How to Be a Good Linky User

1. Be organized
2. Be consistent
3. Be obedient
4. Be nice

I know those sound like directions we would give to our children but they really do apply to linkys.

Be Organized

You need to share different content each week on your linkys. I use the spreadsheet I found at TheCraftyBlogStalker. Of course, I have added and deleted linkys and instead of blog post names at the top, I put the URL so that I can easily copy and paste it from the spread sheet into the linky. Using the spread sheet, I stay organized and I know that I am sharing unique content with each linky each week.

Be Consistent

In my Time Management for Bloggers Part 1-Writing post I shared my daily schedule with you. My first hour of every morning, BEFORE email and FaceBook, I do my linkys. IF I have time in the evenings, I do any that I may have missed in the morning.

Be Obedient

Every linky has its own rules, read them and abide by them. If you don’t like a certain linky’s rules don’t join that linky. The host has made the rules for a specific reason so please abide by them. I have created a 3rd column in my spreadsheet for notes about specific rules for each linky.

I’m going to share some basic linky rules so you know what I am talking about.

• Follow the host(s) on social media.
• Add my linky badge to your site or link back some other way. **I have read several accounts of bloggers getting dinged by Google for having the “I am linking this post up to these link parties” followed but a ton of links at the bottom of every post because it comes across as spammy, and it is very time consuming.** Create a link party page, like I have, and list all the parties you join in one neat place. your readers can find it easily and you don’t get in trouble with Google.
• Only link up recipes.
• Don’t link up giveaways or Etsy stores

The rules aren’t usually hard to follow and a good host will delete links that don’t follow the rules.

Be Nice

Don’t link and run. I typically link 2 posts to each linky. Then I start at the bottom of the linky and scroll up to find at least 2 posts that interest me. Click on the links, read the post. Leave a comment and share that post on social media. Make sure you mark off your actions on your Printable Daily Social Media Checklist then move on to the next linky.

As long as you are linking well written posts with great photos you will begin to gain followers from corners of the web you didn’t even know existed.

In addition to linkys that you add posts to, there are a lot of linkys that help you directly gain followers to your social media accounts. My favorites can be found at TheUltimateLinky.com, A Peek Into My Paradise’s Social Media Mixer, and Barbie Bieber and Beyond’s Stumble Upon Party.

I hope these tips have helped you wrap your head around the use of linkys. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to ask!

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