Thought: link posts share knowledge, not hide laziness
I am seeing a trend where bloggers are starting to link post more than usual. Since such posts usually send users away to other websites instead of keeping them around, many people say that link posts are nothing more than excuses for not being able to come up with fresh and useful content. I have started to realize that when done effectively, link posts allows both bloggers and readers to find out different perspectives on issues that we usually take for granted. A link post is an excellent way to share knowledge by introducing different perspective on issues.
An example of how a link post helped the blogger, reader, and me tremendously
Daniel recently shared Reader Tips with his readers that included a link to my article that talked about my thoughts on treating blog readers equally, and so did Dan. While reading those posts, I realized a few things. The posts allowed the bloggers to share some useful link with their readers. The readers found different perspectives on different blogging issues, probably written in different writing styles compared to how the bloggers usually write. The readers probably found that change refreshing.
Am I happy that Daniel and Dan linked to me? Of course. I got more people to come to my site and see through my post what I think they should know about. In addition to that, I read the other Reader Tips and thought of 23 topics I can write about. I have not had any other occasion in my life where I read 2 short blog posts and any links in them in less than 10 minutes and came up with 23 topics that I could write about along the way, without even finishing reading all the links. Thus, I benefited as a blogger since the two bloggers linked to me, and I also benefited as a reader since I learned new things through the link posts. I can now apply the new knowledge to at least 23 different posts which would be 23 new perspectives on different things for my blog readers. For me, that is very interesting.
Daniel, thank you for linking to me again, I really appreciate it and am happy that you continue to find my posts interesting. Dan, thank you also for linking to me. 
Link posts share knowledge
Link post can be used to share knowledge with people, something that is vital to the success of anyone who wants to put an effort to it. We can all stick to our own posts and keep talking about things we want to talk about without offering alternatives to let people decide on their own. However, is that not selfish? Not telling our readers that other sources of information exist on a regular basis is, maybe, trying to make our users dumb so that they can only stick to our own posts or ideas. Sharing knowledge through links is a way to make everyone look for different perspectives on similar and different issues in order to come with our own understand of different things.
So go on, write link posts and link to all my posts.
Should I also start link posts on my site?
Now the big question is: should I also start something similar to a link post on a regular basis? I do not know. What do you think? I think you are way too important for me to let go through link posts, even though I love posting external links in articles I write. Should I hold on to you, like a baby holds on to yummy chocolate, or should I sometimes send you off to wander in new gardens so that you and I both can try new fruits? Please tell me. I am too hungry right now to think of the answer.
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( March 4th, 2007 at 10:45 pm )
Thanks for the mention.
I think link posts are a good way of pointing your readers to something interesting that they might otherwise not come across. I try to avoid linking to posts or news that have already been widely discussed. That to me is a sign of laziness. I would love nothing more to have just my content on my site but sometimes you come across things that you can’t help but share.
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( March 5th, 2007 at 9:49 am )
Dan1el, thanks for commenting.
I am glad you took the time to share your opinion on this.
Yes, link posts can bring up stuff that may otherwise not be noticed. Since many people start blogs in order to share things readers, why not help the readers through link posts along the way? I also try to avoid linking or talking about stuff that has already been posted everywhere unless I talk about it through a different lens (perspective). You are right, sometimes you want people to know things outside of your blog also.
Thanks for stopping by Dan1el. Please feel free to come by and share your opinions more.
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( March 5th, 2007 at 3:47 pm )
Bes,
I don’t like link posts unless the author can add something to the links. Just spilling out the weekly del.icio.us is kinda annoying sometimes because the links seem out of context. However, if you topically break it down and use the links to form some kind of argument and/or conclusion, then I think a link post would be beneficial.
I did like the way Dan handled his link post though. Good example.
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( March 6th, 2007 at 7:43 am )
Because there are at least 55 million blogs vying for attention on any given day, mine is almost exclusively link posts. It’s my way of expanding on a subject and giving my readers several points of view and, at the same time, providing the opportunity for them to investigate other blogs they might otherwise not have seen.
As for the concern that readers might click the link out and not return, it probably happens. It’s a chance I don’t mind taking, though. I don’t know about the metrics, but it makes sense that there’s something more than the link posts that would make any blog less appealing than another.
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( March 6th, 2007 at 12:46 pm )
Ronalfy, thanks for sharing your view on this.
I really appreciate it.
I see what you mean. You are saying that the link post needs to have some additional information in addition to the links, like something that the link poster came up with on their own, right? I usually link to others only in articles I write on my own. If I remember correctly, I have yet to try doing regular link posts.
Carolyn Manning, thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comment on this.
I can see the kind of approach you have taken on this; it is very interesting. I also like how you explain simply that you don’t mind taking chances when it comes to users going away. I think that is a good thing, as it is for the benefit of the reader and we hope that the reader comes back.
Thanks again Carolyn, I really appreciate your opinion. Please stop by more; I would love to hear from you more.
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( March 6th, 2007 at 3:06 pm )
Bes, if this computer would let me have a say in the matter, you’d have heard more from me much earlier this afternoon. In my drafts, is a post comparing this with one done by Lewis Green. Alas, there are times when we just don’t know enough to go up against the powerful cyber-world machines; annoying, but true. Well, at least you know you have a link in waiting.
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( March 7th, 2007 at 10:33 am )
Carolyn, thanks for letting me know about that, I really appreciate it.
I am guessing you could not save or write the post earlier? 
I am looking forward to the comparison and the link, thanks. 
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