Too often I come across an interesting piece of information on a blog that does not contain links to the author’s sources. That’s too bad. All I can do at that point is shrug my shoulders and wonder if the story is true. Then I’ll probably close that browser tab and go somewhere else, because I won’t risk experiencing similar frustration with a second story on the same blog. Of course, if the story is really important to me, I can do further research on Google, which is fair enough. At the same time, though, what reason have you given me to go back to your blog? None. Offer me a good, well sourced post, though, and I will be back.

Links to your sources are important for at least four reasons:

1. Verifiability. Links to your sources allow me to verify whether or not your story is true. For this to work, though, they should point to hard news sources, not just another blog. Bobbie Sullivan does this on Aircrew Buzz and her other aviation blogs.

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2. Acknowledgment. Sources permit you to acknowledge where you got your ideas and information from in the first place. These can include not only hard news sources, but also any blog or other source that sparked you to think about the topic. If the information is not generally known, though, include additional sources to satisfy the verifiability requirement. I sometimes handle acknowledgments with a hat tip. You can see one Gavin Robinson gave me in the first paragraph of the 14th Military History Carnival.

3. Examples. Sources can help provide you with the kinds of examples you need to support your arguments. Since the internet is a hypertext environment, sources can also help you to pack more information into a post without providing loads of background details. I used links in this manner in the second paragraph of a post about generational differences between Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright. I’m also linking examples in this post about sources.

4. Context. Sources help locate your ideas within their broader context. By providing links to that context, you help your reader to understand how your ideas relate to other opinions and discussions on the internet, and on your own blog. In the process you provide additional value to your reader, giving her one more reason to return. One blogger who often provides good context through linked sources is Rich Becker of Copywrite. Ink.

Of course, not all blog posts need sources. If you are writing about your own life, you are the acknowledged expert on it. Enough said. And no one who has heard Tony Hogan’s music is going to ask him to provide sources for the advice he offers on learning the guitar. It helps, though, that he has a good about page on his blog, which tells us a bit more about him. And what about me? Why do I think I can offer this advice without providing sources on the art of sourcing? My field is history, and getting students to understand the value of sources is one of my everyday teaching concerns. Yes, I could be making this up, but you can find out more about me at Clio and Me.

Mark Stoneman is a historian specializing in modern Germany, as well as war and society. His first blog, Clio and Me, is devoted to history. Language For You focuses on writing and other language issues for native and non-native speakers. His third blog, Stoneman’s Corner is a personal blog that encompasses anything from politics to reading to food.

Hello dear friends,

I am so excited to be posting my first few words on the BlogCatalog community blog. I have been part of the BC community for just over 12 months now, and its amazing how I missed this community blog. I should have joined here ages back ! I was scrolling through this blog for the past 15 minutes and saw a few familiar faces whom I have seen in the community forums.

As this is my first post, I would like to introduce myself. I am an electronics and communications engineer from India. I am currently working in a telecom software development firm. Blogging comes to me as a natural hobby and a great way to explore the world from the comfort of my bedroom.

BlogCatalog has a major role to play in keeping me interested in blogging. Some months back, I was toying with the idea to give it up as the work pressure was too much. However, the vibrant community discussions at BC kept me hooked to blogging. BC has grown from strength to strength over the past 12 months and has really come up as one of the most professional blogging communities on the internet.

I wish the BC team all the best in their future projects, and a warm thanks to all my friends at BC who take the time to visit my blog.

Thanks and Regards
Abhatnagar !

abhatnagar19 is a 22 year old male electronics and communications engineer from India. His blog, My Life as it is… takes a look at the world around him. From polititics to sports or technology to personal issues abahatnagars blog covers it all!