Hey there, WordPress user! Are you looking to add a blogroll to your site? You‘ve come to the right place. In this post, I‘m going to walk you through everything you need to know about blogrolls and teach you how to get one set up on your WordPress site without using a plugin.
We‘ll cover what a blogroll is and why you might want one, how to create and display a blogroll in WordPress, best practices and tips for getting the most out of your blogroll, and more. By the end of this guide, you‘ll be ready to harness the power of blogrolls to build relationships, provide value to your audience, and grow your blog.
What Is a Blogroll, Anyway?
First, let‘s make sure we‘re on the same page about what a blogroll actually is. A blogroll is simply a list of links to other blogs or websites that you want to promote to your audience. The links are typically displayed in a blog‘s sidebar, footer, or sometimes on a dedicated "Links" or "Resources" page.
Back in the early 2000s, blogrolls used to be a very common sight in the blogging world. According to a 2004 survey, nearly 50% of blogs had a blogroll. Bloggers used them as a way to:
- Show their readers other cool blogs they followed
- Give a shoutout to their blogger friends
- Organize their own online reading list
- Get noticed by other bloggers and build relationships
However, as blogging matured and became more professional and commercial, blogrolls started to fall out of fashion. A 2014 analysis found that less than 10% of blogs now had a visible blogroll.
So why bother with a blogroll today? While they may not be as common as they once were, blogrolls can still provide a lot of value when done strategically:
Provide valuable resources: A curated list of links on topics related to your niche can enhance your readers‘ experience and make your site a go-to resource.
Establish your authority: The company you keep says a lot! Linking to popular, high-quality sites can boost your own credibility.
Encourage relationships: Linking to other bloggers is a great networking tactic. They may notice and appreciate the "hat tip".
Improve your SEO: While links from blogrolls are often "nofollow" (meaning they don‘t pass link equity), some bloggers may choose to link back normally which can boost your search rankings.
So in summary, while blogrolls aren‘t as prevalent as they used to be, they can still be very worthwhile – especially for new bloggers looking to establish themselves in their niche and build an audience.
How to Add a Blogroll in WordPress (3 Methods)
Alright, let‘s get into the technical details. WordPress actually used to have a built-in Links Manager for creating blogrolls, but it was removed way back in version 3.5. Don‘t worry though – you can still easily create a blogroll using WordPress‘s built-in tools. No plugins required!
I‘ll show you three methods you can use depending on your setup – classic themes, block themes, and theme builders.
Method 1: Create a Blogroll Using a Custom Menu (Classic Themes)
Here‘s how to add a blogroll to a classic WordPress theme using navigation menus:
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Menus.
Click the "create a new menu" link and give your menu a name (like "My Blogroll").
Under Add menu items, open the Custom Links section.
For each blog you want to include, enter the URL and link text, then click Add to Menu. Repeat for all your blogroll links.
Drag and drop the links to put them in your desired order.
If you want the links to open in a new browser tab, expand the Screen Options menu at the top-right and enable Link Target. You‘ll then see a checkbox to open each link in a new tab.
To add
rel="nofollow"to the links (which tells search engines not to pass link juice), also enable Link Relationship (XFN) under Screen Options and enter "nofollow" for each blogroll link.Click Save Menu and you‘re done! The menu will now appear under Menu Settings.
Then to display the blogroll menu on your site:
Go to Appearance > Widgets and open the widget area where you want to show the blogroll (e.g. Blog Sidebar, Footer).
Click the + button and search for the Navigation Menu widget.
Add the widget, select your blogroll menu, add a title if desired, and click Update.
That‘s it! Your blogroll menu will now appear on your site in the location you chose.
Method 2: Add a Blogroll to Full Site Editor (Block Themes)
If you‘re using a block theme with full site editing in WordPress 5.9+, you can add your blogroll directly to any template, like your site‘s footer:
Open the Site Editor under Appearance.
Navigate to the template where you want to add your blogroll, like the footer.
Click the + icon to open the block inserter and search for the Navigation block.
Add the Navigation block to your template and select your blogroll menu from the block settings on the right.
Click Save to update the template.
Now your blogroll menu will appear wherever you placed the Navigation block!
Method 3: Display Your Blogroll with a Theme Builder Plugin
For maximum flexibility over where your blogroll appears, you can use a theme builder plugin like SeedProd, Divi, Beaver Builder, etc. This lets you visually design your own theme templates and place your blogroll exactly where you want.
With SeedProd, for example, you would create a new theme template for your header, footer, or another area of your site. Then, edit the template and add the Navigation Menu block where you want the blogroll to go. Select your blogroll menu from the block settings.
Then save your template and activate it on your site. Your blogroll will now show up wherever you placed it in your template.
Tips & Best Practices for an Effective Blogroll Strategy
Knowing how to add a blogroll to your WordPress site is one thing, but what about actually making it an effective and valuable part of your blog? Here are my top tips for getting the most out of a blogroll:
Be selective
Don‘t just add links to every blog you stumble upon. Be intentional about including only the most relevant, high-quality resources that you genuinely recommend to your readers.
Think about what sites in your niche offer the best content, tools, or communities that enhance the experience someone gets at your blog. Those are the types of links to prioritize.
Categorize & annotate
If you include more than 10-20 links, consider using categories, headings, or separate menus to organize the blogroll and make it scannable. For example, you could have categories like:
- My Favorite [Niche] Blogs
- Top [Niche] Resources
- My Other Projects
- Bloggers I Admire
You can also add a short description to each link (1-2 sentences) to provide context and explain why you‘re recommending it. This adds a personal touch and extra value.
Go beyond blogs
Don‘t feel like you have to limit your blogroll to just other blogs. You can also link to:
- Relevant tools or software
- Online communities or forums
- Social media profiles
- Email newsletters
- Podcasts
- Youtube channels
Any online resource that you think would be genuinely useful to your audience is fair game!
Keep it current
Blogs change over time. Sites that were once amazing can start to decline in quality, change focus, or disappear altogether. Make it a habit to regularly audit your blogroll every few months and:
- Remove any dead links
- Evaluate if the resources are still high-quality and relevant
- Consider any new blogs or resources to add
A blogroll is only as valuable as it is up-to-date. Don‘t let yours get stale!
Build relationships
One of the benefits of having a blogroll is the opportunity to get on other bloggers‘ radars and start networking. After adding a site to your blogroll, take a minute to reach out to the blogger and let them know. You can:
- Email them
- Message them on social
- Leave a thoughtful comment on their blog mentioning that you added them
This simple act can be the spark for valuable relationships down the road – especially if they also add you to their own blogroll!
Frequently Asked Questions About Blogrolls
Still have questions about using a blogroll on your WordPress site? I‘ve rounded up answers to some of the most common ones:
What‘s the ideal number of links to have in a blogroll?
There‘s no one perfect number, but in general, it‘s better to keep your blogroll curated and only include the most essential, valuable links. I recommend starting with 10-20 links and then expanding over time. Quality is more important than quantity!
Do I need permission to add someone to my blogroll?
From a legal perspective, probably not, since you‘re just linking to publicly available sites. However, it‘s good blogging etiquette to let people know when you add them to your blogroll and make sure they‘re cool with it. Most bloggers will be flattered! It‘s a nice way to get on their radar.
How often should I update my blogroll?
I recommend setting a recurring reminder to audit your blogroll at least once every 3-6 months. Remove any dead links, make sure the sites are still high-quality and relevant, and look for any new resources to add.
Absolutely! If you want to categorize your links, you can create separate menus for different types of resources. For instance, you could have one blogroll menu for other blogs you follow, and another for helpful tools.
Will a blogroll help with SEO?
Having a blogroll probably won‘t be a huge factor in your search engine rankings, especially since many blogroll links are nofollowed. However, if some of the sites you link to choose to link back to you normally, those links can give an SEO boost over time. The networking benefits of a blogroll are probably more important than the SEO ones.
Examples of Blogrolls in Action
Want to see some real-life examples of blogrolls for inspiration? Here are a few great ones in different niches:
- Darren Rowse‘s Blogroll on ProBlogger
- Mark Manson‘s Recommended Blogs
- The Wirecutter‘s Blogroll & Influences
- Cup of Jo‘s Favorite Blogs & Recommendations
Notice how these blogrolls are all well-organized, focused on high-quality resources, and add genuine value for readers. That‘s the key!
Wrapping Up
As you can see, setting up a blogroll on your WordPress site is easy – no plugins required! It can be an effective way to build relationships with other bloggers, provide additional value to your audience, and establish your own authority in your niche.
To get started, come up with a list of the best blogs and resources that complement your own site. Create a custom menu with links to those sites, then add the menu to your sidebar, footer, or other global area of your theme. Over time, keep the blogroll updated with only the most current, relevant links.
With a strategic approach to curating your blogroll, it can become a powerful asset for your WordPress blog.
Do you have a blogroll on your site? What benefits have you seen from it? Let me know in the comments!
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