State of the Blogroll

Around every three months I run a link checker on Blogroll.org to see who’s fallen by the wayside or whatever changes there might be via URLs shifting ’n all. It’s how I keep the blogroll fresh and clean just for you!

My observations from these scans:

  • An average of one or two blogs disappear completely during each cycle (i.e. their domain no longer works or the blog has been deleted).

  • While it’s fortunate to only lose a couple every few months, it’s always sad to see them go and they leave a hole in the blogverse. Like losing friends.

  • A large portion of redirect errors come from blogs changing their URLs (i.e. moving to new locations or changing the way they do links, etc.) and forgetting to also redirect their RSS feed. So don’t forget your RSS feed when you change things up, folks!

Read more…

(Note: I’m now writing about blogging and such on my other blog at Blogroll.org and sharing them from here.)

Wood fairy?

Saw this on the trails in San Felasco and let out a chuckle. Maybe wood fairies are real after all?

Have you “Moved to Substack”?

Lately I’ve been coming across quite a few abandoned blogs with a note along the lines of “Moved to Substack.”

That’s all well and good but when you do that you no longer own your platform (and IMO lose a bit of character that makes you different).

There’s nothing wrong with utilizing Substack (I certainly see the appeal) but why not keep your blog alive as your central home at the same time?

Read more…

(Note: I’m now writing about blogging and such on my other blog at Blogroll.org and sharing them from here.)

Keeping it simple

When I first built Blogroll.org I went big with a fancy home page, several explainer pages, boxes of links, a message board in lieu of comments and so forth.

Fun and exciting times!

But then…

I noticed over the past few months I was slowly backing off posting new links, posts, etc.

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(Note: I’m now writing about blogging and such on my other blog at Blogroll.org and sharing them from here.)

A couple things

Quick notes on things at the Blogroll.org HQ: – I got hungry and added Food/Drink as a new category for personal blogs focusing on those topics. If you have any favorites, feel free to let me know by commenting or replying. – In the Blogroll Scroll weekly newsletter I’ve added a little space to share extra thoughts on certain blogs/links I’m sharing. You’ll see those in italics. Enjoy, fellow net-wanderers. Ray

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(Note: I’m now writing about blogging and such on my other blog at Blogroll.org and sharing them from here.)

“A Gentle Intro to RSS”

I talk about RSS feeds quite a bit — they’ve been around for decades and are one of the easiest (and best) ways to keep up with your favorite blogs.

However, in the zeal of my love for it, I sometimes forget that not everyone knows what RSS feeds are, much less how to use them in the first place.

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(Note: I’m now writing about blogging and such on my other blog at Blogroll.org and sharing them from here.)

Beware Chrome’s follow button?

By now you’ve probably heard Google’s testing an RSS follow button in Chrome that lets readers follow blogs, etc. and read those articles in a new “Following” tab in the browser.

At first glance it’s great news — anything that helps readers follow blogs can only help, right?

The problem is this is Google we’re talking about…

Read more…

(Note: I’m now writing about blogging and such on my other blog at Blogroll.org and sharing them from here.)

Free your blog from the tyranny of pace

When it comes to personal blogs and blogging, screw pace. Rather than pressuring yourself under artificial time & quantity constraints, just write for yourself. Readers (and you) will be happier when you do.

Read more…

(Note: I’m now writing about blogging and such on my other blog at Blogroll.org and sharing them from here)