Have you ever thought about starting a small topical directory of blogs in your niche?
Done with consideration, a small directory of resources that you’ve hand-picked with your readers in mind can be a real service. The service, often called “pre-selection,” saves readers time when they’re looking for something they need. Here’s how to do it well.
- 1. Study your niche to determine the resources your readers might find useful to have in one place.
- 2. Determine the strategy for defining your listing–Will it have one or more category of resources? How many blogs do you wish to include? What choices you will make for readers? How many options will you offer them of each kind of thing? Know where and how you will set up your directory listing. Know how you will tell readers that the directory is available to them.
- 3. Use the Checklist for Linking to Quality Blogs here at Successful Blog or develop your own set of criteria for deciding whether a blog should be included. You want your directory to be small and to have a reputation for quality and relevance.
- 4. Invite publishers of appropriate blogs to join your directory. Be prepared to explain tactfully why others in your niche might not fit in the mix. It’s important that you hold the line here, not allowing links or friendship to tempt you to include blogs outside your strategy. You always have the option to reconsider by expanding slightly once the directory is known and its reputation is established.
- 5. Wait for at least three months, but begin planning how you might expand your directory list in logical ways outward from the resources you currently offer.
Keep in mind that quality needs to be top-notch as always, and you need to choose your links carefully. Your challenge is to prove that you’re not making a directory only for the links they bring.
Done right and well, however, a professional listing can offer readers a resource they come to depend on. Your own credibility will be enhanced by the value of the listing you’ve given them.
You’ve built a community center at the very same time. That can’t hurt, now can it?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Indeed, Liz … blogs are like desserts ;-P
Wonkette editor Ana Marie Cox once said that âââ¬ÃÅPeople should have a complete media diet. Things like CNN, the Washington Post, the New York Times, that’s your roughage. That’s your green vegetables. That’s, like, what’s good for you. And then there’s what I do, which is like dessert. It’s not always good for you. It’s not very filling, but it’s tasty. It’s fun. It’s, you know, empty calories.âââ‰â¢
As the late, great A.J. Liebling pointed out, “Freedom of the press belongs to the man who owns one.” Blogging and online journalism has given new meaning to this.
Inside the cyberspace, we are all successes 😉 as blogs provide a filter against information overload. Often people say to me – I have no time to read any blogs … however, it is the exact opposite of the truth. Blogs are a very efficient way of filtering information; they consolidate information.
Hello Jozef,
I do enjoy your comments. They bring perspective to a part of the writing world that can take itself so seriously. The quotes you cite are a wonderful world view.
Thanks for stopping by to see me.
Smiles,
Liz
I prefer to call these “resources” rather than directories. To me a directory has too much bad press nowadays and are next-of-kin to “free for all” links pages and we all know how poor quality they are.
A very small listing of resources, including blogs, that you actually use and trust is a great place to start. If you are also interested in making a little money include some affiliate links, but of course try and recommend only products or services you have used yourself and know they are of good quality. You can hurt your reputation if you recommend junk or appear that you are only recommending something for the affiliate income.
Hi Yaro,
Good advice. I should have run this one by you. That title change really would be an improvement–for exactly the reasons you state. I was thinking that today. Do this right and it can make your reputation. If someone’s not going to take the time, then it’s not worth the risk of doing it wrong.
Thanks for stopping by. And congratulations on your newly purchased Small business blog. Guess you’re a tycoon now.
smiles,
Liz
This is something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. Our current “Elsewhere” page is powered by a few RSS feeds, which doesn’t make for much consistency.
Perhaps it’s time I actually sat down and thought about reworking that strategy.
What a great idea, Liz, which you’ve plotted quite well. I also appreciate the comments. Each provides new insights to consider before starting the project.
I’m adding this to my “another great idea to complete in my spare time” list. Back to the book.
Hi Yas,
I’m glad I offered you a nudge in the right direction. 🙂 What a neat name for a page on nooneslistening. Come around if you want to talk strategy. That’s my favorite subject.
Liz
Hi Shirley,
Thanks! The comments really do add to the idea; don’t they?
I’m really looking forward to that book of yours. I admire your dedication to it.
Liz