So You Joined a Webring – Now What?

So you joined a webring. Welcome to the neighborhood!

That shiny new widget is now proudly sitting on your site. But if you’re wondering “now what?” – you’re not alone. A ring is an invitation, not a magic trick. The real connection happens when your site invites visitors to stick around.

Here are 7 ways to make your site feel like the kind of place people want to explore:

1. Add a “Start Here” Page

New visitors land on your site through the ring. Give them a warm welcome. A simple “Start Here” or “About This Site” page can make all the difference. Help them understand what you’re about – and what to read first.

2. Make Navigation Friendly, Not Fancy

You don’t need complex mega-menus. You do need clear paths. Make sure your nav bar reflects your main sections and helps people find what they didn’t know they were looking for.

3. Highlight Your Best Work

Have a favorite blog post, a piece of art, or a manifesto you’re proud of? Feature it. Put it on your homepage. Pin it. Make it obvious. Visitors coming from a webring want to know who you are at your best.

4. Add a Human Touch

Use your voice. Write like a person, not a press release. Even a short sentence on your homepage or sidebar saying “Hey, I’m [Your Name] – I make weird things and love coffee” goes a long way toward making someone feel welcome.

5. Keep the Ring Visible

Don’t bury it. Your ring widget shouldn’t be hidden in the footer or a dead-end page. Let it be part of the flow. Sidebar, header, or even its own little “Webrings I Belong To” section.

6. Post Something (Anything!) Regularly

You don’t need a full content strategy. But you do need signs of life. A blog updated every few weeks. A note. A link dump. Anything that says: this site isn’t abandoned.

7. Link Out to Other Humans

This is the spirit of the indie web. Share cool stuff. Link to other ring members. Highlight creators you love. The more you give, the more interesting your corner of the web becomes.

Bonus: Enjoy the Vibe

Webrings aren’t about optimizing conversions or chasing SEO scores. They’re about curiosity, connection, and being just interesting or fun or weird enough to stand out. Embrace that energy. Your site doesn’t need to be perfect. Just real.