Link Blog

A couple of months ago we wrote about the power of blogs in attracting links. Now, the next step is to use your blogging to become an authority in your niche by interacting with other bloggers in your industry.

As Debra Mastaler points out in a recent article: "If you want to become an authority in your niche, it's crucial to become known to the key bloggers in your industry. Not only will they write and link to you, but they'll open a pathway for others to do the same."

She adds that the challenge is finding the right bloggers and she mentions using Technorati to find relevant blogs then using the "fan" button to contact those who have reviewed the blog to see if they have an interest in hosting your content.

Here are a few more tips on how to find blogs similar to yours:

• Checkout the Web sites of people commenting on your blog. Chances are they have similar interests and/or experiences.
• Checkout the Web sites of people commenting on your visitors’ blogs.
• Take advantage of social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, MyBlogLog. If you create videos, don't forget YouTube. Be sure to leave enough identifying information so that other users can find your profile and blog.
• Sign up and become active in forums for your industry.
• Tell people in "real life" that you are a blogger and what you write about. They may be bloggers with similar interests or know someone who is.

Here are a few more Web sites where you can locate blogs with similar topics:

• Blog Strings Free with required registration and a link to the site. Offers a link to your blog, advanced search feature to search profiles according to several criteria, messages to other members (and instant messages to other members online), and other benefits.
• Brit Blog A directory of British blogs searchable by geographical location or topic. Bloggers are located throughout the world, not just in the United Kingdom.
• Ice Rocket A search engine that will find the latest posts by topic.
• Blog Search A blog search engine and directory that is part of the Jayde Online network, which also includes Exact Seek, Site Pro News, Go Articles.
• Blog Catalog A blog directory that you can browse or search.
• Google Blog Search We'd be remiss if we didn't include this one.

With a bit of research you can soon be on your way to becoming an authority in your area and see all of your hard work begin to pay off.