In years past blogging was simply looked at as a past time, something a person did to get their thoughts from their head and onto something that could record it. As more and more people began to seek out blogs for information and news, larger players started paying attention and incorporating them into their day today. Now there is no doubt that blogging has established itself in mainstream digital culture with both business and personal uses have found a way to coexist in the blogosphere.

When we write we stand to build credibility, reliability, and trust. Our readers are not to be trifled with because the backlash can be so severe that whole networks have shut down because of lack of interest due to bad press, or just uninteresting developments. It is important in today’s written word to remain relevant, interesting, but also honest with your readers.

I want to pick out one specific topic that has come to mind, especially in light of what I’ve seen recently. The idea of attribution is vital for all of us as writers. It’s understood that all of our ideas our not our own. We gain inspiration from other things we read, see, and hear. As such, such inspiration should be credited in some way shape or form in the context of what you writing about. Especially if you decide to use digital media to further express your point. Lack of attribution can seriously hurt your reputation as well as your readership.

Attribution as A Practice

Attribution is something that should come second nature to any content creator. Whether you’re doing digital video, audio productions, or written word. In this case we will focus on blogging as our mainstay, but in relation to the other formats mentioned it is essentially the same. As we develop our blog and our following of readers, we develop a trusting relationship. We write, they respond, we respond back. This fragile relationship is like anything you might develop in the real world, only without the face to face. Your readers will come to your site because they value your ideas, and they find your content interesting and educational, if not fun.

It pays to give attribution to anything you include in your post because it shows not only that you’re honest, but that you’re well read. By incorporating ideas and concepts from others and expanding on them, it shows that you are savvy enough to know that there is a world outside your blog. Too often I read bloggers that I can tell do not venture out to read other blogs. They pour all their efforts into their own product but understand little of perspective when it comes to varying topics.

SEO Benefits

Another factor that is most overlooked by those writing is that attribution is linking out to other sites, and Google crawlers love that stuff. An added bonus is that if someone is watching particular keywords, they will be notified when you link out to them or mention them and they will most likely visit your site or read your article to see how they were referenced.

This is a unique and interesting way to drive traffic to your site or post all the while maintaining an honest approach to the photos, soundbytes, movies, and other content that you might be using that is not necessarily  yours.

Photo Credit marciookabe