blogroll in crisis
November 3, 2009
Does anyone even read blogrolls?
I want to pass along the amazing blogs I read, but who can be bothered reading a long list of links?! I’m guessing not too many of you.
So I’m working on categorizing them to make the list at least easier to peruse. And hopefully more blogs will grab your interest that way.
But it’s so hard. (I’m whining, I know.)
I honestly can’t figure out what categories would be best to use. I certainly don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. And many people fit into more than one group anyway. What do to, what to do…
So I want your input.
Gimme your top four category ideas.
Got any other tips or suggestions for me?
well, you definitely need a “tam” category.
then…a “Progress” category.
um, a “west coast” category.
and, last but not least, “really needs attention” category.
ok. seriously…
how bout…
peeps youve met (for a personal touch)
fellow missionaries abroad
dang. thats all i got.
missionaries … check.
1. Blogs that will challenge you (worldview, perspective, etc)
2. Blogs that will make you smile
3. Blogs about the Big Guy Upstairs
4. Blogs that will tug at your soul
Good luck! And thanks for doing this (for all of us who are bored at work!)
glad i provided an escape from work!
good ideas!
fierce friends. That’s all I can come up with. Ha!!!
people who would step in front of a bus for you [i'm in that category]
Uhhhhhh ….. there’s a reason I avoid blogrollmania.
I love to read what other people are reading. And I’m sure however you organize it will be fine. :)
good to know someone will read it when i’m done!
wow, these people are no help at all!! sara is trying to suck up so that she can be at the top of the list.
honestly, i like a blogroll that consists of the blogs that someone REALLY reads. i am going to revamp mine right now. because i realized that i put a lot on there just because i don’t want to hurt feelings. although that’s nice, it’s not really my blogroll.
how’s that for rambling? and i would jump in front of sara to save you!!
yes – my blogroll will be blogs i actually read.
and thanks for making me laugh about sara and the bus!
I was counting on that, Sheryl… I’m a bit too slow and wouldn’t make it in front of the bus on time :)
To answer your question, I use blogrolls. But only one kind. The kind that pushes the most recent posts to the top (like on Networked blogs on Facebook). I glance to see when the last post was. If they are frequent bloggers then I am more likely to click through and read. If I see that it has been months since their last post then I leave them alone. They are not looking for a relationship style blogging experience. Which is fine. To each his own. I just prefer striking up a new relationship (the whole reason for blogrolls – if you ask me) with someone who I think will be more prompt in getting back to me if I comment and easier to get to know if they have current stuff going up all the time.
If you insist on ‘categories’ and want to give the appearance that you are not giving preference to one over the other then the only way to go is alphabetical.
If the whole reason you want to pass along the links is to encourage others to read then I would recommend putting a one-liner along with the title / name stating why you read that blog. (This would be a perfect time to follow suit and suck up. – I digress.) hee hee hee
Wow. Now I am getting an itch to revamp my ‘rides’ page… hm.
thanks for the suggestions, gigi!
I like Tam’s idea of breaking the breaking the personal blogs on your blog roll into 1) People you have meet, and 2) Blog Buddies
other possibilities:
Missions/ Charities
Non-religious
You could have a category for resources, sites you use to research info on.
Bible study groups as a separate category.
A seperate organizations group, as opposed to individuals.
alphabetical
random
by main theme of blog (family, ministry, missions, worship, photo, philosophical, leadership)
by relationship (people i know in real life, people that i’ve met on the net) mandy did a good job of this.
or you can just put me at the top.
i do like to glance at them…that reminds me, i need to update mine.
“or you can just put me at the top” – ha! i love you!
I read blog rolls – ok, yeah, sometimes to see if I’m on them…. but that is another story….. :)
I would do it by how you know them:
face to face
long distance
overseas
Or by continent – but that might be difficult for people who don’t say.
I love blogrolls especially on lazy days when I have nothing else to do. Though, I can’t say I go to them often, so I like a page of them and the ones that are on the side with a random rotation because then if I want I can jump over to one of them. Just a thought :)
I don’t know, but I am working on writing more so you have something to actually read on mine again…even if you don’t put it on the favs :) Been more consistent….have you seen?
I keep mine short and on the sidebar so I can get to it easily. Laziness is a big factor in that decision. lol
My blogroll on bernardshuford.com is created by a custom “bookmark” list in http://www.bloglines.com, which is my blog reader. Thus, the sites that show up on my blogroll change as I change what is in that list on the reader. A little easier to manage, and it also means that, yep, those are blogs I’m actually reading.
oooh i like that idea.
i linked over and set up an account with bloglines. but then i just stared wide eyed as i clicked through the site. i have NO IDEA how to get it to do what you did.
Wanna me try to explain it? I’ll be glad to try.
Asians category: HOLLAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
sorry… i’m no help. I need to redo mine too. :(
you’ll be the only one in my crazian category!
I found you through Soliloquy’s blog roll, so – of course – I love blog rolls. Even though I don’t have one. Heh. I think you should reverse the bus category to “people I would step in front of a bus for” and then add “people driving the bus.” Heh.
laughed out loud right here in starbucks over your bus category suggestions! love it!
Tonggu Momma was one of the very first people who used to visit my blog. And she always brings the funny. Actually it’s fun to bump into her here – and I second her suggestion. You could have a whole “wheels on the bus go round and round” theme going here. I’d like to be on the crossing guard list. Those little stop signs are awesome.
I’ve never had a blogroll. Always found it easier just to bookmark the blogs I do read.