Backlinks
I would like to propose a new movement, a tribe you could say. A group of people dedicated to bringing the backlink back into regular usage within blog posts.
The back story: Just a year or two ago, before Twitter was “main stream” bloggers actually used to link to each other.
Your friend wrote a great post, you linked to it.
Someone in your niche covered a topic perfectly, you linked to it.
Times were good, great content was rising to the top and bloggers were ranking for competitive terms.
Then everything changed. Microblogging was born, suddenly everyone stopped linking to each other and began sharing stuff on Twitter. Which is fine, however bloggers are now struggling to get links and as a result getting beat on the search engines by websites which are either buying links or have an SEO team building them links through article or directory submissions.
The Proposal
I propose that from here onwards that each blog post we publish should contain at least one link to a relevant blog post on another blog.
If you want to join me in this crusade you can use the banner above on your blog, I’ll also make a list here.
<a href="http://dannycooper.org/backlinks/"><img title="Bring Back Links" src="http://dannycooper.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/bbb.png" alt="Bring Back Links" width="125" height="125" /></a>
Tribe members: Danny Cooper, Adam Mlynarcik, Diggy, John, Dragos, Damian, Freddie, Hal, ZK, Ann, Zoli, Constantin, James, Josh, Ivan
If you have any thoughts, let me know in the comments, I’m really interested in your opinions on this!
PS. You don’t need to use the banner to be part of this movement, your participation is enough!
Like what you're reading? Then you'll love the exclusive content. Click here to learn more.

46 Responses
2.18.2010
Danny,
I love it, this post is total link bait.
Adam
2.18.2010
Haha thanks Adam, fancy enlisting? Put good use to those empty ad spaces on FanBrew
2.18.2010
Consider me enlisted. Ad block going up and I will be linking in every post.
2.18.2010
Added you to the list
2.18.2010
Great idea and awesome link bait Danny!
SMART.
2.18.2010
Thanks Sean, spreading the word is more important than the actual links to this post, but I suppose it does act as a link bait too. Let me know if I can sign you up my man!
2.18.2010
Hey Danny!
Sweet idea, I’m in!
2.20.2010
I have several blogs and I love the idea! I just added it to my personal blog and will add it to the rest of them today!
Great stuff!
John
2.20.2010
Thanks for the support John, I truly appreciate it!
2.22.2010
Neat! I’m in
2.22.2010
Brilliant Dragos, thanks a bunch!
2.22.2010
I’m all up for the idea, but can’t help but think the sort of stuff I plan to write about will be a differant category of content. Does your “tribe” have room for someone who mainly plans to write tech content when they finally get their act together and start posting regularly?
2.22.2010
There are plenty of tech/programming blogs publishing great content that would add value to your content by linking to them, Damian. Sure you can join
2.24.2010
I am with you on this Danny
2.24.2010
Good to have you on board ZK
2.24.2010
Super idea. Count me in. I’ll be adding the code today.
2.24.2010
Supported! Great idea, Danny boy! The re-tweets are cool, but that is only a small bit of temporary traffic. I would much rather have the backlink support.
But I guess it is like everything in life, you have to be the change that you want to see.
I am in and you can see my badge here: http://thinktaylor.com/category/blog/marketing
It’s on all the blog pages of my site.
2.24.2010
Hal & Freddie: Thanks a bunch guys, I can’t believe how much traction this idea is actually getting. Most of all I’m glad we are making a difference.
2.25.2010
I completely agree. As a beginner blogger I find myself building lots of back-links on websites I may not necessarily care about. There must be a better way to spread your message in an effective. I believe that if I begin linking to more posts that I find useful, it will come back to me in spades. That and it will also provide a lot of extra value to my readers!
Great idea. Consider me in.
2.28.2010
Hey there!
Feel free to count me in
2.28.2010
@Constantin I agree completely, too much time is spent arduously building links that shouldn’t have to be done. Instead great content should be linked to naturally. If your content isn’t great then don’t expect links.
@Zoli Hi mate, just seen your blog for the first time. VERY nice thesis customisation. Good to have you on board.
3.2.2010
Great idea Danny. I have republished your thoughts complete with backlink on my SEO blog.
OK whilst you may regard me as being part of the “SEO teams building them links through article or directory submissions” we focus on ethical SEO through genuine backlinks and tend to steer clear of directories.
Plus I am a blogger first and SEO second so secretly want to see bloggers come out on top!
Anyway great little post.
All the best
3.2.2010
Here is my post on your post…
http://upseo.co.uk/2010/03/bring-back-backlinks/
3.2.2010
Hey James
Great comment and brilliant post. In all honesty I think you explained the idea even better than I did!
Thanks a lot for the great contributions.
3.8.2010
Nice start man! Really good to share some link love within each post.. Your post is in my Smashing Saturday List of next week!
3.8.2010
Thanks for spreading the word Saksham.
3.8.2010
This is a great idea Danny.
I too remember those days when our posts got pick by other blogger.
But anyway, I hope we got many people sign up for this movement…
3.11.2010
Hello Danny,
i love your idea and i will implement it in my four blogs from next week on (all different niches).
Hope i have the time to write a post on the weekend…
3.11.2010
That’s fantastic Martin, thanks!
3.16.2010
Great idea, i will try it on a new batch of posts this week
thank you
3.31.2010
I can’t resist this, I’m a pretty new blogger (only just hit the 1 year mark) but I have a semi-decent following. If I could use that to help someone newer than me and encourage them to not give up, that would be fantastic. Whether I get any links back or not, I’d rather forge new friendships than worry about PageRank.
Count me in, Danny.
4.19.2010
Consider yourself in Josh! I’ve added you to the list
4.19.2010
Great idea and post. I spend a lot of time convincing my editors its OK to link out to a credible source – especially if it’s of value to the reader.
We’re in. ‘Bout time we put the love back in link love.
4.19.2010
Awesome Sam. I’d be happy to link to you from this post, however you didn’t leave a URL!
4.22.2010
You can count me in…great idea
4.28.2010
I’m pretty new at blogging (Well 9 months old) but I got some followers.
My philosophy is to help people, make new friends, and learn from someone else.
I could always use that to help someone newer than me, and this is the best way.
Please count me in, Danny. Thanks
4.28.2010
That’s a great philosophy Ben. You can’t go far wrong with a mindset like that
5.23.2010
You’re totally right! I got back into blogging recently and I was amazed to see how most bloggers didn’t backlink. What I thought inmediately was: “they only care about themselves, not about providing massive value to their readers”. So, it’s good to see tham I’m not alone.
I’m in, let’s spread some ideas.
5.23.2010
Thank you Iván and awesome blog you have there. I’ll add you to the list now!
6.11.2010
Since I’m a newcomer to blogging I have no memories of back links glory days, only social media sharing. However, I am completely supportive of this effort, because of everything I have read about SEO back links are the most powerful tool to ranking.
7.4.2010
Hello! I came across your blog while using StumbleUpon, and I really like the whole feel of your place in the internet space
I’m not a very good blogger, I just have a space for me to prattle on about whatever strikes me. Sometimes what I write about is based on what I have read on someone else’s blog, and I think that its a great idea that you have about linking people’s blogs to our own posts, so you can count me in