Losing Friends by Limitless Linking

Is it possible for web writers and bloggers to lose friends on social networking sites by putting up too many links?

Indeed, it is.

Personally, I’ve been de-friended by a few family members and friends, simply because they did not take interest in article links that showed up in their news feeds on Facebook. Perhaps they never heard of post-blocking.

No harm done. Perhaps I’ll keep those folks on my Christmas greeting list anyway, although I need not include a “Thanks for reading!” in the comments on their cards. OK, I'm kidding ... sort of.

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Online writers depend upon readership, which is largely based upon the promotion of article links.

These links may lure folks to read the posts we write. After all, writers write to be read, and the web writer’s livelihood is based on the popularity of his or her content.

Web writers earn a living through page-view revenues, which are usually based on a set percentage of advertising fees from the pages on which their writing appears. When online article pages load, paid ads may appear as well. Those who wrote the copy on those pages may receive a small share of the revenues from those promotional spots.

Bloggers may make money when readers click on ads, use embedded search engine bars, or purchase items through promotions offered on blog pages. The most popular blogs may not prove profitable, if visitors simply move along after reading. Lesser sites can be real moneymakers, if folks click through to shop and place orders after noticing advertisements in or around the blog posts.

*** Please note: This is a generic explanation about link-clicking, 

not an instruction to do so 

without actual merit or interest in the items offered. ***

Of course, the process is tightly policed. Bloggers are not allowed to instruct readers to patronize the promotions on their pages. Neither are writers permitted to click on the ads appearing on their own sites. Such behavior can lead to an outright ban.

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Enter social networking.

Like other professionals (and particularly self-employed professionals), web writers are wont to share their work on Digg, Facebook, Linked In, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, Twitter, and other social networking sites.

Many of us set up RSS feeds, so promotional links to new articles or blog posts appear automatically on these sites.

“Were you really up at 3 a.m., writing and putting links on Linked In?” a cousin asked me recently.

“Are you on Facebook all the time?” a neighbor inquired.

Nope and no way. 

Most web writers are too busy writing to sit and put up linked social networking status reports all day, although our auto-posts may make it appear otherwise.

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Is it possible to keep social contacts and link promotion in proper context?

Maybe it’s all about balance. Isn’t everything?

Not long ago, hoping to offer my friends and family some promotional relief, I created Facebook fan pages for several of my regular feature columns and blog sites. I redirected most of my RSS feeds to these sites and invited relevant folks to “like” those pages.

Whew! Now the lion’s share of my article links goes only to those who actually may possess enough interest in those topics to click through and read. Can’t you just hear a collective sigh?

What’s more, I try to share photos, stories, quotes, comments and other snippets on these pages, instead of just loading them up with my article links. Frequently, I invite other writers to post links on related topics. I’m hoping it helps to mix things up a bit.

Here are a few examples of Facebook fan pages:

• Chicago Etiquette Examiner
• Madison Equestrian Examiner
• Madison Holidays Examiner
• The Mane Point
• Writer Linda Ann Nickerson – Nickers and Ink Creative Communications

Here’s the bottom line:

Indiscriminate link-promotion can alienate folks – even those who love us the most in real-life. My immediate family, for example, may not be found among my subscriber lists.  Who knows? Maybe they’ve already heard too many of my stories.

But one thing is sure. Those who do subscribe have done so voluntarily, so they are likely to stick around awhile. Welcome aboard, gang, and thanks for reading.

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Image/s:  

Chain Link by KDS444

Creative Commons Licensing/Wikipedia Commons Photos

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.