Comments on: On Link Love, Link Baiting and Link Carelessness http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/ A place where web design meets SEO and networking. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:57:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: pearl http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-115 pearl Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:00:11 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-115 I feel like raising my hand :) I feel left out :( I feel like raising my hand :) I feel left out :(

]]> By: Mihaela Lica http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-113 Mihaela Lica Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:49:26 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-113 Laura, let's do the "anti-meme" dance :D. LOL. Laura, let’s do the “anti-meme” dance :D. LOL.

]]> By: Laura http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-112 Laura Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:33:22 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-112 Wow Mihaela! Thanks for the compliment. Actually, memes were taking me off topic for a while. So much so that someone commented to me that they couldn't tell what my blog was about. This was during a week when nearly every post was a meme or group project of some sort. Live and learn ... (I have a notepad sticky of those memes I haven't participated in, but might some day. I'm just working under the assumption that they never expire.) I'm not totally against memes and awards. Like you, it feels really good to be loved. However, it can be a struggle to stay on topic. (I feel that if I lose my focus too much, I will also lose my readers.) I actually had to contact one blogger who tagged me for a huge train-type meme award (40+ links to other bloggers) to tell her that I wasn't going to participate. I probably should have a meme policy of some sort, but I haven't quite worked it out. Wow Mihaela!

Thanks for the compliment.

Actually, memes were taking me off topic for a while. So much so that someone commented to me that they couldn’t tell what my blog was about. This was during a week when nearly every post was a meme or group project of some sort. Live and learn …

(I have a notepad sticky of those memes I haven’t participated in, but might some day. I’m just working under the assumption that they never expire.)

I’m not totally against memes and awards. Like you, it feels really good to be loved. However, it can be a struggle to stay on topic. (I feel that if I lose my focus too much, I will also lose my readers.) I actually had to contact one blogger who tagged me for a huge train-type meme award (40+ links to other bloggers) to tell her that I wasn’t going to participate.

I probably should have a meme policy of some sort, but I haven’t quite worked it out.

]]> By: Mihaela Lica http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-109 Mihaela Lica Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:33:32 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-109 Wow, Deborah... that's a long comment. :) There are always ways around working with such awards. One of them is this very post - where you can see I started from Kim's award and continued with something valuable for the readers. I am sure you can do the same if you want. Laura, at Writing Thoughts, has a way of integrating meme's with the topic of her site, and I rarely see her displaying awards. This is a very self-aware blogger. Liz, at Successful Blog only continues memes she really likes, but she doesn't call them memes. I think what she calls them is "continuing the conversation", group projects and so on. The point is: no matter what name you give them, make sure they provide QUALITY for your readers. The same goes for awards. I actually like seeing that people love you. So don't be afraid to tell us about it. ;) Your idea with writing an additional entry to keep the balance is very good. Wow, Deborah… that’s a long comment. :)
There are always ways around working with such awards. One of them is this very post - where you can see I started from Kim’s award and continued with something valuable for the readers.
I am sure you can do the same if you want.
Laura, at Writing Thoughts, has a way of integrating meme’s with the topic of her site, and I rarely see her displaying awards. This is a very self-aware blogger.
Liz, at Successful Blog only continues memes she really likes, but she doesn’t call them memes. I think what she calls them is “continuing the conversation”, group projects and so on. The point is: no matter what name you give them, make sure they provide QUALITY for your readers.
The same goes for awards.
I actually like seeing that people love you. So don’t be afraid to tell us about it. ;)
Your idea with writing an additional entry to keep the balance is very good.

]]> By: Deborah http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-106 Deborah Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:46:40 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-106 Excellent advice Mihaela. I've often felt concern about the purpose of these awards by the creators myself, and don't link back to them, nor have I kept the codes intact. I simply copy the image and pass it on as such to those I've bestowed the awards on. Most have come from friends, but some were from those I've met in passing on social sites. It always warms my heart to receive from those I know, but makes me wonder if the purpose from those I barely know is simply for link building. Truth be told, I always feel a major conflict about these awards ... I enjoy the notion that a friend has bestowed me with a level of praise, and also enjoy playing it forward to others I feel deserving. But other than those involved, who really wants to read it on your blog? There, I've said it, as cold and heartless as it may sound, it's not my intention to come off that way. It concerns me to write posts that anyone other than the parties involved don't really want to read. Whenever I've written these, I've always provided an additional post that meets the reasons why people have come to my site as a landing post, trying to please 2 masters at once ... the friends I care about, and those who came to find something interesting. I really like your idea about having a separate page. I did notice that Kim has already done this, but hadn't given much thought to it up to now. I'd be more than happy to be involved with these when they're not appearing on my main page and it would remove a real weight off my shoulders, by not alienating friends, as I'm sure I have to some degree by not actively joining in with many of them. I think you've just resolved a very important issue for me! And I've also been guilty of combining several awards into one post, in effort to reduce the number of posts for these awards. A separate page would resolve that as well. But can a person create individual posts on a separate page? I haven't had one to work with to know. A person could also have the images of all awards collectively in one area to remove any clutter from the main page, as well as a quick visual. I've only displayed 2 that I've received for this very reason, not to appear untidy, as well as reducing page load. Excellent advice Mihaela. I’ve often felt concern about the purpose of these awards by the creators myself, and don’t link back to them, nor have I kept the codes intact. I simply copy the image and pass it on as such to those I’ve bestowed the awards on.

Most have come from friends, but some were from those I’ve met in passing on social sites. It always warms my heart to receive from those I know, but makes me wonder if the purpose from those I barely know is simply for link building.

Truth be told, I always feel a major conflict about these awards … I enjoy the notion that a friend has bestowed me with a level of praise, and also enjoy playing it forward to others I feel deserving. But other than those involved, who really wants to read it on your blog? There, I’ve said it, as cold and heartless as it may sound, it’s not my intention to come off that way.

It concerns me to write posts that anyone other than the parties involved don’t really want to read. Whenever I’ve written these, I’ve always provided an additional post that meets the reasons why people have come to my site as a landing post, trying to please 2 masters at once … the friends I care about, and those who came to find something interesting.

I really like your idea about having a separate page. I did notice that Kim has already done this, but hadn’t given much thought to it up to now. I’d be more than happy to be involved with these when they’re not appearing on my main page and it would remove a real weight off my shoulders, by not alienating friends, as I’m sure I have to some degree by not actively joining in with many of them. I think you’ve just resolved a very important issue for me!

And I’ve also been guilty of combining several awards into one post, in effort to reduce the number of posts for these awards. A separate page would resolve that as well. But can a person create individual posts on a separate page? I haven’t had one to work with to know.

A person could also have the images of all awards collectively in one area to remove any clutter from the main page, as well as a quick visual. I’ve only displayed 2 that I’ve received for this very reason, not to appear untidy, as well as reducing page load.

]]> By: Lynda Lehmann http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-105 Lynda Lehmann Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:00:01 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-105 Great and thought-provoking post! Very informative....Thank you!!! Great and thought-provoking post! Very informative….Thank you!!!

]]> By: pearl http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-103 pearl Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:44:46 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-103 I agree with you a 100% and a separate page is what I have been thinking about for some time, actually talked about it too.. but what worries me is your first suggestion to post one entry per blog! I have made two posts when awards had been accumulating and making a separate entry would have driven just about everyone away! and they are stacking up once again ... I find it hard to continue to brag in each post! :) what to do? I agree with you a 100% and a separate page is what I have been thinking about for some time, actually talked about it too.. but what worries me is your first suggestion to post one entry per blog! I have made two posts when awards had been accumulating and making a separate entry would have driven just about everyone away! and they are stacking up once again … I find it hard to continue to brag in each post! :) what to do?

]]> By: Alina Popescu http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-97 Alina Popescu Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:54:44 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-97 I have to admit I haven't thought of blog awards from this perspective before first seeing your post on memes and the thinking blogger award. When such and award or meme comes from friends, we tend to overlook the creator, his/her purpose and other possible downsides. About award design, Liz is one of my favorites with her SOB badges which come in so many colors. I think the separate page is a good idea when you have several awards. but for one or two, I guess it's easier, at least for me, to edit them a little if needed or pick colors and shapes that fit with the design. I have to admit I haven’t thought of blog awards from this perspective before first seeing your post on memes and the thinking blogger award. When such and award or meme comes from friends, we tend to overlook the creator, his/her purpose and other possible downsides.

About award design, Liz is one of my favorites with her SOB badges which come in so many colors.

I think the separate page is a good idea when you have several awards. but for one or two, I guess it’s easier, at least for me, to edit them a little if needed or pick colors and shapes that fit with the design.

]]> By: Mihaela Lica http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-96 Mihaela Lica Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:43:23 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-96 Indeed, Kim - an awards page is better than a cluttered home page. Sue's blog has a very clean, professional design. I like that. :) My awards have been from friends too. I suppose that, in order to receive an "official" award you have to apply for it. And I forgot to mention on of the most important advices related to blog awards: <strong>NEVER pay an entrance fee to receive an award</strong> Indeed, Kim - an awards page is better than a cluttered home page. Sue’s blog has a very clean, professional design. I like that. :)
My awards have been from friends too. I suppose that, in order to receive an “official” award you have to apply for it. And I forgot to mention on of the most important advices related to blog awards:

NEVER pay an entrance fee to receive an award

]]> By: laketrees http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-95 laketrees Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:31:53 +0000 http://blog.red-dog.com/blog-awards-linking/#comment-95 Terrific article Mig.....and thank you for the great advice..... great suggestion from Sue...and I started transferring my awards over to another page just before I overhauled my blogs.....and like Sue most of the awards I have received have been from friends..... and now that I have finally revamped my blogs I am going to work on my awards page haha.. :) Terrific article Mig…..and thank you for the great advice…..
great suggestion from Sue…and I started transferring my awards over to another page just before I overhauled my blogs…..and like Sue most of the awards I have received have been from friends…..
and now that I have finally revamped my blogs I am going to work on my awards page haha.. :)

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