How To Blog Hop

New to Blog Hops? Here’s the low-down on how they work.

What Is A Blog Hop?

A blog hop is a list of blogs or specific posts related to a similar topic. A blog “host” lists a Linky (list of links to other blogs or posts) on their page, along with the Blog Hop rules. There are 2 parts to a blog hop: 1)Each participant add their info to the Linky so others can see it. 2) Each participant re-posts the Linky on their blog to promote the blog hop (more on that below).

Here’s the description provided by Linky Tools:

What is a blog hop?

A blog hop is a linky list that is SHARED ON MULTIPLE BLOGS.
When several blogs put the same linky list code on their blog, the exact same list appears on each blog.

Blog visitors can submit their entries on any blog that contains the list. The entries will appear on each blog where the list resides.

Blog readers see the same list on each blog, and can “HOP” from blog to blog seeing the same list of links to follow: BLOG HOP!

How Do I Participate In A Blog Hop?

Follow the rules that the host has listed for the Blog Hop. Typically, this means adding a link to either your blog or a specific blog post to the Linky, as well as visiting the host(s) of the Blog Hop. Make sure you read the Blog Hop instructions – some may also request you comment or visit certain other Blog Hop entries.

Why Should I Participate In A Blog Hop?

They’re fun, you can discover other cool blogs, and it will help promote your own blog.

How Do I Make The Most Of A Blog Hop?

Visit AND comment on other blogs. If you found a new blog through a Blog Hop, make sure you leave a comment and let the blogger know how you found them. For instance, I host the weekly Breastfeeding Blog Hop. When I click through to other blogs, I’ll do 3 things:
1) Read one of their posts.
2) Leave a relevant comment on their post and mention how I found them. For example, sometimes folks will leave comments here like “I exclusively pumped, too! So great to connect with you through the Breastfeeding Blog Hop.”
3) Follow their blog through Google Friend Connect, Google+, or other blog following tools.

Make sure to add the linky to your own blog! The Linky code can be found in the lower right or left corner of the Linky itself. This code allows you to create your own post that will have an exact copy of the original Linky list. Each time someone joins the Blog Hop, no matter which blog they join from, everyone’s Linky is automatically updated and shows the complete list of participating blogs.

Some Blog Hops will encourage you to add a button for the blog hop on your sidebar or in a post. The button code will usually be provided by the Blog Hop host.

The Linky Code Isn’t Working!

More often than not, this is a problem with the JavaScript settings on your blog. Make sure you are in HTML mode (not visual) when adding the linky code.

• If you’re using a self-hosted WordPress blog and still having trouble, try adding the JavaScript Logic plug in. This will allow you to use snippets of JavaScript on individual post pages.
• If you’re using Blogger, make sure you have JavaScript enabled.
• If you’re using free hosting through WordPress, you will need a non-javascript code to post the linky. You can contact the Blog Hop host (spot #1 on the Linky) for the non-javascript code.

A great way to find new blog hops to join is by looking for sidebar buttons or doing a simple Google search. You can use search terms like “Breastfeeding Blog Hop” if you’re a nursing mom or if you have an elderly parent you’re caring for, you might try searching for “Home Health Care Blog Hop.”

If you have any questions about Blog Hops, post a comment below and I’ll do my best to help you out!