August 19th, 2008
I read an article from Kelby Carr the other day about ‘Blog Kharma‘ and it really got me thinking about how protective we are about who we share links with, what stats we’re willing to divulge and where we’re willing to send our traffic.
I’m guilty as well.
Sometimes I catch myself thinking:
There’s no point in linking to them because they have more traffic then I do.
They don’t even read my blog so they won’t care.
It’s not intentionally being a bad blogger, but ya - bad blogging Karma, maybe.
I think it’s just human nature to protect something we’ve worked so hard to build and create. As many bloggers treat it as a busy it’s become more about protecting brands, readership and even so much as their livelihood.
But one part that really stuck out was:
Blog kharma is doing the right thing just because you are part of a community, and you want to help others. Be a generous blogger.
And typeamom is right. For what purpose are we so guarded? How do we really benefit from hiding within the walls of our little cliques?
There’s no harm in posting links to a post that was really enjoyed. Readers are not going to jump ship if they really enjoy your site, you may even be able to attract more readers through generous linking.
[Note to Self: Practice what you preach.]
I want to.
I plan to be a better blog friend.
I want to share more.
I want to link to those I enjoy and I want to be a community member, not just there.
I want to Stumble, Kirtsy and even Digg you because there’s no reason NOT to!
Yeah, yeah, yeah mushy blog fluff. Swaying together singing coom-by-ya. Right?
I’m shootin’ rainbows up your ass as I type this. So what?
For some blogging’s not about holding each other up and celebrating how wonderful we can be; I agree that it doesn’t have to be and I’m not saying that it should be rainbows and itty bitty bunny rabbits everyday all day.
But! It would be wonderful for us to make an effort once and a while to make someone’s day with a link or a stumble. Because I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been saddened to see that someone’s linked to me too much.
(Well, except for porn sites or junk sites - at least they send a trackback.)
And for that reason, I’ve decided to revive The Blogroll (link is in the top navigational menu).
Though it’s viewed by some as a list of exclusions rather then a list celebrating our peers I really disagree. To me, it’s a list of those that I enjoy reading and want to share them with readers. If someone thinks I should add another blog to the list, then by all means, share it with me!
With that, I encourage you to take some time today and share five links - be it on your blog, Stumbled, Kirtsy, whatever! Just share the linky love.
That sounds so hippish.
*breaking into song*
C’mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev’rybody get together
Try and love one another right now…
My five links are blogs that I’ve just found over the past couple months and have really begun to enjoy - so much so they’ve managed to quickly move up the rank into my daily reads!
- The Spohrs Are Multiplying ~ I actually found Heather through her husband Mike after I completed a design for one of his blogs. These two are amazingly funny and have a GOREGOUS little girl Maddie who has completely won my heart.
- Whiskey in My Sippy Cup - I know, right? I have been living under a rock because Mr. Lady is the shit. I love her like a fat kid loves cake.
- SLynnRo ~ Random Rantings ~ this is a girl after my own heart. She is wicked funny and has some GREAT stories to tell.
- Gwen Bell ~ Even before The Great Experiment I found Gwen to be wickedly smart and oh so cute! Her articles always get me thinking and even learning!
- Okay, Fine, Dammit ~ Oh Maggie. I found this lady through a beautiful post that was shared by Amanda, who I’ve been reading for quite a while. She convinced Maggie to share a post on BlogNosh and it’s been love ever since.
Okay, so I snuck a couple extra in there.
Now get to it, share some links!
I like the new look, btw. (Therein lies the evil of feed readers… unless you tell me in flat text in your post I never know to come check out the new designs.)
Like you, I only recently discovered some of the “bigger” names like Mr. Lady, The Bloggess, and Velveteen Mind.
One blogger that I’m becoming more familiar with is My Life Interrupted, who is raising two of her grandchildren. It’s an interesting read.
SciFi Dad’s last blog post..Not One Of Our Finer Moments
August 19th, 2008 at 9:29 am
i have a blogroll and i’m super shitty about updating it. i guess because i use my reader…i get lazy about keeping it updated with all the people i love.
and there are so many to love.
i feel like i’m finding new reads every day! it’s sooo hard to keep up!
August 19th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I bagged my blogroll because I was really bad about keeping it up, but I have that Google Reader widget thing that I am very good about keeping fresh and I LOVE it. It’s a great way to highlight posts that I think should be highlighted.
I am a big fan of Maggie, Dammit - discovered her a few months ago and LOVE her. But the other ones you mentioned, I must admit, I don’t read…thanks for the reco’s!
mamatulip’s last blog post..Introducing…
August 19th, 2008 at 11:42 am
OK, several things.
1. This is exactly what I needed to read today because… well, you’ll see if I ever finish the post.
2. OMG I LOVE YOU THANK YOU
3. You linked to my old blog. HA!
4. Off to add you to my blogroll….
maggie, dammit’s last blog post..Home, where my love lies waiting silently for me.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I love maggie. and i mean that in the dirtiest way possible
furiousball’s last blog post..CD Review : The Hush Now
Aw, that’s such a sweet sentiment! LOL
August 19th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I didn’t realize that bloggers thought things like that - about linking to other sites and sharing stats information and stuff. Never occurred to me!
Avitable’s last blog post..Fucking hurricane pussies cocksucking shitburger
Ya, you’re too busy havin’ rip roaring shits to post about.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I figure I’ll try and update it about 3 months… we’ll see how it goes..
August 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Maggie is seriously top notch. She is extremely talented and incredibly gracious. I adore her.
And Mr. Lady just rocks. She’s awesome.
Judging by the two picks that I already read, I must check out the others!
Also, totally agree with the blog karma thing.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Well, I’ll be a greased Jesus. This fat kid knows EXACTLY how much she loves cake. A LOT. Thanks for writing this, and yeah, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Mr Lady’s last blog post..It’s About Damn Time
August 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
People do that??
I seriously had no idea. I link. I twitter sites and posts I love. And I stumble like crazy. Not even to be nice.. just because I can’t keep my mouth shut! LOL
Miss Britt’s last blog post..No one wants to read about me quitting smoking again
August 19th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
A-freakin-men, sistah. I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve been a big lover since the beginning, and I tend to give a lot of linky love, but I can see how it might become an issue and why people sometimes get stingy with their lovin’. Mr Lady IS the shit. Ever since I ‘met’ her and started reading WIMSC, she has been such an incredibly friendly, sweet person. I think of her as a friend. She’s been uber helpful as I’ve gotten my blog started, she’s emailed me, commented me (the little lowly blogger) and loved on me. So all hail Mr Lady fo sho.
flickrlovr’s last blog post..What You’ve Always Wanted To Say But Haven’t
August 19th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I need to leave comments more. I read everything, but I am always crappy about commenting. So I am inspired by you to comment more often! I used to stumble like crazy but I just sort of forgot about it one day, so I need to pick that habit back up again. Basically, I need to do exactly what you wrote about here!
Thank you for the link, by the way!!! I’m so glad we found each other - as cheesy as that sounds!
heather…’s last blog post..Grandpas Are Special Dudes
August 19th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I don’t stumble or digg or any of the other things because I have no clue how to do it. But I do link to posts sometimes, although probably not often enough. There are a few bloggers who do their new faves or just plain faves lists every once in a while and I love it when I find something new that way. I really should stop being so freakin’ lazy and do it, too.
I have my Bloglines linked in my sidebar because I was constantly forgetting to update my blogroll. It’s perfect for a lazy arse like me.
Major Bedhead’s last blog post..On The Porch
August 19th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I have a sort of sideblog that gets a fresh stock of links on a weekly basis (well, close). It’s less of a headache than a blogroll, When I had a conventional one, it got rather long and stringy and I always felt guilty that I was leaving someone off.
Kathy’s last blog post..I can’t believe I wore that: platform mary janes and flared jeans
August 19th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
what is that tickling in my ass? OMG! it’s a rainbow!! ;p
you are adorable.
flutter’s last blog post..When I was little
August 19th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Wonderful post. WONDERFUL, I tell you. I posted just the other day and decided NOT to link because, well, everyone knows who she is, and I was being lazy. Ok, it wasn’t the other day, it was yesterday.
My blogroll needs to be refreshed. I feel bad about taking people off and I never remember to add people unless they ask.
But you’re so very right about all of this. I wouldn’t have any readers if it weren’t for people linking to ME, so perhaps, I need to link back to them…
And I’m going to twitter this… and perhaps stumble and digg…even though i don’t “get” those things…
Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity’s last blog post..My Rainman
August 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I loved this post (and who you linked to) so much I want to make out and have little blogroll post babies with it.
I guess I will just have to settle for Stumbling it.
Loralee’s last blog post..“Naked movie night”-One day I will publish something about my life that does not contain the word “Naked”. (For NOW, however…)
August 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
See,this is what it’s all about!
Brittany’s last blog post..Refreshers course
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 am
This is very sweet and such a good idea and who doesn’t need a rainbow up their ass?
texasholly @ June Cleaver Nirvana’s last blog post..A Teddy Story
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
I have been a bad blogger of late, neither reading nor posting. This was a nice one to come back on. I’ll wipe the cobwebs off and get cracking on stirring up some good karma. Just look at what you’ve started!
amanda’s last blog post..Can I do that again?
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Great post Sam, you’ve inspired me to update my blogroll. I’ve been terrible at adding my new reads to it lately. Not to mention terrible at blogging at all!
catnip’s last blog post..life’s little irritations #8
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm