Yes, Blog Posting Mantra # 4 is a Guideline…But Don’t Ignore it Completely

By on June 18, 2007 in Blog Coach with 7 Comments

I prefer guidelines to rules. Especially in blogging – which has only one immutable law.

A rule is usually black and white; a guideline is more along the gray scale. But gray is a color you can see.

Blog Posting Mantra # 4 is at the core of what I teach (don’t miss the comments). I also teach how to Search Once and Subscribe, how to find a particular type of blog, and how to search the blogosphere for a particular post. 

By investing 5 or 10 minutes looking for a relevant blog post:

  • You’ll find some great bloggers who will add more value than just the one post. I can share several examples here, but Flooring the Consumer and The Engaging Brand quickly come to mind as two sites I came upon while looking for an outgoing link.
  • You’ll get others to notice your blog because the link expands on the conversation (or should).
  • You’ll be introducing your readers to others. Yep. Be the Resource.
  • You’ll be laying conversational tracks further connecting the web.
  • You’ll be making deposits into a type of currency movement. It’s okay to anticipate reciprocity, but don’t practice expectations of reciprocity. Value attracts value.
  • You’ll avoid running around Panera 10 times next time we meet

Cutting to the quick: Generous (and relevant) outbound links are the building blocks of the web. Invest in your readers and yourself by becoming the resource.

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  • http://www.brandstorming.com Jim Durbin

    good points Mike – I would say there is one immutable law of blogging, though.
    Don’t be Boring. Maybe we call it a Cardinal Rule, or something else, but it’s the basis of Business Blogging.

  • http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com C.B. Whittemorec

    Mike, thank you for referring to Flooring The Consumer in such a wise post. I treasure your ever-so-practical and relevant advice.

  • Ryan Karpeles

    Um…I just used the exact same graphic in a post… We must have some sort of crazy mind telepathy…or we both just searched Google for “fortune cookie” images :)
    I’m really liking these mantras. Keep ‘em comin’!

  • http://www.variocreative.com/blog Mark Cahill

    Right on!
    One addendum – outbound links are like capital – we should not squander them on splogs, spammers and their ilk – take the time to check out who you’re linking to.
    The great thing about outbound links is that it makes a much richer experience for our readers. As you say, be the resource!

  • http://www.confidentwriting.com Joanna Young

    Hi Mike, I guess we all have different mantras, rules and guidelines. Me, I like questions as reminders to self of what I’m doing. One of yours has stuck with me ever since I read it, and I think it’s really helped me work out a rewarding rather than dead arm strategy. (Yes it was “which arm you are blogging with?”)
    Joanna

  • http://theengagingbrand.typepad.com Anna Farmery

    Ah thanks Mike. I believe firmly in givers gain….the more you share great links, great posts, great blogs….the more you give out to other people, the more you will receive in return. I have about 500 RSS feeds I try and read daily(!) and 90% of them came from outbound links that people gave in their posts.
    Again many thanks for your kind comment

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