One of the topics currently being discussed at the Authority Blogger forum is the use of reciprocal links (also known as blogrolls) to grow one’s blog. One of the forum members asked:
What is everyone doing with their blogroll? I can understand why you’d want to link to your favourite ultra-popular blogs, like Seth Godin or Darren Rowse… But, do Seth and Darren really need more publicity? Why not link to your fellow blogger who you enjoy reading but who “needs” the publicity a bit more than Seth? Wouldn’t it be better to use your blogroll to mutually grow each other’s blogs?
I do have a blogroll page, which consists of 2 active blogrolls, in case you haven’t noticed it. One of the blogrolls is a personal favourite, give or take, because I don’t update it as much as I should. I mean, we do have new favourites, right? And we drop our favourites when they no longer are our favourites, no? :D
I blogroll my favourite blogs because they’re my favourite blogs, regardless of whether I get linked back in return. It is my way of telling my blogger friends that I enjoy reading their blogs, though I should also mention that the list isn’t exhaustive :D Moreover, with RSS feeds and feedreaders (e.g. Bloglines), I no longer have to rely on my blogrolls for updated blogs.
So what’s your take on this? Do you have a blogroll on your blog? How often do you use it?
My blogroll used to sit on my main page but I moved it to its own page since it became too cluttered! :-) Currently I have (I believe) four different blogrolls on Vegan Momma. There are many on my old blogrolls that didn’t link to me, but I kept them anyway.
I had to remove quite a few on the list when I updated my blogroll since a lot of them weren’t blogging anymore.
I don’t use my blogroll anymore since I started using a RSS feed. I should have started using that a long time ago.
I have a blogroll but I have to confess I don’t use it. I prefer to use my feeds. RSS ones, that is.
Opal: Exactly! I thought nobody uses a blogroll anymore now that we’re more familiar with RSS feeds :)
Giddy Tiger: I don’t use mine much too :D
I’m the same as Giddy Tiger. All the people on my blogroll are people important to me. :p I just haven’t touched them in a loooooong time.
I do technically have a blogroll, but chose a few blogs almost at random from my RSS feeds. Here’s another vote for forgoing blogrolls in favor of RSS readers.
ooo, i still use my blogroll. i’ve two: 1 for people i know, 1 for people i don’t know but i read their blogs. i use the first one more than the second one.
:D
i dunno how to use RSS feeds yet…will get around to it, eventually… :p
you’re right… i dont really read all the blogs in my links… those i wish to read is in my google reader subs. this blogroll and link thingy is turning into some sort of quest.
i got ppl asking me… can we exchange link… sometimes, i dun really know how to answer them.
Pat: Well, everybody we add into our blogrolls are important to us, otherwise why would we add them in the first place? :D
Judith: RSS feeds rocks!
silveraven: Yes, you will realize the beauty of it once you get the hang of it :)
zewt: You know what Lilian @ 5xmom says?? “Go play elsewhere!” LOL.
they ask me face to face!!?? then how? wouldnt wanna be so arrogant right?
zewt: Err.. Yeah, you can’t be too rude and straight-forward, hor..