\"\"

The SITS Girls

The Secret to Success is Support

How to Blog Using Link Posts

·

This post may contain affiliate links which may give us a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

A great exercise for bloggers is to write a post with a series of links. Linking out from your blog not only allows you to extend a conversation you are having with your readers outside the confines of your site, but it also helps you to build credibly as a blogger. By linking to other sources, you are demonstrating that, although you may not have all the answers, you are a credible source who knows how to find them.

Blogging Tip: Link posts and other posts with lists of resources give great value to your readers. They can help you, too. These tips will help you write the perfect link post.

Become A Valuable Resource To Your Readers With Link Posts

And as counter-intuitive that linking out from your blog may seem, doing so leads to readers who will want to return to your site again and again. Think of blogging as one giant shopping experience. When you are in a store and a salesperson doesn’t have what you are looking for, who do you find more helpful? The person who says, “Sorry!  Wish I could do more, but I can’t.” Or, is it the person who says, “I don’t have this item, but I know where you can find it. Let me help you.”

Your role as a blogger is very similar. Even though you may not provide everything a reader is looking for, you can help them find it. Maybe the information lies on another blog, in a news story, or even in a video. Helping others to answer their questions and find the information they are looking for on the Internet is incredibly valuable, and, in the end, will create loyal readers and help build your reputation as an expert.

Here are other reasons to link out from your blog:

  1. It gives something of value to your readers: While your readers come to your blog to read what you have to say, they are also always appreciative of links to quality content.
  2. It builds your credibility: Regularly highlighting what others are writing about in your niche shows your readers that you’re keeping up with changes and developments in your niche and that you’re connected.
  3. It builds relationships with other bloggers: There’s nothing like sending another blogger traffic to make an impression and build connections. More importantly, when you link to others in a constructive way that actually builds upon their ideas and adds value to a conversation they’ve started, it can often lead to ongoing interactions.
  4. It helps with SEO: Linking out to related content in your niche with relevant keywords as anchor text can impact upon how search engines see your site. You want to avoid going over the top and linking out too much, but a few links to quality content on your topic will demonstrate to a search engine that you’re an authority.

get connected
As with most things in blogging, the key to writing link posts that are successful is figuring out how to create something of value that your readers will find relevant and helpful.

When working on your link post, here are several points to consider:

1 – Always link to quality content. Your link to another website or blog is essentially an endorsement from you. Remember that your reputation is on the line if you link to questionable or poorly-written content.

2 – Link to smaller blogs, not just A-listers. This is a key step. Linking to A-list blogs is not a bad practice, but they are unlikely to notice your link since they get so many of them. Smaller blogs are more likely to notice, take the time to visit your blog and leave a comment or link back to you.

3 – Link to bloggers who are in your network. There is no better way to strengthen your existing networking relationships than by giving a positive endorsement or a link to a fellow blogger. Treat your friends this way and others will be lining up to be a part of your network.

4 – Link to bloggers who you have never had contact with. If you only link to your existing contacts, linking out will not help you to expand your network. Find other bloggers that you would like to have as a part of your network and link to them.

5 – Link to those who participate on your blog. Providing a link to active commenters is an extra incentive for readers to get involved on your blog, and it rewards them for their time and effort.

6 – Provide additional information. If you want your visitors to get the most out of your links, tell them a little bit about the posts that you are linking to. They’ll be more likely to click over if they understand what they will be seeing.

7 – Ask for reciprocal links. When you’ve found a blog post that you would like to link to, why not email the blog owner and ask them if they are interested in exchanging links? If you provide quality content on your blog that is relevant for their audience, many will be willing to reciprocate.

About Francesca

Francesca has an extensive background in content marketing, public relations, and social outreach. She oversees all Operations at Sway Group, including our robust metrics capabilities. Prior to joining the online world, Francesca oversaw viticulture and oenology at various wineries in both California and Italy, and managed regulatory affairs and facility approvals at the biotech company, Genentech. Francesca has been featured on CBS Sacramento and Food Blogger Pro’s podcast. She has also hosted an AMA webinar and spoken at Social Media World.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. seo company says

    54322877273748742223229884222 119278576505542 seo 2842222452287529694857 company 66579506822982212. 822934 seo companies 44225441223532718 top 122 8087443545822362201194717212922 seo company 837168 02222322685456434422213 2255622.53711 🙂

  3. gortchamber.com says

    Surprisingly very few items came up when I googled pool house/hotel with pool on Korčula, most of the result, was agencies offering the same units, so the selection was between a villa 10 km from Korčula town and a hotel in Lumbarda (4 km from Korčula town), when the internet marketers saw the pictures on the hotels homepage the decision was taken

  12. Wholesale Lacoste Polo Shirts says

    […] where you left off.Get Your Boyfriend Back Get Your Ex internet marketerfriend Back Get Your Ex Boyfriend Back Get Your Ex Back How To Get Your Ex Back This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. […]

  15. T-Byrd says

    I love linking up and regular link out. But like many of you I dont ask to be linked. And I also have a hard time remember where I found my inspiration.

    I have started used Pintrest.com to help me with that. you sign up for free. create categories. add it to you bookmark bar and when you find a site you like or think you want to blog about or link back to you just pin it and add a title.

    Then you can see a picture and your title all in one area with a link back to the original site you found it on.

  17. Cynthia says

    Thank you for sharing this. I had been linking out even before reading this because I love to share my finds with others. Little did I know of all of the BENEFITS of doing so! Brilliant!

    Cynthia

  18. Cynthia says

    Thank you for sharing this. I had been linking out even before reading this because I love to share my finds with others. Little did I know of all of the BENEFITS of doing so! Brilliant!

  19. Anne Province says

    Great advice. I am new to blogging as of March and have so much to learn. I love how you provide tips and reasons that make sense to beginners. Thanks!

  20. anna ~ random handprints says

    every month i link to great crafts i’ve found for the upcoming holidays – so many wonderful things being created by other people and i love to share them with my readers!

    i should definitely start thinking of other ways to link out, too! thanks for the tips!

  21. Marie Noelle says

    Every Friday, my post is called Friday’s Findings and link to great post I have read during the week on other blogs! I love to share them with my readers because I always think that if I liked those links, they might too!

  22. Christine says

    This is something I’ve done since day 1 and it has really enriched my blogging experience and connections with other bloggers. Great advice!

  24. Renee W. says

    I always try to use quality links to add to my blogs. Things that I would love to know about myself… I’ve linked to other bloggers & have exchanged them occasionally, but I haven’t seen a huge benefit from it other than strengthening the relationship.

  26. Bobbi says

    I have linked a couple of times but have never asked for a link. I guess because I am a food blogger I have just assumed that unless they are blogging about the same thing they wouldn’t want to link to me. I will be on the look out for it now.
    On a good note I did meet a few ladies at the BBCSEA that spoke about sharing links so they may be my first 🙂
    I do have links to blogs I enjoy reading though and after finding so many at BBCSEA I will be adding to that list quickly!

  27. Mutant Supermodel says

    The number one reason I like writing link posts is because I like reading them (most of the time). I have to say, the hardest thing for me is to keep track of what kinds of things I want to link back to. It’s just not a habit I’ve gotten into. I even have a folder for it!

  28. Michelle says

    Great tips! I frequently link to outside sources, but have yet to really connect with others in my niche for networking. That’s something I really need to work on, but the amount of time it takes can be too much for me. I end up feeling tethered to my laptop when I’d rather be doing something else. I guess it all comes down to finding a schedule and strategy that works.

    Peace. 😉

  29. Susan in the Boonies says

    Great reminder to do more of these! I admire bloggers who exhibit generosity of spirit, as they point people in the direction of things that might be of value to them.

  30. elona washington says

    This is a great tip. I do provide links but I have yet to ask for reciprocal link. Don’t know why I’m so hesitant, but it’s great advice I will be taking. Thanks!