Comments on: Are You A Link Whore? http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-you-a-link-whore Opinions. Commentary. News. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:14:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Rondell Jenkins http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20896 Rondell Jenkins Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:33:08 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20896 Yeah, this article pose some real interesting questions for sure. Speaking of question, anybody know how to fry up a big old catfish? Yeah, this article pose some real interesting questions for sure. Speaking of question, anybody know how to fry up a big old catfish?

]]> By: Marketing Profs Daily Fix http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20897 Marketing Profs Daily Fix Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:04:20 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20897 <strong>Link Penalty Anxiety?</strong> "Help, our site was penalized by Google. We used to be ranked on page one but now we are on page 10 and it's killing us"....... Link Penalty Anxiety?

“Help, our site was penalized by Google. We used to be ranked on page one but now we are on page 10 and it’s killing us”…….

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20895 Lee Odden Fri, 19 May 2006 17:37:59 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20895 Um, Eric I think it's pretty clear you invited the comparison. If you're going to write something like this: "If you are going to plug your own company by comparing links to me, do it honestly, you slut." That warrants a reply. It goes without saying that your skills and reputation as a site promoter are undisputed. If you'll excuse me, I have my own clients to attend to. Um, Eric I think it’s pretty clear you invited the comparison. If you’re going to write something like this:
“If you are going to plug your own company by comparing links to me, do it honestly, you slut.”
That warrants a reply.
It goes without saying that your skills and reputation as a site promoter are undisputed.
If you’ll excuse me, I have my own clients to attend to.

]]> By: Tom Hespos http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20894 Tom Hespos Fri, 19 May 2006 16:10:03 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20894 So, am I a whore for referring to Eric's original post as "ballsy" in my own blog? Because, you know, using controversial language like that is just a trick to get people to read it. ::rolls eyes:: So, am I a whore for referring to Eric’s original post as “ballsy” in my own blog?
Because, you know, using controversial language like that is just a trick to get people to read it. ::rolls eyes::

]]> By: Mack Collier http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20893 Mack Collier Fri, 19 May 2006 15:57:50 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20893 The term 'link whore' is pretty common in the blogosphere. It might be offensive to someone that hasn't encountered it yet, but since this is a blog, we have to assume bloggers are going to read it, and I think most of them have heard and possibly even USED the term 'link whore'. The term ‘link whore’ is pretty common in the blogosphere. It might be offensive to someone that hasn’t encountered it yet, but since this is a blog, we have to assume bloggers are going to read it, and I think most of them have heard and possibly even USED the term ‘link whore’.

]]> By: Eric Ward http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20892 Eric Ward Fri, 19 May 2006 15:20:07 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20892 Um, Lee, I'm a one person business working from my house, always have been. I never ask for links for my own sites. Just my clients. Never submit my own site. My site costs me 12 bucks a month. If Google dies tomorrow I'm fine. So please stop trying to make it look like my site is somehow "underlinked" by comparing your site to mine. The sites are not even in any way designed to compete. Your site rocks. It's CNN and mine is a shack in the hills of Tennessee. If I had decided, back in 1993, to create a company with employees and a web site to match, my conservative hunch is I would have a 4.21 gazillion links. That anyone links to my site at all is a bonus and a miracle. On the other hand, I have helped build over 25,000,000 links to PBS.org. That wasn't a typo. See, I'd rather build links to my client's sites than my own. But that's just me... Eric Um, Lee, I’m a one person business working from my house, always have been. I never ask for links for my own sites. Just my clients. Never submit my own site. My site costs me 12 bucks a month. If Google dies tomorrow I’m fine.
So please stop trying to make it look like my site is somehow “underlinked” by comparing your site to mine. The sites are not even in any way designed to compete. Your site rocks. It’s CNN and mine is a shack in the hills of Tennessee. If I had decided, back in 1993, to create a company with employees and a web site to match, my conservative hunch is I would have a 4.21 gazillion links. That anyone links to my site at all is a bonus and a miracle.
On the other hand, I have helped build over 25,000,000 links to PBS.org.
That wasn’t a typo.
See, I’d rather build links to my client’s sites than my own.
But that’s just me…
Eric

]]> By: link_monkey http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20891 link_monkey Fri, 19 May 2006 14:57:05 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20891 Eh, you got my URL wrong, Mark :) Eh, you got my URL wrong, Mark :)

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20890 Lee Odden Fri, 19 May 2006 14:23:38 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20890 Let's not kid ourselves, "...it wasn't just about getting attention.". Using a word like "Whore" is ALL about getting attention. Did the post contain good info? Sure it did. Could the post have been presented less offensively and still provide good information? Yes. A post title such as "Seven Linking Tactics to Avoid" would have been just as useful to readers AND accurate. But then it would not have received as much attention. Let’s not kid ourselves, “…it wasn’t just about getting attention.”.
Using a word like “Whore” is ALL about getting attention.
Did the post contain good info? Sure it did.
Could the post have been presented less offensively and still provide good information? Yes.
A post title such as “Seven Linking Tactics to Avoid” would have been just as useful to readers AND accurate.
But then it would not have received as much attention.

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20889 Lee Odden Fri, 19 May 2006 14:15:52 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20889 Readers of this post should know some context. I know Eric a little offline, so that makes him available for some sarcasm (from me). Congrats on getting this blog gig Eric, I didn't realize it was new. Now on to the fun stuff. "That's why I purposely did not link to my own site anywhere in the post. THAT would have made me a link whore." This statement makes it seem like linking to your own site within a blog post is bad, and that's just silly. If your own site contains a resource or additional information relevant to the post, link away I say! As far as link counts and measuring things, revenue is what it's all about baby and from where I'm sitting things are looking very nice. I'm glad to hear you don't use Google numbers, neither do I. Where did you get that from? "If you are going to plug your own company by comparing links to me, do it honestly, you slut." Ooh, that's some language there. For kicks, here are the numbers from Yahoo Site Explorer. ericward.com - 4,087 <a href="http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=www.ericward.com&bwm=i&bwmf=s&searchbwm=Explore+URL" rel="nofollow">http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=www.ericward.com&bwm=i&bwmf=s&searchbwm=Explore+URL</a> my site - 141,746 <a href="http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=www.toprankresults.com&bwm=i&bwmf=s&searchbwm=Explore+URL" rel="nofollow">http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=www.toprankresults.com&bwm=i&bwmf=s&searchbwm=Explore+URL</a> See, I didn't even mention my site url, I'll let Yahoo do that. Happy Blogging! Readers of this post should know some context. I know Eric a little offline, so that makes him available for some sarcasm (from me).
Congrats on getting this blog gig Eric, I didn’t realize it was new. Now on to the fun stuff.
“That’s why I purposely did not link to my own site anywhere in the post. THAT would have made me a link whore.”
This statement makes it seem like linking to your own site within a blog post is bad, and that’s just silly. If your own site contains a resource or additional information relevant to the post, link away I say!
As far as link counts and measuring things, revenue is what it’s all about baby and from where I’m sitting things are looking very nice.
I’m glad to hear you don’t use Google numbers, neither do I. Where did you get that from?
“If you are going to plug your own company by comparing links to me, do it honestly, you slut.”
Ooh, that’s some language there. For kicks, here are the numbers from Yahoo Site Explorer.
ericward.com – 4,087
http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=www.ericward.com&bwm=i&bwmf=s&searchbwm=Explore+URL
my site – 141,746
http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=www.toprankresults.com&bwm=i&bwmf=s&searchbwm=Explore+URL
See, I didn’t even mention my site url, I’ll let Yahoo do that.
Happy Blogging!

]]> By: Ann Handley http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20888 Ann Handley Thu, 18 May 2006 20:25:20 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20888 "See, using controversial or strong language in a blog post is a trick to get people to read it. Isn't that as 'sleazy' as digging your own articles or commenting on a blog post with a link?" I don't think that's the same thing at all, Lee. Eric's post headline related to its content, and the content was on-target; it delivered as promised, in my view. Is it strongly worded? Sure...but Eric backed up what he said. His post shed some light; it wasn't just about getting attention. “See, using controversial or strong language in a blog post is a trick to get people to read it. Isn’t that as ’sleazy’ as digging your own articles or commenting on a blog post with a link?”
I don’t think that’s the same thing at all, Lee. Eric’s post headline related to its content, and the content was on-target; it delivered as promised, in my view.
Is it strongly worded? Sure…but Eric backed up what he said. His post shed some light; it wasn’t just about getting attention.

]]> By: Ann Handley http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20887 Ann Handley Thu, 18 May 2006 20:06:11 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20887 Eric -- Thanks for the wikipedia link. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I *am* surprised that it has its own entry. Blog spam is a huge annoyance/nuisance for me on the MarketingProfs blog, so much so that I had to change the comments on this from unmoderated to moderated -- in other words, I need to approve every single comments, clarification or throat-clearing. Which is too bad...because in my view it takes some of the freshness out of the conversation, if you have to run it by an editor first. Pisses me off that Spammers have ruined it for the rest of us. In fact, I get so much Spam and get SO annoyed that I wish Moveable Type offered me another option in moderator mode -- not just "Publish," "Delete," or "Junk," but perhaps "Maim," "Kill," or "Slit Spammer's Throat with Hot Butter Knife." Eric — Thanks for the wikipedia link. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I *am* surprised that it has its own entry.
Blog spam is a huge annoyance/nuisance for me on the MarketingProfs blog, so much so that I had to change the comments on this from unmoderated to moderated — in other words, I need to approve every single comments, clarification or throat-clearing. Which is too bad…because in my view it takes some of the freshness out of the conversation, if you have to run it by an editor first.
Pisses me off that Spammers have ruined it for the rest of us. In fact, I get so much Spam and get SO annoyed that I wish Moveable Type offered me another option in moderator mode — not just “Publish,” “Delete,” or “Junk,” but perhaps “Maim,” “Kill,” or “Slit Spammer’s Throat with Hot Butter Knife.”

]]> By: Rich E http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20886 Rich E Thu, 18 May 2006 18:14:22 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20886 Great post! Signed, <a href="http://www.GetViagraNow.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.GetViagraNow.com</a> :) hahahahahah Just kiddng Eric Great post!
Signed,
http://www.GetViagraNow.com :)
hahahahahah Just kiddng Eric

]]> By: Mack Collier http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20885 Mack Collier Thu, 18 May 2006 16:30:21 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20885 I think it's a short-term/long-term issue. Taking a controversial angle or purposely being argumentive in your posts will get you a short-term bump in traffic, and likely erode your traffic long-term. Likewise, if all you do is go from one 'A-Lister' blog to another leaving 'Great point, check out my thoughts here: <a href="http://sendsomelinkstomycrappyblog.blogspot.com'," rel="nofollow">http://sendsomelinkstomycrappyblog.blogspot.com',</a> then you might get some hits that day, but nothing after that. I think the way to use links the most effectively is as a tool to POINT readers to RELEVANT posts on other blogs/websites that better explain/expand the point you are trying to make. And personally, I try my best to find a way to point my readers back to bloggers that are kind enough to comment on my blogs, or link to me. And again, it's in the context, I try to stay away from 'Hey David has a great blog, check it out!', and go with 'David makes a great point about using bloggers as a marketing tool, and it really ties into what I posted about yesterday. Check out his take HERE'. Bottom line is that it's like you said, good linking habits are rewarded. I think it’s a short-term/long-term issue. Taking a controversial angle or purposely being argumentive in your posts will get you a short-term bump in traffic, and likely erode your traffic long-term. Likewise, if all you do is go from one ‘A-Lister’ blog to another leaving ‘Great point, check out my thoughts here: http://sendsomelinkstomycrappyblog.blogspot.com‘, then you might get some hits that day, but nothing after that.
I think the way to use links the most effectively is as a tool to POINT readers to RELEVANT posts on other blogs/websites that better explain/expand the point you are trying to make. And personally, I try my best to find a way to point my readers back to bloggers that are kind enough to comment on my blogs, or link to me.
And again, it’s in the context, I try to stay away from ‘Hey David has a great blog, check it out!’, and go with ‘David makes a great point about using bloggers as a marketing tool, and it really ties into what I posted about yesterday. Check out his take HERE’.
Bottom line is that it’s like you said, good linking habits are rewarded.

]]> By: Debra Mastaler http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20884 Debra Mastaler Thu, 18 May 2006 15:50:59 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20884 "Have you gone back to existing links and changed the anchor text just to look nice for the bots?" YES I HAVE AND I'M PROUD OF IT. "Because you're a blog whore." OMG - Moses, what say you to that? ;) “Have you gone back to existing links and changed the anchor text just to look nice for the bots?”
YES I HAVE AND I’M PROUD OF IT.
“Because you’re a blog whore.”
OMG – Moses, what say you to that? ;)

]]> By: Eric http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20883 Eric Thu, 18 May 2006 15:40:43 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20883 Hi Lee - I wondered how long it would take before someone commented that my blog post was in some ways the very thing I was criticiaing. That's why I purposely did not link to my own site anywhere in the post. THAT would have made me a link whore. And your link count is so far off it's comical. I don't use Goolge numbers, I use my server own logs, which are far more accurtate, and which show traffic to my site coming from over 116,000 different sites in calendar year 2006 to date. If you are going to plug your own company by comparing links tome, do it honestly, you slut. :) Hi Lee – I wondered how long it would take before someone commented that my blog post was in some ways the very thing I was criticiaing. That’s why I purposely did not link to my own site anywhere in the post. THAT would have made me a link whore.
And your link count is so far off it’s comical. I don’t use Goolge numbers, I use my server own logs, which are far more accurtate, and which show traffic to my site coming from over 116,000 different sites in calendar year 2006 to date. If you are going to plug your own company by comparing links tome, do it honestly, you slut. :)

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20882 Lee Odden Thu, 18 May 2006 15:28:34 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20882 Hey Eric, Contrarian blog posts do attract attention, that's for sure. I agree with just about every of your criteria with one exception: "Have you gone back to existing links and changed the anchor text just to look nice for the bots?" Changing anchor text from "click here" to a product name is not a bad thing. That's as much a usability issue as it is a search engine friendly issue. Personally, I find the reference you make in the title disappointing. Why? Because you're a blog whore. See, using controversial or strong language in a blog post is a trick to get people to read it. Isn't that as "sleazy" as digging your own articles or commenting on a blog post with a link? I see ericward.com has over 4,000 links - that's pretty good! My main company site has 140,000 links. Are some of them slutty? I'm sure some of them are. But who doesn't like "mostly nice", but just a "little slutty" when it counts? :) Hey Eric,
Contrarian blog posts do attract attention, that’s for sure. I agree with just about every of your criteria with one exception:
“Have you gone back to existing links and changed the anchor text just to look nice for the bots?”
Changing anchor text from “click here” to a product name is not a bad thing. That’s as much a usability issue as it is a search engine friendly issue.
Personally, I find the reference you make in the title disappointing. Why? Because you’re a blog whore.
See, using controversial or strong language in a blog post is a trick to get people to read it. Isn’t that as “sleazy” as digging your own articles or commenting on a blog post with a link?
I see ericward.com has over 4,000 links – that’s pretty good!
My main company site has 140,000 links. Are some of them slutty? I’m sure some of them are. But who doesn’t like “mostly nice”, but just a “little slutty” when it counts? :)

]]> By: Eric Ward http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20881 Eric Ward Thu, 18 May 2006 13:31:51 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20881 Amen J.D. And how sad is it that Wikipedia has an entire entry devoted to blog spam - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog_spam" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog_spam</a> Amen J.D. And how sad is it that Wikipedia has an entire entry devoted to blog spam – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog_spam

]]> By: J.D. Matthews http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/comment-page-1/#comment-20880 J.D. Matthews Thu, 18 May 2006 04:15:10 +0000 http://www.mpdailyfix.com/are-you-a-link-whore/#comment-20880 As a blog owner, when I see one of those comment/spam things appear in my comments section, I almost immediately delete them. I have no use for them whatsoever, and I think the vast majority doesn't either. While it's a noble idea to get involved in the community, it seems that many businesses have tried to find the shortcut by sending anonymous, meaningless comments with links back to whatever they're selling. It doesn't work. If you want to make the blog game work for you, you have to approach it honestly and get involved in the community. (Gosh, did I just channel Mack there?) As a blog owner, when I see one of those comment/spam things appear in my comments section, I almost immediately delete them. I have no use for them whatsoever, and I think the vast majority doesn’t either. While it’s a noble idea to get involved in the community, it seems that many businesses have tried to find the shortcut by sending anonymous, meaningless comments with links back to whatever they’re selling. It doesn’t work.
If you want to make the blog game work for you, you have to approach it honestly and get involved in the community. (Gosh, did I just channel Mack there?)

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