Up Fuel No you didn’t read this post title wrong, you just haven’t seen these words arranged this way. Most people know the common phrase as, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” But something I’ve learned is that blogging doesn’t really work that way. You need to give first in order to receive.
How you can get more bloggers to link to you:
The perfect example of this principle of, “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” is illustrated by the recent increased number of links I’ve received from other bloggers. Four weeks ago I started my link love series and linked to around 20 different bloggers. I focus on linking to new bloggers every time because not only does that help me reach out and meet other bloggers around my niche but it also improves my odds that one of them will return the favor and link back to me. I’m sure I can’t continue my link love posts like this forever because I’ll run out of bloggers and I’m sure I’ll still read great posts from bloggers I’ve linked to before; however, that is how I’ve started my link love series.
After the third link love session, I posted an article that most of you reading this blog have probably already read which is my tip on how to get free private registration on your domains at Godaddy. I knew that this post was truly very useful, especially for readers that don’t currently have private registration on their domains and have failed to recognize the danger. So what I did was send a personalized email to every blogger (I may have skipped a couple) that I linked to in my past three link love posts and provided a link to my post and told them that I believe it would be valuable to their readers. I then followed that up by saying that I recently linked to one of their posts and would appreciate if they returned the favor.
The following people linked to that post that I emailed:
Self Made Minds
Affiliate Confession
Everybody Go To
Closing Comments
While this was less than half of the people I emailed, their links in turn helped to generate some more buzz for the post and as a result even more people linked to it as well. So while I knew that this idea of, “I scratch your back you scratch mine” was true when I included it as my third point on 10 ways to improve your Technorati rank, it’s always nice to provide proof that the techniques I discussed on that post are worth doing.
It’s important to note that while I had some success in getting these bloggers to link to my post, it’s important to remember that unless you offer something that is truly useful you may as well not waste your time by annoying other bloggers asking for a link back to your useless post. Rarely have other bloggers linked to my content if I haven’t linked to them first, so you have to spread the love first before you expect to feel any come back.
Do you agree with my assessment on the blogging community? If I scratch your back, you’ll scratch mine?
Chris,
You are right on with this one.
I just this morning enacted the CommentLUV plugin for exactly the same reason as this post.
It’s all about networking and thanks for all you do.
Rich Hill
Chris,
You feel the itch?
I just put a link to you in my CommentLUV post and also added you to the blogroll.
All the best.
Rich Hill
Spot on Chris, and may I say it’s quite refreshing to know a “real” blogger.
By that I mean not only practicing what he preaches but actually advocating the link effects of smaller bloggers…..unlike the supposed blogging gurus who seem to savor their linkage for other blogging guru’s.
Now, I don’t do blogrolls for various reasons but feel free to email me anytime with a post you feel is worthy…if it fits I will find a way to link to it 😉
Like yourself and most other small time bloggers I come out with a week in review post where at the end I link to a few posts that I found useful.
So I agree with you that linking to other bloggers is a great way to get a link back or to even get in touch with somebody. In fact it is probably the best way to get on a blogger’s good side as we all want links back to our sites.
I just found your blog today, in fact about 10 minutes ago but after reading some of your posts you have some really good content. I will surely be linking to you in my next week in review.
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Thanks Jarret,
Yes I’ve seen a drastic increase in the number of link backs to my site as a result of my link love posts.
I look forward to seeing who else is in your review.
Yes, i totally agree. Linking to other bloggers is a great way to get a link and at the same time build relationships with your fellow bloggers. In this way, your blog will be exposed to the blogosphere. However in my opinion, you have to be careful on what blog you are linking to. It might give you a bad reputation and your readers will be disappointed and will unfollow you.