londrum - 10:57 am on Mar 25, 2010 (gmt 0)

the thing you've got to avoid at all costs when asking for links is an email that looks automated. that is the worst thing. automated emails that swap out the name of the site and URL, whilst keeping all the other text the same are easy to spot, and people just bin them.
you've got to add a few things in there that proves you're acquainted with and interested in their site. you've got to explain to them where the benefit is in linking to you.

link building software is still useful though -- in getting together a big list of sites to look at, and gathering the contact details from them. but i wouldn't use it to send out the actual emails.