How do you compete against UK sites for links?

When you don't ship to the UK

[mona]

I've been spending some time building incoming links for my site. One of the reasons is for increased traffic, but the other reason is of course to increase PR.

This is an ecommerce site that sells widgets. I'm researching the competition, and a lot of them are listed in various UK directories. Since most of the widgets we sell are large and/or heavy, the shipping costs are expensive, so we only ship to the US (with a few exceptions).

So how do I compete for incoming links with these sites? Do we offer to ship to the UK? This doesn't appear to be a viable option. I guess I could try to build enough content to be listed on these site as a resource/information site, but I'm no expert on the widgets we sell.

Has anyone else faced this problem? What did you do?

[mistah]

Think yourself lucky.

I'm based in the UK and am always finding US sites that would be good to exchange links with from a PR point of view. With five times the population of the UK, US sites must be at an advantage in this respect. In fact it's all becoming clear now... Google must be the lastest tool in the US Government's never-ending drive towards economic and cultural imperialism. Better call Oliver Stone now so he can make a gripping 4-hour epic about search engines.

[rogerd]

Mona, you are on the right track by adding content. That will help you not just with UK directories but other sites as well.

In the meantime, look for US directories or international directories that will take your US listing, as well as other non-directory sites. Your competitors may not link to you, but try to find sites in related areas, resource sites, etc., that will link to you.

[Ross]

Mona, Go ahead and ask the UK sites for a reciprocal link. They'll be pleased that you're not in direct competition, in fact I'd mention the fact that you don't ship to the UK in your email.

Good Luck

Ross

[mona]

Poor mistah, maybe we should both use some of this advice.

>you are on the right track by adding content.
I know. It's hard, though;) Like I said, my knowledge on the subject/what we sell is scarce. Do I just make stuff up? Or spend a bunch of time learning about it? I've already made a resource page on a specific related area. I linked to articles and just put a teaser on the page with 'read more'.

Ross - lol! Sometimes a different perspective really helps. What a great idea. Nice way to turn something negative into something positive.

[Terrier]

Ross is right!

I am in UK and always happy to exchange links with other sites in the same industry in the US.

I find it is the non reciprocal inbounds that are the hardest and most important to get right.