Summer is a time for most moms to scream for help. You’ll see my hashtag frequently: #MomInSummer and others are already on board to feel my pain. There are some moms who love summer; perhaps they don’t run their own business or try to blog three times weekly plus be a mom taxi back and forth to camp.
Because I’m already affected by a serious strain on my time for my blog, I decided to give a little love to my community by compiling a categorical description of bloggers with various bloggers LISTED in each category. That became a spur-of-the-moment blog post,
My goal was pure; my naiveté embarrassing! I knew that recently I had neglected my community as well as visits to bloggers’ houses to comment. I thought this a good way to accomplish several purposes — give a little, get a little.
Alas. Lists are a no-no for bloggers. In comments, Shonali of and Shelly Kramer of each mentioned that lists are a tad offensive due to various and sundry reasons. I didn’t know. The good news is the way I presented the bloggers in the lists was different than just weakly attempting to earn attention; it was a more thoughtful approach oriented to types of writing.
Get A Little
At the same time, when you do put a blog post together with outbound link love, you get some wonderful support in return. In fact, it’s awesome. I was surprised with the number of folks who did, in fact, come on over to share thoughts and ask which category they should be in. That was way cool and felt good because I have been neglectful.
I have to call out here, too. She suggested a new category of bloggers as curators, and I gave her a triple hmmm on that one. What say you? Is curating blogging? I really want to know!
So, here is my take on lists, based on feedback from doing one this week:
1. Do not just list every blogger you know in a blog post. It comes across smarmy and offensive.
2. If you are going to list a bunch of bloggers in a post, ensure there’s a creative way to do that.
3. Understand that people will see right through you if you are only out to get attention.
4. Meanwhile, if the mood strikes you, test it out!
Yes, no, maybe?
Aha! That’s the way Jayme. Here’s another schmarmy thing to do. Say that I am going to reference you in my next blog post on Friday in an fun and interesting way. Not in as fun and interesting as Kaarina Dillabough and her Alphabet posts but more in a tongue-in-cheek kidding kind of poking at your ribs kinda way. Tee, heee, hardy, har. I am soooooo excited I can hardly wait. Pssst….I will be nice……maybe……;-)
Personally, I think if you do it with love and the link makes sense then go for it. If you are listing bloggers just to get traffic then maybe you are blogging for the wrong or shall I say “other” reasons than to be helpful, interesting, caring or just plain cool.
Come one, come all and slam that theory. Doesn’t much matter. I feel good about what I do and who I am and gosh darn it people like me (wimper)…..
@rdopping Love Kaarina’s Alphabet posts! So good!
As for linking with love, I feel I did that in my list above, so I’m more… proof of your theory than anything 🙂
@Jason Fonceca Thanks so much for that rockin’ comment Jason:) Letter T in the Alphabet Series will be appearing tomorrow:) Lovin’ your site: looking good:) Cheers! Kaarina
@KDillabough Ah love gets love gets love, Kaarina 😀
Rock on and ryze up!
@rdopping Kaarina Dillabough Forget the last two paragraphs, Ralph! I’m nervous about the first! WTheck? I hardly know you; OMG. 🙂
P.S. I agree with your assessment!
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing @Kaarina Dillabough No need to worry. I will be very respectful and complimentary.
@rdopping @Soulati @Kaarina Sheesh; and if you’re not what the heck can I do about it? 🙂 Standing by with baited breath — highly unusual for moi.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing So, you never came by 🙁 and I was so excited to read your comment. Oh well. Maybe next time. See you soon.
@rdopping Patience, my dear friend! I’m barely managing to breathe let alone pay attention to my blog or yours. Sheesh! 🙂
Seriously, you were not forgotten; I have been absolutely unable dealing with stressors pulling me 2000 ways. Here I come!
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing @rdopping I am sending fresh air from Canada:) Breathe, my friend, breathe:)
@KDillabough @Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Oops, sorry ladies. Really! I had no intention to push. I was poking fun. It seems I am experiencing some lost in translation stuff. Thank you very much for popping by. Appreciated.
Very interesting insights, Jayme 🙂
I’m not a huge fan of list posts, but I have made 2 in my blogging career (and I have a 3rd on the way).
Of those lists posts, only 1 is a “list of bloggers”, but I’d never seen a list anywhere like it, so I made it. I think it begs a sequel.
It’s a list of 13 “badass blogpreneurs”, these are the bloggers with an edge and a ‘realness’ that goes above and beyond most bloggers. They push boundaries for bloggers in many ways, and I wanted to give them some props and send my audience, who is sure to love them, towards great resources.
https://ryzeonline.com/badass-blogpreneurs
Thawtz?
@Jason Fonceca Not only do i like your bad-ass blog list, I love what you did with your blog design! It really feels and looks professional, Jason. Thanks for coming by…
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Ah you sexy-sexy-sexy Jayme 😉
Thank you so much, you rock, and every vote of confidence or kind word is appreciated so much.
I love that you write about insightful, thought-provoking things in the scene, something I can sink my teeth into, something with honest, well-intentioned, personal opinion.
Rock on and ryze up!
@Jason Fonceca You bring so much love, Jason. I’m gonna smile all day because of you, Friend! Thank you.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Birds of a feather…
Hey, Jayme! I absolutely didn’t mean to imply that lists were a complete no-no for me. There are certainly lists I’m proud to be on (I’m pretty sure I mentioned that in my previous comment) – but I do think that all lists are subjective… plus there is invariably a gap in the perception others have of one and one’s own perception (of one). That’s what I meant when I said I tend to get preemptively defensive when I hear of list posts. But they can absolutely have value… for me, it all depends on what list it is, and who’s curating it.
And I’m sorry I couldn’t comment yesterday – I think there was a Livefyre issue because I couldn’t sign in/post…
@Shonali Thanks for stopping in today, Shonali! I welcome all perspectives as it always helps mine blossom. You were complimentary, for sure, as you always are. I would have to agree with the “depends” factor; a list thrown together with no purpose is smarmy.
I was having trouble with Lifefyre on everyone’s blog, actually; frustrating. But, hope we’re back in biz today. Have a great one!
Shonali is overly-sensitive. That’s not a criticism. It just is. Best practices, however, will not be built upon pride, fear or prejudice. Bill Dorman, of course, would remind you that Stan can be a Richard at times for just saying things like that. That said, I have nothing against Shonali. She has a wonderful smile.
Beyond being a RIchard, I am also a curator. I am one who believes that any worthwhile social mission must include curation. Curation means links. I question the social mission of people who never give link love. I question their humanity too. Quietly – of course. [ warm smile]
Beyond being a curator, I believe in hypertext as critical for free, creative, and critical thinking.
Hypertext frees us from the petty fiefdoms of opinion and information. In other words, the author can offer fair passage to similar and dissimilar ideas and information in order for the reader to more easily assemble their own independent, well-informed opinion.
Yes, some are link whores. And there’s those seo-pimps too. The ones that most comment spam filters catch.
Those that list poorly, carelessly, and without much imagination, art, or grace – even they do it with heart and that’s got to count for something. Perhaps, they just need some time to grow.
@Faryna Every time I read you, I chuckle with a warmth reserved for you, Stan. #ThatIsAll
You’ve done several in the past, included me in a few, and I’ve always been astonished and grateful. I confessed before over at lauraclick’s blog that I tend to overthink my intentions on social media in just these types of situations, but when others do it I usually take it at face value. I appreciated @Shonali adding her confession, and I think she did because she felt comfortable doing it here. Which is wonderful, as was the conversation I checked in on every now and then that followed. So thank you!
@ShakirahDawud lauraclick @Shonali What’s so interesting to me is that I just do these things and don’t really analyze the future consequence. Once I got in trouble; lesson learned, getting into the hotbed that was pink slime, but used it as a learning example, too.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing @ShakirahDawud @Shonali It just goes to show there are two sides to everything. I had to go back and read the comments on that other post – I didn’t realize there was a dust up over lists.
Here’s the thing – different strokes for different folks. I do round-up posts on occasion that include likes to blog posts I’ve liked. I think that works for me. I’m highlighting great content that I think people should read and I’m acknowledging people I respect. And, like you Jayme, I appreciate when people come say hello. Sharing a link certainly offers up that invitation and encouragement to come on over.
But, there’s a downside to everything. There are truly people who create lists to get attention. Or link to people just to see if they’ll come show up. I think not all lists are bad, but certainly, some people use them just as a means to an end.
I typically showcase a single bloggers post with respective links, or several that approach different point of views about topics so that readers can garner different perspectives. I agree though that sometimes showcasing and highlighting others pays back in spades, people should do it without expecting anything in return, but sometimes you can get some decent attention.