Thu 17 Jul 2008
Why on earth do you link to your blog?
Posted by Mark White, Blog Consultant in Blogging for Small Businesses , Social Networking
No, I really do mean it, why do you link to your blog?
I’m thinking here of the people on business or social networking sites who insist on blindly linking to their blog (as well as their website) from their profile because they have been given a space to do so. Great if you have a blog which you keep updated but why do it when it hasn’t been touched for several months? For me that’s like proudly linking to your website, encouraging me to visit and then all I find is a big “Under Construction” sign or the hosting company’s holding page. It looks bad and it’s bad for business.
The whole point of having a business blog that it tells the reader more about you, markets what you do and opens up a conversation or connection, all of which is likely to reflect positively on you and your business. But a blog where the most recent entry is from the previous year not only doesn’t add anything positive to people’s perception of you and your business, it can be distinctly negative.
So why do people still do it – is it that they think it’s still worth maintaining a link just in case it helps with Google? Maybe they just added it and forgot about it as part of a frenzied attempt to sign up with as many social networking sites and forums as possible. Bad move. Every profile you create adds to the pool of information about you on the internet – it’s best to treat them with respect and keep track. The internet has a long memory, for good or for bad.
From a professional perspective, it’s particularly disappointing because many of the profiles I read are in fact small business owners who are highly specialised in what they do and clearly have much to offer. Ideal candidates for a successful and focused business blog. More than that, by actively participating in networking sites they’ve already shown a real understanding that building trust and confidence online can add so much to their business, leading to referrals and generating real partnership opportunities. All things which running a business blog can also offer in bucket loads.
But not if it’s left to die. So even if it’s just once a week, keep your blog live and then make sure that you do link to it! If not, then please delete that link until you do – seriously, it’s a lot better for your business that way.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Spot on article Mark. Being able to find someone is never more easier than it is now, however, when someone does find you then you should take advantage of it. What I think most people don’t realise is the time dedication that should be invested in social networking and blogging. It is all too easy to be enthusiastic for several months and then lose interest or get diverted, but meanwhile all the connections and possibilities are still there.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Nesh, thanks for the comment. From a business point of view, we need to make the most of each and every opportunity. As you say blogging and social networking take time because building trust in people takes time - just because it’s online doesn’t mean that it will be instant. People forget that sometimes.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 am
Absolutely! I’ve been doing a lot of blawg surfing lately and am shocked at the HUGE number of links to completely out of date blogs. Some seemed so promising too, but then I’d note the 2006 dates and be disappointed.