Recently I obtained a new domain, leaving my http://margo.wordpress.com site in the blog-dust. When I rolled my blog over to my new domain http://hrmargo.com I did not port the blogroll with it. I wrestled with a certain amount of angst. How do I include all the HR Bloggers I respect and admire. The list is endless. Like a hunger pang, my belly hurt with the thought of not including someone I really like. In the “pro” side column blogrolls are a great way to reciprocate with your colleagues, and they can drive traffic to your site. In the con side of the column, you can’t include everyone, and invariably someone’s feelings will be hurt. There’s only so much real estate space on a blog. So, tweeps, what do you think? To blogroll or not to blogroll? I anxiously await your comments. Thank you.
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I set up a page for my blogroll: http://rehaul.com/links/
I update it when I remember or if someone sends me an email that I missed adding to the list.
I’ve honestly thought of taking a different approach with it and actually writing up my favorites. I think that would be more useful than a long list of websites that people rarely use.
Excellent point. Some blogrolls are so long, it’s like follow friday on twitter. When I see a long list of @names my eyes glaze over. The question still remains, what do you tell people you like and respect who didn’t make the cut?
Vote: To Blogroll!
Yes you’re always going to offend someone, but it should be about listing the blogs you genuinely enjoy and find the most engaging, not purely about reciprocation. I always look at blogrolls because, a lot of the time, they genuinely put me on to good blogs that I’ve not yet discovered that fit beautifully into my feed reader! So in the words of Nike: Just Do It, pickle!
I’m in the same boat. When I first started my site I included a blogroll – but it become unwieldy. I then when the @thelance route and put a page together with all the blogs.
Now I’m thinking of just sharing my google reader – that’s the one thing that has all the blogs I subscribe to and follow – some more religiously than others.
Thanks for your input chicken
Wendy, I always look to you for the voice of reason.
Wow, Paul that’s a really good idea. I want to learn more about how to do that. It makes a lot more sense-let’s talk soon about this. Thanks.
I think blogrolls are helpful for your readers in finding other blogs to check out in the space you’re writing in. I’ve chosen to just list a few of my favorites in HR, Recruiting & Leadership – and they’re also blogs I think would be a good place to start for those looking for resources. That way, I don’t have to update my blogroll every time I add a new blog to my Reader, it’s not overwhelming and I can update and change it quarterly or so to highlight some more blogs. From my analytics, I can see that the links in my blogroll do get clicked – so I think it’s a value add for your readers.
“The question still remains, what do you tell people you like and respect who didn’t make the cut?”
Tell them you’ll add them or tell them to suck it up and do a better job. Probably not like that. I am not looking to make a directory or anything. Who is attaching their ego to a blogroll anyway?
I am making a page to add to the blog because frankly, the widget I have on my theme is cumbersome to say the least.
But I’m putting the blogs on there that I read or comment on at a regular frequency. I know there may be a few that aren’t on the list, but I figure its about “this is what makes me think” or “Bloggers who’s WRITING I admire” – its not a popularity contest, and its not about people, its about their writing, their voice, whathaveyou.
And not all of them are HR related.
So I say “Do it gal!”
I don’t have a blogroll on my blog. I don’t really see the value in having straight links. Personally, I need a hook – an incentive to actually click in the form of some insight into why the person has a blog worth reading. If I were to include something similar on my blog, I’d probably dedicate a page to a select few blogs I regularly read with some commentary on why they’re a favourite.
My recommendation is Feature a few different blogs each week or month. It will be great value to your readers because you make it easy for them to discover a new blog every so often and you don’t have to worry about hurting feelings.
Amanda, now that’s a do-able idea that isn’t hard to manage. I can rotate the blogs I choose to feature based on merit and relevance. I love it, thanks for the suggestion.
Suck it up losers? Do a better job…yeah I’m snarky, but not quite that snarky. I love the sentiment, however. We do have to challenge one another to be better. It’s bloggers like you Lance, that make me want to be a better writer. Thanks.
Jennifer, you are like a shining gem in the crown of our Queen City. Thanks for your comment, and your insight. Blog rolls are an good place for people to see where to connect next. I like Amanda’s idea of featuring different blogs each week. What do you think of that idea?
When I first started blogging, my blogroll grew to be unwieldy. I set up a page of links that I set up many years ago, mainly for myself, but also something that I’ve referred to on my blog sites in the past. Right now that page is really only used by me, so I don’t promote it much.
I like ideas of judiciously linking back to other blogs in blog posts. I have yet to build my blogroll on my newest blogs, for some of the same reasons you cite.
I believe it’s possible to build different blogrolls, with blogs in categories, based on how you see them or what they write about.
As for me, I might wind up doing the separate page of links. I still haven’t decided.
Yep, add the blogroll, whether it’s categorized or now. It’s hard not to consider it your fellow blog “friend list” but try to also keep it relevant to the readership your building. Remember, you may not be able to read them every single day (God knows I can’t – gotta cycle them), but you should frequent them when you can and comment when possible. You should also review your blogroll regularly to “clean house”.