Newbie Tuesday: Linky Posts

I honestly thought I knew all the linky posts out there. I’ve done the Gallery, I dip in and out of Listography, and I’ve ranted a few times on Dear So and So. Heck, I even participate in several linkys run by newer bloggers – there are great ideas surfacing all the time! So I thought I knew what to expect when I asked the question What are your favourite linkys? over on the forum last week. For anyone I have lost already, let me explain: a linky post is hosted by one blogger; that blogger writes their own post and places a form on their blog where other bloggers can link the urls of their own posts on the same theme and share with another audience.

The first one I recognised on the forum was Reasons to be Cheerful hosted every Thursday by Mummy from the Heart. A fabulous feelgood post to keep you focused on what is going well in your life. I have taken part in this one a few times, and have recently discovered that another wonderful blogger, Kate Says Stuff, is happy for you to join in with Thankful Thursday at the same time! Just include links in your posts to both of theirs, and you’ve got two more places to showcase your work.

Now, the array of good linky opportunities on newer blogs is mind-boggling. Here are just a few:

Snap Slappers lets you take a bog-standard photo and go as crazy as you like with photo-editing software like Picnik and Fotoflexer. I think it began as a ‘how many effects can you get on a snapshot?’ challenge, but it has become a Tuesday tradition. A similar theme is on offer at I Spy, which challenges us to come up with the answers to a letter-themed photo.

You Get the Picture? is run by a very artistic baby, who invites you to submit posts about your child’s masterpiece in the art stakes. Any creation is accepted!

Those of you who started your blog to keep a record of day-to-day life with your family will want to join in with My Week That Was where lots of bloggers link up their weekly diary.

And if you love beautiful pictures, you are no doubt a big fan of Pinterest. So is the creator of Inspired, who riffles around in there weekly and encourages us to do the same.

So as well as the more established linky posts, the new bloggers are coming up with fantastic prompts with their linky offerings. Now there are just two rules to joining in with a linky:

1. Credit the host in your blog post with a link back to theirs – often there is a badge you can display, but a text link is just as good.
2. Visit as many of the other participants as you can – you will receive some return visits and no doubt find a blog you didn’t know about.

If you have never joined in with a linky before, make that your goal for this week. And if you get to Sunday without plucking up the courage, come and visit me for #SunFun – it’s really simple, and I’m a new blogger too!

About Helen Wills

Helen Wills is a mum of 2 children in primary school and blogs at Actually Mummy on parenting issues, school, travel, and life according to the kids. Since starting her blog in 2011, Helen has won 2 national awards, and puts a lot of her success down to the amazing online community of bloggers at BritMums. As her children grow older, her writing is increasingly influenced by their opinions, and her blog reflects this drive to get the most out of family life. Helen works from home in copywriting and social media. She is on Twitter @actuallymummy.

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