How Much For A Link, Trackback Or A Ping ?

Well, since I’m getting sick of the ways that a LOT of bloggers act, I’m going to just do a post and vent a little.

Let’s establish a fact first and foremost – Links, Trackbacks and Pings don’t cost you a freakin’ dime. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

This doesn’t just come from the supposed A-List, it has infiltrated or infected the whole blogosphere. Top to bottom. Side to side.

There’s more than enough love to go around if you’d just spread it. You guys are afraid that if you link to someone or reference a post that they wrote, that you whole readership will go away and never come back.

Wrong-o scarcity-boy. They may actually appreciate you for a change and see that you’re worth their time. The also might think you have some use in this world, like doing their dirty work for them.

They WANT you to do the hard and dirty work for them. Scour the ‘net and find what they need. What they crave – INFO !

I even saw with my own eyes a blogger had written :

” I don’t get this “exchanging links” thing. IMHO, you should link to a blog if you believe it’s good for your readership. The other blogger should link to back your blog if she believes it’s good for her readership. In a perfect world, linking is about quality, not reciprocation, with all due respect to Dr. Cialdini. “

I-don’t-get-this-exchanging-links-thing ? What the heck do you think all those links to your blog on Technorati are ? Links where people felt you were good enough for their readers to check out. Do you really believe that everybody should link to you but you have no reason to repay their favor ? Are you really that kingly ? Beware, the mantle of kingship grows heavy over time, O’ Mighty One !

And, Oh-By-The-Way, this ain’t a perfect world. And you ain’t the sole supplier of info. Think about this, Big Shot – if a whopping 6200 pages of your content are viewed daily, which is roughly 8 times my viewership, you still only served about, what, 2900 people. That leaves approximately 6,600,000,000 other people who ain’t readin’ your blog. Curent world population courtesy of Google.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, ” You can’t have too many friends. “

The best part is that this blogger links to a lot of other blogs that also don’t link to anybody and don’t allow comments. OMG ! What the hell would it hurt for you to keep up with all the other bloggers, like me, who point my readers your way when you write something totally outstanding. Then, every now and then – maybe once a month or quarter, you stingy thang - you could actually link back when I write something amazing….if I ever do.

Why do bloggers act from a point of scarcity, instead of a point of abundance ? R-e-c-i-p-r-o-c-i-t-y ain’t that hard to spell. Heck, even an old country boy from Earlington, KY can spell it, if he has to.

I can understand why an Uber-blogger like Seth Godin doesn’t allow comments, but the brother does link the heck out of people. He’s understands that you can’t have too many friends. He’s a salesman. And he has answered EVERY SINGLE email I’ve ever sent him. Which are mainly to alert him that I referenced a post of his. Why ? ‘Cause he uses TypePad and they suck with Trackbacks.

I did notice though, Seth tends to link to companies and not other bloggers as much as some people do. I don’t, however, think this is done on purpose or maliciously. Or from a point of stingyness.

Those bloggers who don’t understand reciprocal links ? Well, they just write. No links needed ’cause they don’t need to reference anybody, they obviously know it all. Why should they link to the little people ? I AM THE MAN, is their mantra of delusion.

Then we have the B & C-Listers who think they are the stuff. I asked one of them to help me get some PR going on a post and he dropped the f-bomb on me like I was a beggar on a corner. Dude ! Let’s be a little more professional than that. Does anybody else besides me know that email and blog posts are forever ?

These words are gonna live forever and you need to look at ‘em and read ‘em BEFORE you hit Publish/Submit/Send.

Looking for a job ? The interviewer is gonna be scouring the ‘net looking for you and what you say and think.

Want a loan ? Same thing.

Need to be approved before they allow you to move into that condo ? Same deal.

Want to get into M.I.T. ? Same deal. Another reason MySpace is such a bad idea.

Not an A-Lister anymore and need a link ? I’ve got that email where you f-bombed me.

Looking for a Venture Capital ? Big Money is Googling your butt !

How much for a link, Trackback or Ping ? They don’t cost you a freakin’ cent, but holding on to them just might. At least I’m praying that they do.

Peace.

PS – No animals were harmed in the creation of this post. Also, although you might think I’m pointing out a certain blogger, or two, or three, I’m being general with my ” they’s, them’s, he’s and such “.

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