How to reference sources and keep your blog cred
Over the past few weeks, I’ve provided you with what I hope is some valuable insight into avoiding plagiarism and crediting sources. This week’s post should address any questions you have about how to physically credit sources that you use to develop your blog content. For the most part, there is no right and wrong. These are some simple strategies I find help keep people on your blog longer and ensure you don’t run into any issues where someone believes they were not properly credited. 
Before I give you the tips, here’s an outline of the crediting formats you can use.
Using in Text Vs. Separate Reference Links
There are two choices when it comes to linking references you’ve used for your blog content. ‘In text’ links like I used to mention an external website in my post on using photos in your blog (where you can learn more about avoiding copyright issues!) are one method. This means simply highlighting a keyword or website name within your content that is relevant to the reference and turning it into the hyperlink. The second method is highlighted in this post from Redorbluedigital.com to credit image usage, but the format can also be used to link another blog or article. Typically, at the end of the article, you would use “via: website”, “reference: website”, “resource: website” etc.
The first method might not be as obvious, but since it appears within the text, there is a chance your readers will click away. The second at the end can help ensure that readers get all the way through your article, but at the same time, there is more of spotlight put on the reference. One method isn’t really better to use than the other, but you’ve got to pick one, and it comes down to personal preference.
Additional Tips and Guidelines for Adding Reference Links to Your Blog Article
1. Don’t put the link in the first paragraph – if you’re using an in text link, you don’t want it to be right at the beginning of your article. That gives people the immediate option to click away from your blog and get the facts elsewhere. I find it’s wise to try and put an in text link at least half way down the article. The only time I’d recommend using a link at the beginning is when the external link complements your article. For example, if you’re profiling a business and you create a link to their website; readers will need to look at your blog and their website in order to get the whole picture!
2. Always have the link open in a separate window – all reputable blog platforms allow this. If you have your link open in a new browser window, there’s a better chance that if your readers go to the resource link they will return to read your article still. If the link opens in the same window, there’s less of a chance they will click back.
3. Use more than a link if you’re referencing an opinion or a quote – a simple link is sufficient for the facts, but if you are using someone else’s opinion in your article or a direct quote, make a point to actually mention their name or the name of the website. This will prevent any conflict, and also boost your credibility to readers since you’re not trying to take credit, but instead proving that you’ve done your research!
Beth Graddon-Hodgson is a professional writer/blogger and the founder of WriteSourcing a professional blogging, writing and editing service. You can read her posts on blogging for business here at the Wax blog every Tuesday.
Tags: Beth Graddon-Hodgson, blog ethics, blog reference tips, blogging for business, blogging for small business, crediting sources in a blog, problogger, professional blogging, referencing sources in a blog
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:57 am
Thanks again Bonnie. Good advice. On the subject of referencing content and copyright, it may help some to note that you should never borrow pictures without specific permission or explicit understanding of the licensing on the picture. I have friends who were sued for $500 because their web designer snagged a photo off someone else’s website from the other side of the country. I assume the designer thought no one would ever notice or care about the copyright infringement. He was wrong. Even Microsoft ran afoul of this once.
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:12 am
Thank you for all the information!!
I find the idea to open link on a new window really usefull. I will do it on my website today or tomorrow!!
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:27 pm
On my page I use a mix. I put picture references always at the bottom of the post without a link just as text. But when I a found useful information on a topic concerning my blog post I will give them a link straight out of the content which opens in a new window.
Thanks for the nice summary and clearing things up!
June 22nd, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Brazzel, thanks for reading! Actually, there was a post that was already done on the topic that really kicked off this series with the great questions and comments relating to copyright issues – read this one http://blog.waxmarketing.com/2010/05/11/make-your-blog-come-alive-with-photo/ !
June 22nd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Thanks, Alex and absolutely, there’s no reason why you can’t use a combination of both! I find this is really a personal choice for the most part, but I do the same as you. I almost always put a isolated photo credit at the end of a post, and mostly use in-text links for sources (although there are exceptions).
June 23rd, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Opening pages in a new window used to be a terrible user experience until browsers started finally using tabs. I generally like to cite my sources at the end of the page, but I haven’t really decided whether it’s best to provide the hyperlink or just provide the full URL for the user to copy and paste if they’re really interested. You can control the hyperlink and have it open in a new window, but they’re less likely to navigate anyways if they have to manually put in the URL.
June 24th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Good point. Personally, I always hyperlink because I feel I owe it to the original author to encourage people to read their stuff. But, really, no matter which method you use, you’re covering your butt and sending the kudos, so it’s all personal choice! I was hoping in writing this one people would share what they do; there’s no right or wrong, but sometimes new bloggers have no idea where to start with crediting.
Good point about the tabs – although, I am a multiple window user already when I work, so once more typically doesn’t bother me! I do know that I tend to be the exception to that rule, though so you are definitely onto something.
The other thing to keep in mind about putting the URL and not linking it is that the other site won’t get the pingbacks. The hyperlink is required for most programs to pick it up, I believe. So, they might never know you linked them and therefore, might not return the favor!
June 25th, 2010 at 7:19 am
The points you have considered are very much important and useful too.Thanks for providing such an useful information.Great article.Thanks for sharing.
June 27th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
I always open it up in the same window. Lets readers click back. This is how the fancy Madison Ave agencies taught me.
We have an ecommerce site so the links within the article is to the product page. If they go to our site and stay there, the blog did its job. In light of the above, may need to re-consider about linking in the same window. Fancy NY boys may have it wrong.
I frequently base articles on sources as we often write about health issues (allergies and asthma). The more information we give readers the better, as some readers may have severe allergies and asthma can frequently be severe.
We put our sources on bottom. Usually base articles on Wikipedia, Web MD etc. Try to get multiple sources to make sure it is a consensus.
Health content is also edited by someone with allergies. naturally, it is easier to write about something you personally experience.
Product info is written by someone with years worth of online marketing experience.
July 30th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Using links on blogs is one of the easiest ways to reference other pages. Thanks for this post!
December 17th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Blogs will be keep on searched and updated in search engines.Using links on blogs we can refer other pages.
February 14th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Pleased brand new calendar year!!!
February 17th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Great article, Thanks. I really like your site:)
August 17th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
this is cool