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Newcomers to blogging may be puzzled when they first encounter a linky, or link up, or in some cases, a blog hop party. What is it and why do people do it?
To put it simply, a linky is when a host blog invites other blogs to link up a post, with the purpose of giving the linker and host, additional blog traffic and comment love.
It is also a great way to build an active blogging community, introduce the host blog’s readers to other blogs, and in some cases, provide blogging inspiration by providing a writing prompt or theme for the linky.
10 Tips For a Successful Link Up
Aside from post linkys, some blogs host blog hop linkys as a way to grow their blog, by inviting bloggers to link up their blogs or a social media profile, such as their Facebook page or Twitter account. It’s a great way to meet new blog friends!
Want to try hosting one?
Here are 10 tips for a successful linky.
1. Choose a Linky Tool
The top two tools are Linky Tools and InLinkz. You can register for a free account, and choose to upgrade to a premium account at a later date. Premium accounts mean that you have more options to customize your linky. Research each tool, talk to other bloggers, then decide which tool you prefer to use.
2. Decide on the Type of Linky To Host
Will it be a weekly writing prompt such as Mama Kat’s Pretty Much World Famous Writer’s Workshop? Or do you prefer to host a Wordless Wednesday linky? It could be something simple, inviting bloggers to link up a favorite post of the week like our very own Saturday Sharefest. Pick something that you are interested in, that you can commit to.
3. Select a Catchy Name
Your linky name should be short, easy-to-remember, and preferably SEO-friendly. If you’re hosting an Instagram linky, make sure that’s reflected in your linky name. The name should also be fairly self-explanatory, so don’t be vague.
4. Design a Fun Button/Logo
Linky hosts usually require participating blogs to include a linky button in their post and/ or a link back to the host. This is a great way to advertise your linky, so make sure your button is pretty, and that all the pertinent details are there – linky name and your blog URL or name. Such as “Instagram Tuesdays Linky, hosted by PhotoBlog.com”. You can easily design a button using PicMonkey.
5. Decide on Your Schedule
How often do you want to host your linky? Weekly? Every other week? Monthly? What day of the week should you do it? Research existing linkys – what days are their linkys? Do you want to clash with theirs if it’s a similar theme? Does it matter? What days are good for blog traffic? Pick a day, and stick with it.
6. Get a Co-Host
Aside from spreading the workload of creating, hosting and promoting a linky, having a co-host is a great way to give your linky more wings. By combining your heads, readers, and social media following, you can reach a wider audience.
7. Promote It
Okay, you’ve decided on a linky name and theme, how often and when you want it to go live, and designed a cute button – what now? Promote, promote, promote! You can write about it in a blog post the week prior, and have frequent reminders on the blog by inserting the linky button in your sidebar, and talking about it on social media. Engage a few blog friends to help you share it everywhere!
8. Visit All the Participants
Your linky is now live! You’ve been promoting it and you have linkers, awesome. I cannot emphasize how important it is that you and your co-host visit each and every linker. Head on over, read their blog post and leave a thoughtful comment. Remember to thank them for linking up, it’s only good manners.
9. Promote Your Participants’ Link
To show your appreciation to your participants, promote their link on social media. Tweet it, share it on Facebook, +1 it on Google+, you can even create a Pinterest board so you can Pin all your participants’ posts or blogs there. Your linky participants will appreciate it, and spread the word about your awesome linky.
10. Encourage Participants to Share the Love
The best part of hosting linkys? Creating a community. Encourage your readers and the linky participants to visit each other, or follow on social media. Get into the true spirit of blogging!
Most of all – enjoy yourself!
Your Turn
Do you have any tips to make a linky successful? Name a linky you participate and love — even your own!
Want More Social Media Tips?
Then be sure to check out these posts:
Thanks again for sharing these!!!!!!!
You’re welcome, Kristy!
This was so helpful, thank you!
Glad it was helpful.
When choosing a creative topic to blog about, try and find a niche. Make our blog about something very specific and we’ll please both the search engines and our readers. Try not to be too general and really focus on one specialist topic and stick to it. Find our own niche and go for it and just remember to stay on topic.
Amazing 🙂 I love you SITS girls, I am going to get right onto organizing my own linky party!
Thanks for sharing!
Corlie
Thanks Corlie! Good luck!
Thanks for this. I tried to do a Linky party for my Friday Sound Bytes of the Week and I got nothing. Ok, well maybe two friends once in a while linked up. I’m not sure if it was the day or the topic. Many people said they couldn’t remember what they heard that week to share it. I’ve gotten more followers since then and was tempted to start it up again. If you have any further feedback I’d love to hear it.
I think your friend’s feedback is correct – it’s hard to write a post to link up when the topic doesn’t come as naturally. Maybe you want to rethink it? You can go along the same lines of music/ what you heard, but perhaps you can provide the prompt? Like if you heard a certain song from 1985, the prompt could be, where were you in 1985? Writing prompts tend to be more popular as it provides bloggers a ready topic to write. Good luck!
I like link parties but I’ve never had much success with them when participating. I’ve found very little reciprocation with comments and shares which can be quite discouraging sometimes. They’re still fun and still a great way to find new blogs to read though.
I’m sorry your experience hasn’t been as awesome. I hope you find more participatory ones!
I’ve been wondering about this. Would like to start a link hop on my blog also, but think I want to try out to be a co-host first before I start one. So if someone is looking for a co host you can send me a message cause I’m in:)
Good luck, Jeanette!
Haven’t heard about that so far but definitely wouldn’t mind to try. LOVE to meet new ladies and read new blogs from the community
It is fun, give it a go!
Where can I find more about this Alison? Thanks for your answer 😀
I have just started adding linkys to my blog over the last 2 weeks. They are slowly gaining links, thanks for this advice, I’m sure it will help greatly!!
That’s great, good luck with your following linkys!
Click below to see last month’s party. (For some reason the commentluv didn’t work in my previous comment)
I started a monthly Linky party and had my first one go live September 30th. It was a success IMO with 23 linkers the first time! I’m happy to say I hit 9/10 on this list! If you’d like to join us this month to drive more traffic to your October posts (or show off how well you do for Blogtober), c’mon over! This month’s #MonthlyReviewLinkup will go live on October 30. Oh yeah…and I’m still looking for a cohost! Find me on Twitter (@thefrilloflife) or email me (heather {at} thefrilloflife {dot} com) if you’re interested!!!
That is awesome, Heather!
This is an awesome set of tips! I have yet to host my own link party, but I have co-hosted a few. If I do delve into the world of hosting link parties, I’ll definitely be using these tips!
Thanks Tenns!
Great tips-new to the linky-ness of it all and this is the perfect place for me to start!
Cheers!
I’m glad, Sandra!
Thank you so much for posting this information! I’m just getting started on my blog and I feel like I have so much to learn. Can’t wait to have people start seeing my life in print. A linky party sounds great when I feel like I’m ready to go!
Have fun blogging, Moja!
I am doing a test blog hop tomorrow called Favorite Post Friday, It will go live at 7am EST. I would love it if some of you would take a time out and come visit, and maybe participate as well. If it goes well, I may do it again. If not, then I will try to do something different.
http://makingourlifematter.com/favorite-post-friday-fall-beverages/
I hope it’s a success, good luck!
This a really helpful post. I’ve been thinking about doing this, but I wasn’t really sure where to start. Thanks for making this easier for me!
You’re welcome, Jodee!
Great tips, Alison. Thank you. I have participated in a few linkies, FiveMinuteFriday @ http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/ and Walk With Him Wednesdays @ http://annvoskamp.com. My blog went from a Google Page Rank 1 to a 2. For me that was huge. Ha!
I so want to host a linky, but, I do not yet have enough traffic. Furthermore, I only blog about once per month. When the time is right, I will refer to this post/tips as a guide.
Thanks again so much.
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Thanks for the tips, Alison! I’ve been contemplating starting a linky, so this is very helpful.
You’re welcome, Katie!
I found when we started our “WhyFakeItJustMakeIt” Recipe link up party ( http://bit.ly/whyfakeitjustmakeit ) we thought we were going to clash with some other bloggers’ parties, who were close to us. It turned out the opposite, at our second link up (last month) we reached more friends. It turned out to be much more positive and the community for joining was incredible.
Your linkup is awesome! So glad that it’s going well.
Not gonna lie, I was clueless and had no idea what a linky was until I found SITS a few weeks ago!! Love these tips and hope to someday get to the point where I can host a party!! 🙂
You will, Jen!
I’ve participated, but never hosted my own…don’t know that I’d have enough of a following to do that, but it’s great info to know when I do! 🙂
Some times, a linky can help with growing a following. 🙂
Thanks for this reference. I’ve started and gave up on a handful of linkies on my blog. It’s very hard to find the right one that people will join in. Someday, I hope to start the right one. Do you think it’ll happen?
Of course it will! What I discovered from hosting several, is that you have to make it as easy as possible for people – e.g. link up a favorite post. They’ve already written it, it’s just a matter of linking up. Or a photo post. Easy is key. Good luck!
What’s up to every body, it’s my first visit
of this website; this web site contains amazing and truly good material for readers.
I started a Small Victories Sunday meme in the hopes of putting a linky with it for others to share their favorite posts with me. I signed up for linkinz and just need to figure out how to get it on the blog. I love participating and thought it was about time to host one 🙂
I am not sure that Sunday is the best day but thought it was good for recapping my past week and my hopes for the next. Thanks for the reminder I need to get the linky active!
It’s usually just a case of inserting some code into your post to get the linky up and running. You can first customize the linky info (start/ end dates and times etc) then get the code, and paste it into the HTML section of your post. Good luck with your linkup!
Really nice post. I always knew about Linky but had been afraid to be a host till now…will give this a shot:)
Such great tips, and the mumbo jumo explained. Now….. where can I find a list of linky’s?
Here are a few lists of linkys: http://blog.ashleypichea.com/linkup/ & http://homeschoolblogging.com/resources/homeschool-related-link-ups-memes/
There are a ton of linkys out there! This thread in the SITS forum might help: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/forums/index.php?p=/discussion/13/what-are-your-favorite-link-ups#Item_44
One of my clients has started doing the Saturday Book Club Linky Party for anyone with children’s book related crafts and activities. She’s been having a little trouble getting some traction, do you think it’s because her niche is smaller? Thanks Alison! Here’s the link http://www.jumpintoabook.com/2013/10/come-join-the-party-saturday-book-club-october-book-linky-party/
I am a book blogger too Rebecca and though I haven’t written too many children’s books reviews, I do have a bookish bucket list that incorporates reading 1000 books to/with my kids and crafts to help them engage with the book. Book blogging might be a smaller niche in SITS but there are lots of bloggers out there!! Thanks for sharing the info so I can link up too.
Book blogging is a smaller niche than say, parenting and crafts, but there are many book bloggers out there! You could suggest to your friend to reach out to non-book bloggers who do write about books/ reviews (there are quite a few who do), and ask them to join in, just to widen her reach.
Thanks for these great tips. I’m not ready to host linkys yet with #4 soon on the way but am bookmarking this post for future reference. Definitely something I want to do!
Understandable – it does take work and time. Good luck with #4!
Alison, you read my mind! I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I should take the next step with my blog… I’d like to host a linky party and try out my first giveaway! Thanks so much for the awesome tips – and when I get it going, I’ll be sure to use them.. 😀
For my first blog anniversary, I co-hosted a linkup with another blogger celebrating her first blog anniversary too. We asked people to link up their most favorite post ever, and we had 4-5 sponsors offering prizes. We chose the winners randomly from among the linkers. I think we had nearly 150 participants. It was so fun!
I just started my own Spread the Love Linky Party! I post on Sundays, and I am excited to take the idea of making a Pinterest board for it!!! Genius!
I love the idea of a Spread the Love linky!
Great post, Alison. Thank you!
Thanks, Bonnie!
Is is a great post I will surely use it wen am better at blogging and have more blogging pals
Great post. This is definitely something for me to consider!
Thank you, Kammie.
These are such great tips! I want to work on hosting something else, but haven’t figured out what yet. Thanks Alison!
You’re an example of a great linky host, Adrienne 🙂
Great info, thanks! I participate in many link ups, but I’ve never hosted one. Would love to at some point.
It’s a lot of fun, I hope you do try it some day.
Thanks Alison! I have the idea for a link up in the back of my head for a while. I’m going to let it marinate for a bit longer, but it’s good to have these tips for when I decided to go for it!
I hope this list helps when you do decide to take the plunge, Rabia!
Thank you for creating and posting these guidelines. I have only had a blog for a month and really had no idea what it was or how to go about it. I feel I am too new at this point to be the originator so how do I inquire of other blogs how to participate in theirs? Do I need to wait until/if asked or do I approach them or is it usually open to anyone?
I will pin this and also am keeping for my file.
Take care and thanks!
If you have any blogs in mind who you think are asking for co-hosts, there is no harm in asking if you can be a co-host. At worse, they say no, and you wait a little longer, and maybe meet a like-minded blogger who will start one with you. Good luck!
Dana- I sent you a message on your blog. 🙂
Hi, Jilly
Thank you for your message but missed where you posted it. Please re-send.
Alison –
Thank you for your suggestions and follow-up!
Take Care!
Thanks for the information. My blog isn’t to that stage yet, but when it is I’ll definitely refer back to this.
You’re welcome!