Broken Link Syndrome

Is your corporate or personal brand suffering from Broken Link Syndrome (BLS)?

Broken Link Syndrome is exploding through cyberspace faster than you think. Doesn't matter what social media outlet (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Digg,etc.) you're posting links to you've got to make the change — cause it's making you look like a social media novice. BLS is also costing you FREE precious clicks you've worked so hard for — especially if its original content.

SYMPTOMS

Some symptoms of BLS are not all that obvious and may go unnoticed. Maybe you are peering at your web stats and they look weak or no one is chatting up your brand. If you're not a code warrior you may not be aware of the issue. So here it is — when you post your links for a status update in social media don't forget to use http:// in front of www.yourcoollink.com — if not your link is going nowhere but in the trash. It takes some effort to actually cut and past that link to get it to work. To reiterate see below to start generating traffic to your web site:

GOOD LINK POST: http://www.dogfooddesign.com

BAD LINK POST: www.dogfooddesign.com                                                                                                                                     

While most brands opt for less when pushing messages from a link in broadcast, print or direct — social links need to be complete to be most effective. LESS is NOT more when posting a link in a digital/social media space if you want to avoid BLS — and don't worry its not contagious.