I often talk about link widgets. They are bits of code that are (hopefully) useful to other people, that – when used – also give you the kudos you deserve. This post shows you how to make your own content into a link widget.

For example – would you like me to write content for your website? Using a snippet of code below on your website, every time I write a post on dixonjones.com, your web page will update automatically… like this:

*****************************************************

Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Dixon Jones.

*****************************************************

Just cut and paste this code into your site:

<script src=”https://feeds2.feedburner.com/DixonJones?format=sigpro” type=”text/javascript” ></script><noscript>Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: <a href=”https://dixonjones.com”>Dixon Jones</a><br/></noscript>

(I will of course make sure my content is always Internet marketing related and I hope one or two do put the code on their pages. If you do, please let me now… I will certainly give you a link and maybe bring in your while feed)

So how can you offer your code in the same way? Here’s how:

  1. Well first you need content in a Blog or similar system that has an RSS feed. If you are using an online system for you content, chances are you already  have an RSS feed. 
  2. Next, get an account at Feedburner. It’s free and it gives you plenty of other useful ways to use RSS feeds.
  3. Use the “Buzzpost” option in Feedburner. Deselect the “display link to feed option BUT…
  4. When the code is generated by the Buzzpost software, you need to just adapt it a little, otherwise the anchor text and backlink goes straight to Feedburner. simply add {Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: <a href=”YOURSITE.com”>YOUR ANCHOR TEXT</a>} (without the curly brackets)

Then when you give that out to people, you will also get the benefit (which you rightly deserve) of true credit for the content you write.


Dixon Jones

An award-winning Search and Internet Marketer. Search Personality of the year Lifetime achievement award Outstanding technology individual of the year International public speaker for 20 years in the field of SEO and Internet Marketing, including: Pubcon; Search Engine Strategies (SMX); Brighton SEO; Ungagged; Search Leeds; State of Search; RIMC and many more.

8 Comments

Dixon Jones · 8th February 2009 at 7:23 pm

Gary just pointed out that sites on the free wordpress.com subdomains have javascript disabled for security reasons. I think that you could use http://Widgetbox.com as a workaround. I set up a feed at http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/internet-marketing-news-and-tips for the main Receptional site for example.

Robert_Charlton · 8th February 2009 at 10:46 pm

>>An error in Google’s algorithm…<<

It’s a Google error, but not necessarily an algo error. I see it as a *reporting* error, and Google makes lots of those.

Anyway, I’m seeing it right now as 1 of 1.

Dixon Jones · 9th February 2009 at 8:58 am

Hi Robert,
Thanks for commenting, but I think your comment relates to http://dixonjones.com/seo/proving-a-page-passes-pagerank-and-other-secrets/ not to this link widget post. I can’t see an easy way in WP to move a comment.

Mind you… the mere fact that you commented here after seeing another post in the widget tool in this article shows that the widget does the job of generating commentary on this page that was generated from another page… so in other words, there is value in other people putting this widget on their sites, assuming the content is relevent.

oscar · 9th February 2009 at 9:08 am

Sounds like a great idea Dixon however I can’t find the buzzpost option in feedburner. Nevertheless, very clever.

Dixon Jones · 9th February 2009 at 1:30 pm

Oh – well you log into Feedburner,

Click on the feed for your blog… should show you graphs of your subscribers (or lack of them in my case)

Select “publicize” from the tabs at the top.

The BuzzBoost button is in there.

Dixon.

oscar · 10th February 2009 at 12:39 pm

Works like a charm. Thanks!!! : )

    Dixon Jones · 11th February 2009 at 7:58 am

    I can’t see your implementation, but I hope someone uses it 🙂

kiran · 14th February 2009 at 6:36 am

Good idea…Thank u.

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.