked to the admired, and Problogger linked both the writer and the subject.

If you follow this collaborative link example you’ll find out who was my Blog Crush.

Other Topical Collaborative Links include:

Ongoing Series Collaboration Two or more blogs in the same niche agree to write about the same topic, but different aspects of it. They post on the same day or days in series.
Posting in Parallel Collaboration–Points of View Two or more blogs agree to post on a controversial topic on the same day to argue their side of an issue.

Collaboration is a great foil for feeling like you’re all blogged out. It can bring new energy to an old topic, and liven up a tired crowd. Next time you’re wondering what to talk about, talk to another blogger about collaborating on your next post.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Collaboration Link 1: Image and Text
Collaboration Link 3: An Event
Collaboration Link 4: Movable Posts
Collaboration Link 5: An Interview
Collaboration Link 5: Begs the Question
Collaboration Link 6: Media Events

Collaboration Link 1: Image and Text

December 7, 2005 by Liz

Have you ever thought about collaboration as a creative way to make new links? It’s a great way to build community relationships as well as relevancy. How the collaboration works depends on the people involved and their blogs. I thought a few posts on collaboration links might be fun.

Collaboration Link 1: Image and Text
One person provides the text, the other the image.

I surfed a photo blog and this fabulous photo caught my attention. It had a caption that said

“You’re a photographer?” the child asked.
“No, I take pictures.”

I left a comment describing exactly what I liked about the photograph and how the caption inspired me. Then I emailed the photographer to say I would like to write a story about the photograph. Would he be interested? Would he share the photograph?

He said he’d like to see what I did with it and kindly agreed. What resulted was this collaborative link, “You’re a Photographer?”

A few weeks later a friend came to me. We had discussed working together, but we hadn’t yet hit on an idea–what should come first image or text? Then one day, he asked if he might use a story I posted to inspire a piece of art. Did I mind? I could hardly wait. What resulted was this collaborative link, “Dance with Me.”

These collaborations strengthened the blogging community. The links made the content on both blogs more interesting, more connected, more relevant. Personally, I enjoyed the chance to change things up a bit. It was cool to be blogging with a new friend and to feel like I was blogging on two blogs at once.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Collaboration Link 2: Topical
Collaboration Link 3: An Event
Collaboration Link 4: Movable Posts
Collaboration Link 5: An Interview
Collaboration Link 5: Begs the Question
Collaboration Link 6: Media Events

Checklist for Linking to Quality Blogs

December 3, 2005 by Liz

A successful blogger is always looking at other blogs to decide which blogs are worth linking to and just to get new ideas.

This second checklist: Checklist for Linking to Quality Blogs serves both of those purposes. It differs from the original Blog Review Checklist in the point of view and in the way the questions are worded. The values in this checklist are approached from a readers’ point of view. I hope you find it helpful for defining quality blogs around the Internet.

1. Audience:

2. Purpose: What is the purpose of this blog? Is the purpose stated plainly where you can see it? How well does the blog meet that purpose?

3. Content: How well does the content support the purpose? Is the content quality, relevant, readable, interesting, accurate, entertaining, and appropriate for the audience?

4. Design: How well does the look of the blog communicate the kind of blog it is? Is navigation easy and intuitive? Do items flow naturally from the first to the next? Do the color palette, image, and type choices support the content or call attention away from it?

5. Posts: Are the posts on a consistent schedule? Do they offer variety and interest within the blog’s purpose and theme?

6. Comments: Does the blog writer read and respond to comments to form a sense of community? Do you get a sense of community at this blog?

7. Technical Issues: Did the blog load fast in your browser? Was the experience more confusing or fun?

8. Writing: Is the writing clear and respectful of readers? Does the writing voice let readers know who the writer really is? Is the blog essentially free of errors in grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation?

9. Organization: Are there categories to draw you into the backlist? Is there an archive feature of “Golden Oldie”? that you would have interest in exploring? Are the Categories named things that you can understand?

10. Marketing: How would you promote this blog, if it were yours?

11. Persuading the Writer: If you are thinking of asking to link with this blog, what do you know about the blogger? What does your content bring that will add value to this blog? How might you persuade the blogger that your blog will enhance his or her readers’ experience? Find three specific links that show how your quality content ties relevantly to this blog’s content. Use this information to write a compelling argument for making a link.

Do you go through this list with every blog that you visit? Of course not. Use this list when you’re on reconnaissance, when you’re looking for quality homes for your links inside your niche or creative ideas outside your niche.

Follow this checklist with sincerity and you’ll not only get great links and ideas, your reputation will grow to be one of someone who cares about quality and long-lasting relationships.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Ignore Stinky Backlinks

December 2, 2005 by Liz

Ever check out a backlink and find yourself on a page that’s totally bogus?

In checking Letting me be . . . random wandering and philosophy
I have found backlinks on pages that are

a collection of sites with the word wondering in the title
a collection of sites with the word letting in the title
a page advertising a pet store, and one about bears–go figure!
a spam blog covered with links that had mine next to an explicit link for an adult site

I didn’t put them there. The first bunch were of no concern.

That last link was a problem. It occasionally came up in search engine listings with the name of my blog next to that explicit text, which made it look like my blog had adult content. Luckily it was a blogspot blog. I flagged it for removal.

If you find yourself with bogus backlinks, it’s usually best to ignore the little stinkers. The only way most can hurt you is if you return the favor and link back to them. Search engines know you can’t control who links to you.

Pretend you’re a rock star, who can’t pick your fans. Keep walking to your limo.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

deep dark blue strip 570

Nextweek: More on Links and Blog Design