Linkify from Xenomachina – Best of 2007? (Video Intro)

If Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.com thinks that "linkify" is the best thing he found in all of 2007, it must be worth a minute to check out.

So, I did…

The verdict? I like it!

What is Linkify?

It is similar to the new Yahoo! Shortcuts plugin (that caused errors on my blogs by the way) but, in my opinion, is much simpler.

In short, what "linkify" from Xenomachina.com (don't go to linkify.com like I did– different company) does is allow you to create a quick anchor text link while you are posting to your blog or any other other content site where you are entering text into an online textbox. This is all done in "real time" without have to go browse for content and a link.

Here's How Linkify Works

You begin typing into the textbox on your blog, an article service or a social media site.

You highlight a word or phrase you want to turn into a hyperlink, to add interest, to provide a quick shortcut to your readers, whatever.

You then press the "linkify" button you have added to your browser and choose from a list of relevant links that has just popped up.

Your choices will include a variety of web links, video links and blog links.

The search is powered by Google so you can't argue with that (well, maybe some would…).

Click "create link" and your highlighted phrase is formatted with a perfectly formatted "a href" html tag.

Why Does Mr. Problogger Like Linkify So Much?

To find that out you'll have to read his blog…

Oh, you say you would rather have my opinion? Well, yes, of course….

I think this great little tool has caught the attention of pro-bloggers for 1 very important reason.

Pro-bloggers are genuinely interested in providing content that rocks!

And… as hard as they try, all good, professional bloggers know that their thoughts, opinions, ideas and textual dribble is not "all" there is.

All great authority sites (or professional blogs) will be (1) current AND (2) have links to related and interesting topics, even if those links take the reader to the other side of the world or to Youtube for a few minutes of mindless pleasure and giggles.

Readers need new, fresh information and they need the world around their niche brought to them.

If you never share content outside of your own little perspective, you and your dwindling readership will die of narrow-minded misery. (wow…that sounds pretty dramatic huh!)

I totally see why Darren Rowse picked Linkify as "the best thing he started doing in 2007"… it literally makes creating those "world-sharing" links about 100 times faster.

Linkify Video Demo

For a demonstration of this tool in action, check out this 5 minute screen capture video: