New 'sharing' roundup - waddya reckon?

[KateMumsnet]

Hello all

We thought we'd try out a new roundup, with the aim of spreading a bit of blog love around and about.

Each month we'd run a linky, and ask you lot to add the post that you're most proud of to it - with a view to encouraging some new readers your way, and also to giving your best work a second crack at the whip, so to speak.

What do you think? Is this something that you'd contribute to? More importantly - is it something that you'd READ? Would you consider adding the linky to your own blog, to share some of the love?

And.. what shall we call it? We'd like its name to reflect the fabulousness of the network and all who sail in her, rather than a bald "My best post of the month" .

[SarahHillWheeler]

Sounds like a good idea. I would definitely join in and post and read.

I do wonder if something with a bit of a theme might be more inspiring than a "my best post of the week" - trouble with the latter is sometimes it's hard to get to the posts that most interest you (and as the linky gains in popularity,it becomes harder to work through all the posts!).

I am afraid I am a bit clueless as to what it could be called, maybe something to link into the seasons (a blog for all seasons...sorry that's really corny).

[KateMumsnet]

Hmm, interesting SarahHillWheeler. We did try a weekly blogprompt hooked onto a topical, newsy theme for a while, but there weren't many takers.

Perhaps we should look at that idea again, though, and broaden it out to things which aren't necessarily tied to the news agenda.

[HelenSims]

i agree with Sarah theme each time you do them other wise you get a lot of random posts that have no cohesion as a topic. linkys are very popular at the moment but do take time to establish as i am discovering but that may not be a problem for mumsnet.

[iamthemilk]

I would lurve that!

[Autismmumma]

I would love to join in and read the other posts.
I agree it might be difficult to theme it, depends how often it was run.
Maybe a "what's got me going this month" but a bit more imaginatively titled.

[KateMumsnet]

Glad people seem keen!

It's an interesting dilemma - if you theme them, then people who aren't interested in that particular topic (but who might have lots to say about other things) won't post. On the other hand we can see that it's hard, as a reader, to find the posts that are most likely to interest you. Hmm.

Perhaps if we follow Autismmumma's plan, and encourage people to make the topic very clear in the title, it might be broad enough to get people contributing, but also easy to navigate?

The alternative is two linkies - one for topical-comment-and-issues posts, another for 'gentler', parenting-and-family-life posts. We're conscious that we're not doing enough to help those who tend mainly to write on the latter at the moment.

[HelenSims]

can i suggest you look at this mummies blog link up as she does it really well each week she chooses 6 topics to cover a raft of interests and it is very popular and clear as to what to join in with as well as for the person who is reading the material and interested in that subject. mumsmakelists.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html

if you have one topic that is a bit wooly in theme it makes it really unclear and your get a lot of random posts about anything, and then this just makes it a rather uninteresting and a chour to search through.

[LikeTheStuffYouHangUp]

I'd love to join in and also to read others. I don't know how you'd theame it tho.

[BewilderedBug]

I think this is an awesome idea, but again, something with a theme. I personally have avoided many linkers asking me for favorite posts because I cannot choose! Which is my best post? The most views? The most comments?

If there were linky with a weekly theme, yes it would exclude some blogs at the time, but they have the opportunity to add theirs in one of the following weeks. I think it may be the best way (personally).

[Tee2072]

Sounds interesting. How much lead would we have if it has a theme? Because I think that's often the problem, not enough time to write on the theme.

[HappySnail]

Great idea! I'm new to all this stuff so I bow to your greater wisdom on what to call it and how it all works, but glad to be part of the group.

[mumsdotravel]

I'd definitely join in with this. I think it's best if there's no theme restriction, as long as the titles or descriptions make it clear what the post is about.

[PigeonPairNell]

I'd definitely join in with this.

Yes, having a theme might limit the number of people who join in. But if you set it up for posts written the month after the date the linky opens, not the preceding month, then I reckon you'd get lots of people writing posts to fit in with the theme. So it could be a good way of generating a buzz and discussion around a particular topic, of your choice (or you could even get Mumsnet bloggers to vote on/suggest a theme).

[Orli]

Sounds like a good idea to me, I would be happy to participate :)

[LikeTheStuffYouHangUp]

My only 'problem' with a theame is you then tend to shoehorn a post in that feels unnatural and bitty so that you don't miss out.
If rather have something like what's the post you are most prou of this month, or the post you enjoyed writing the most etc etc.
then people get the chance to showcase what they feel is their best post rather than one written in haste just to fit in.

[Tee2072]

I agree with LikeTheStuffYouHangUp.

There doesn't have to be an exact definition of 'best' beyond what the writer feels is best.

Let's see, titles:

The Best of The Blogs

Yeah. That's all I've got.

[KateDavis]

I assume you'll have a lot of links in your list so it is always going to favour the first few people who respond, particularly if the list is unthemed; I know I get bored scrolling down long lists.

Could you have a number of sections so posts can be included under broad themes e.g. parenting, house, work, food then people can go to the sections they are interested in.

Or how about having the list order changing randomly each time the page is loaded, this way everyone has a chance to be at the top and be seen.

[zanuda]

Why not to to specify the theme?!? One week let's say, recipes, then craft, then school, pregnancy... It may not cover all the participants but it would be more readers friendly...

[IsBella]

I like the theme idea.

How about something that comes out of MN threads?

Sometimes there are long involved threads which set off thoughts which blogs are an ideal place to explore.

So if you've had a particularly busy/ controversial/ thoughtful threads, you could post that in the blogging section and invite people to write blog pieces dealing with aspects of that subject?

[LikeTheStuffYouHangUp]

Kate I hardly ever click through and read all of the links, but I do click some of them. I tend to be quite sporadic and click randomly through the list, so it wouldn't necessarily favour the first few, Ali of people also read like me!

[eehbahmum]

I prefer to join in if there's a theme - if there's a decent amount of time allowed to join in and it's an interesting topic.

My best post idea i think works best if it's at most monthly then you have a decent amount of material to choose from.

Could you rotate? - themed, topical, best post etc? I find it useful to have a diary of upcoming slots to get me thinking whilst i'm picking rice cakes out of the sofa.

Also some linkys limit the amount of space for your headline which makes it hard to post a decent strapline.

[JessMumsnet]

Thanks all for sharing your ideas - lots of food for thought here. We're gonna put our heads together with all your suggestions so stand by for more info soon.