Do you use a “blog roll” on your Blog?

I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the concept of using a “blog roll” on this blog since we were completely redesigning it. Do we really need to use such a component anymore on our blogs to get attention? And what purpose do they really serve anymore?

I know there are still some bloggers who still use a “blog roll” and there are some who don’t. Some bloggers don’t like the name “blog roll” and I am one of them. There are other bloggers who still use one, but call it something else.

What really started me to think about this was a conversation recently on one of the list I am on. The members were discussing doing links in a “blog roll” of each others blogs. My problem with this is what if the blog you are linking to is not relevant to your own blog? Should you be putting up a “blog roll” full of blogs not relevant to your own blog? My gut reaction is no.

Relevant Links in Blog Post Instead

For me, it makes a lot more sense to put relevant links in your blog post to those blogs you want to link to. Doesn’t that do more good for you both when it comes to making the search engines happy? We all keep talking about relevant content with relevant links. I would rather include links to blogs I read in a blog post then to have a popularity contest with a “blog roll.”

What did twitter have to say?

I asked the question on twitter and this is what I received in answers.

Additional thoughts and issues:

One of the problems I see happening recently is how much of a blogger groupie issue a blog roll has become. I have even received emails asking why I did not have a link to someone’s blog in one of my blogs. In additional to that, I get a number of emails a week asking me to put someone’s blog in one of my blog’s blog roll. I rarely do. The reason why people, including me, don’t update their “blog rolls” is it is a pain to do sometimes. And it is just not high on our priority list. So what is the solution?

Two blogs who use the “blog roll” in one of the best ways I have seen are RickMahn and his Friends Page and Dawud Miracle and his List of “Blogs I Read Regularly.” Neither list is long nor are the list just a bunch or random bloggers.

I like the way they both have done their list and if I do such a list on Blog for Profit, it will be modeled after these two.

What do you all think? Leave your comments on this post. Two reasons, I want to continue this conversation further. And second, I want to see how well our new comment system is working.

Martin Neumann

I wouldn't bother with a blogroll on the main page. Even the term "blogroll" is outdated, imho.

I do like Rick Mahn's Friends page - it shows how much effort he has put into selecting useful blogs that his readers might appreciate.

I like it so much I think I might put it in my swipe file and use it on my own blog. :-)

<abbr>Martin Neumann´s last blog post..The Sloppy Use of Affiliate Marketing on Twitter</abbr>

Grant Griffiths

Martin -- Thanks for the comment and for being one of our regulars. Don’t tell Rick, but I put his “Friends” page in my swipe file too.

April Jones

In addition to the "too much clutter", I also removed mine because it was a pain to update them, whether a blog moved or I just "outgrew" it. Now I prefer to link to my favorite blogs via Twitter or in a blog post. I do have a blog where I've posted a list of relevant websites but I'm not concerned with monetizing, page ranks, SEO, etc. on that one.

<abbr>April Jones´s last blog post..Exciting News for Advantage VA</abbr>

Grant Griffiths

April - You made a key point. I do think we "outgrow" them. But more then that, we learn that putting relevant links in a blog post is better then throwing up a "blog roll" and hoping someone might see it.

Susan Cartier Liebel

Everyone on my blogroll earned it. Savvy Solos wrote a guest post as did those listed in Passed the Bar - Hung a Shingle. Others are blogs I read fairly regularly and provide good examples of what blogs should look like..or at least content ...for solos.

When I migrate over to posting at Solo Practice University, blogs I link to with any permanence outside of a blog post will have different requirements...but they must add value to my readership or they won't be there.

<abbr>Susan Cartier Liebel´s last blog post..When Pricing Your Legal Services, Understand Your Clients</abbr>