Over the last few days I had a few minutes on my hands between organizing seminar appearances, Hunting Courses and the upcoming annual Ice Fishing Derby on January 18, 2009 held by the Nicola Valley Fish & Game Club to check my growing blogroll.
As time passes blogs come and go. Some blogs just disappear altogether while others stop writing and in one case the blogger put up an access block on her blog with a window popping up saying, “For Invited guests only”. What gives with that? It’s a fishing blog not a porn site.
After trying several times, without any success, to find out if the dead or silent blogs will be revitalized again I came to the conclusion to delete the links. It’s not a decision I made light hearted, since many of the blogs were some among my favorites and offered good writing enjoyed my many. But after trying to contact the bloggers with to replies coming back I see no alternative but delete the links.
There is simply no value to my readers in keeping links on offer that lead nowhere or to blogs that haven’t been updated in a year or more.
The following blogs are gone from my blogroll.
- Shed antler (blog pulled)
- Best Binoculars (blog pulled)
- The Fledgling Fly Fisher (blog pulled)
- Fly Fishing Fanatic (blog pulled)
- Fishing Fiesta (access by invitation only)
- The Wild Woods Women (not updated in more then a year)
- DeerPhD (Not updated since February 2008)
- Andy and Julie Outdoors (Not updated in more then six month)
- Days Afield (Not updated in over a half year)
- Hunting Sense (Not updated since February 2008)
5 comments:
I noticed Kristine was doingthe same thing. I guess it has to be done from time to time. Don't feel bad.
I still haven't pulled any yet, but that should happen this week. I guess it's the nature of blogging. People get busy with other things and the blog goes by the wayside.
OV,
Finally got around to looking over your new website. It is very nice, has an attractive layout, and easy to navigate. (That's really important!)
I'm looking forward to reading about your adventures this fall!
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
Proud Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Rick – You’re absolutely right but I still can’t help to feel a little sad. Some of the blogs were started around the same time as I started in 2006. Others were bloggers that I helped to promote and did so with a good feeling because they provided valued information. Seeing these blogs gone or neglected, for whatever reason, is a bit like loosing a friend. But I am over it now. Life goes on.
Kristine – I agree with you. It is a task that has to be done from time to time. Otherwise readers could get disappointed if they keep finding blogs that are not relevant anymore. The way I see it my blogroll is not only my support of other blogs but also a service I provide for my readers to find other interesting information about the outdoors.
Albert – Thank you for your kind words. Before I stared to design the website I made two lists. One of the lists contained items I hated, well disliked might be more appropriate, about other website. The other list contained items I liked. I like websites that are easy to navigate. I don’t like to go through pages of material and links to get to that information. I also like to find contact information quick. On most websites you have to go to the “Contact Me” page and then be confronted with a contact form that rarely provides the options you want to comment on, and in many cases you can’t send a message until you signed up as a member or on some type mailing list. I made sure that on every page there is a contact listed that pertains to the provided information. As a side benefit it makes it easy for me to sort the incoming mail because I instantly know what the mail is about.
I guess growing up in a customer serving business taught me a lesson or two on how to keep potential customers or clients happy.
-ov-
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Founding Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Good post. You really covered a lot of ground (and water.)
Matt
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