Link Karma

by Brian Clark

Ever since the Indie Virus spawned in the Copyblogger comments four months ago, many smart people have concocted their own branded link viruses. Witness Blog Tipping, Link Leak, and plenty of others I’ve missed or forgotten (leave your linking meme in the comments and I’ll update).

Due to my blogging style, I don’t link out as much as I’d like. So, to make sure I take the time to do so on a regular basis, I’ve decided to create my own weekly link feature called Link Karma. I know how important it is to link out to others, and you should too — if for no other reason than because what comes around goes around.

So, let’s get started with the inaugural installment of Link Karma:

Kicking things off on the right foot is Kevin O’Keefe of LexBlog, who restates the counterintuitive rule of the Internet with a post about how the best blogs send the audience away.
Rafi doubles his subscriber base in two months by following these four simple steps to more blog subscribers. It’s easy, and it works.
Easton wonders if a corporate blog should call itself a “blog”. I think we’ll all quit calling them blogs sooner than one might think.
The Cult of Chartreuse? Prince Campbell is a brilliant guy, but after watching the results of a recent trip to meet the faithful in NYC, I’m worried these people will literally drink the Kool-aid if asked. I’ll have updates from Jonestown as things develop.
Got a legal question about blogging? Don’t ask me, ask Bob.
The other night I was scrolling through my iPod looking for late night reading music, and noticed that right there in between Rob Zombie and The Rolling Stones was my favorite poetic podcaster Robert Bruce. This social media thing is a trip.
Michelle Abeyta tweaks her story after some silly copyblogger’s reaction to her art work was “You know, for kids!” She looks to be headed for fame, state by state.
Want to be ahead of the curve on social media marketing? Think virtual reality, and check out The Harvard Business Review’s Avatar-Based Marketing. Seriously.
Looks like Martin Neumann is running full steam ahead with ePublishing Daily after a brief delay. Click here to subscribe to the feed.
Are you a blogoholic?
Liz stays on the trail of the Net Neutrality debate. For a humorous summary of the issue by a guy you might recognize from recent popular Mac commercials, check in with Jon Stewart.
Here’s the latest research in support of RSS marketing.
I’m a little late on this, but if you haven’t heard, Blake Schwendiman has released his book for free. Another counterintuitive thing that will likely pay off big for Blake.
Darren points us to the Earner’s Forum for tips on making money online.
Affiliate Marketing Back By Popular Demand. Told you.
I think zefrank is ze bomb.

Have something you’d like to see appear in Link Karma? Email is killing me, so tag it “for:brian_clark” on delicious (more about that here). Thanks!

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21 comments... add one

#1 chartreuse → 07.23.06 at 10:19 am

I love the Link Karma name. Cool beans! Thanks for including me in your first edition.

And if you’re ever feeling thirsty just let me know! :)
#2 jf → 07.23.06 at 11:33 am

Thanks Brian for the good vibes.
Signed,
A blogoholic
#3 Mike Sigers → 07.23.06 at 12:46 pm

Wow ! That’s a virtual Link-O-Rama gone wild !

Thanks for the link love !
#4 kuratkull → 07.23.06 at 1:52 pm

Linking is what makes blogs live :)
#5 michael webster → 07.23.06 at 1:56 pm

I am posting this comment here because the entry, on four ways to increase subscriptions, is closed.

You may be interested to know that safari reads yours rss subscription as:

feed://feeds.copyblogger.com/Copyblogger

It is not possible to subscribe to your rss feed through safari as it doesn’t direct you to the feedburner page. (Firefox doesn’t make this mistake)
#6 Brian → 07.23.06 at 2:03 pm Copyblogger

Thanks for the heads up Michael. It’s not a Safari issue, it’s a Feedburner issue, which I will see if I can get fixed pronto.

UPDATE: fixed.
#7 Robert Bruce → 07.23.06 at 5:18 pm

Thanks for the Karma B, great idea.

I’ve stolen you’re bottom-of-each-post-request-for-subscribers idea.

Between Zombie and The Stones eh? This is getting better by the minute…
#8 frillgirl → 07.23.06 at 7:18 pm

I don’t mean to nitpick, but shouldn’t this read: I know how important it is to link out to others, and you should too -
#9 Brian → 07.23.06 at 8:55 pm Copyblogger

Good catch… that’s a pet peeve of mine, and I missed it. :)
#10 Loren Feldman → 07.23.06 at 10:31 pm

Cult of Chartreuse? He’s no cult leader. He’s simply a man. Who just happens to be the son of god. Deal with it.
#11 Martin → 07.24.06 at 6:44 am

Hey thanks Brian,

Really honored you included me in your inaugural Link Karma.

re: the Prince and the kool-aid - heck, you’re not too far from being in that league as well - for copywriting specific to bloggers you are THE man :-)
#12 Brian → 07.24.06 at 7:23 am Copyblogger

Gee Martin, you make it sound so sexy (not). :)

And Loren, I’ll have to check the specifics, but I’m pretty sure that restraining order applies to blog comments as well. :)
#13 Easton Ellsworth → 07.24.06 at 7:43 am

Brian, the reason this works is because the links you give us here are high-quality, human-sifted, relevant and, dare I say, caring.

Come blogtipping next Tuesday, Aug. 1 with me, won’t you? I think I’ll try my hand at Link Karma this week. It’s awful how many great articles I never end up telling the world about because I’m afraid of putting up a post composed mainly of links with little thought of my own added. But as you’ve demonstrated here, sometimes the link is enough, with maybe a sprinkle of insight or opinion added.
#14 rafi → 07.24.06 at 8:08 am

Thanks for linking to that post on my site about how effective your tips are. That was really just soooo generous of you!
#15 Brian → 07.24.06 at 8:09 am Copyblogger

Easton, I’ll do it.

Rafi, yes, it sometimes amazes me how altruistic I am. :)
#16 ournewbusiness.com » Blog Archive » If you like our blog….then try this one → 07.27.06 at 5:41 am

[…] I could take the Copyblogger approach, but i’m not going to do that either. Will just see where I can fit links in appropriately. Better Business Blogging has some good advice on linking. […]
#17 BusinessBlogWire → 07.28.06 at 6:24 pm

Speedlinking Friday: Business Blogging Tips Out the Wazoo…

In honor of Brian Clark’s Link Karma, and in order to pass important business blogging resources on to you that I simply can’t digest more fully right now, I give you … Speedlinking Friday!First, listen to a free interview by……
#18 For Whom the Blog Tips (It Tips For Thee) | Copyblogger → 08.01.06 at 12:05 am

[…] Tip: Your posting style is similar to mine, so that means linking out is sometimes problematic. Try doing some blog tipping, link leak or link karma of your own. […]
#19 Link Karma 2: Link Harder | Copyblogger → 08.07.06 at 8:48 am

[…] Time for more quality links in the name of achieving good Link Karma, and a fun new game you can play from the comfort of your own home (details at the end of the post). Here we go: […]
#20 Link Karma and the Sandbox of Gloom | Copyblogger → 08.16.06 at 12:34 pm

[…] If you’ve just started blogging, you probably need links more than you want to read link posts. So, I’m going to dedicate this installment of Link Karma to resources that will help you score links. […]
#21 Link Karma IV: Link Night at the Apollo | Copyblogger → 11.19.06 at 9:39 pm

[…] It’s been way too long since the last installment of link karma, and I’m feeling a bit out of balance. So let’s take a look at what a few Copyblogger readers have been up to with their blogs. […]