The Art of De-contextualization
I’m sure I’ve mangled that word, but as far as I’m concerned, the word was probably mangled in the first place. I wanted to update a previous post on rethinking link round-ups by pointing you to an interesting strategy by Michael Martine.
He’s used the ‘Quotes’ format (where you take a quote from the piece and include a link bundled with it), but with a twist.
My suggestion was to pull out the quote that best encapsulates the core message of the piece, but I think Michael may have discovered something all-together more clickable.
From Brian Clark at Copyblogger:
“This is when I first realized that Google is truly making people retarded.”
Works, doesn’t it? Next time you do a links round-up, consider some de-contextualization.
Great idea, Michael!
[See it here: Overheard in the metablogosphere]
I started doing something similar about a month ago and it’s been very well received. Gets a lot of good traffic. :)
Hi Nathania, I’ve often enjoyed your online marketing quotes, and occasionally been lucky enough to among them :D.
I think rejuvenating the traditional links post can be a great way to build interest in something that is otherwise seen as an ‘I’m busy, but here’s something I threw together’ element of most blogs. If done right, it can actually be something readers look forward to and value as much as a regular post.
(I must admit I’ve personally have trouble with this, as I tend to be so busy on the day I write my ‘Weekly Swipe file’ that I rarely have time to be inventive…)