Using snail mail to request links

[defanjos]

Does anybody have any luck or experience with sending a letter to request for quality links (reciprocal or not)?

With the amount of email spam these days, and the requests for link exchanges, I am afraid most emails get deleted fairly quickly, so I was thinking, why not send a letter?

Of couse it would only be used to request quality links and not wasted in low quality links.

Opinions....

[juniperwasting]

I must admit this idea had dawned on me as well.
A real tactile professional letter might receive a better response then.

RE: Link Exchange.

I have yet to decide if this is a route that I would follow, but I do know that if I received a letter of this type, I would take it seriously enough to respond somehow.

[beren]

I've done it a couple times. No luck. But my thinking was the same as yours: a real letter might stand out more than an e-mail. Plus I couldn't find an e-mail contact on the website.

One time it sort of backfired on me though. I had sent a letter to a charitable organization asking for a link from their website. This organization is named after a sports celebrity. They responded with a form letter about how the celebrity doesn't handle personal requests, and then a paragraph saying "no" they wouldn't add a link. Which I could live with. But then they must have put me on their supporters/fans mailing list because I started getting mailings from them soliciting donations from me.

[killroy]

But be carefull to add a fast reply option via email. For me link exchange requests aren't business, so I don't consider them at length and get back. No, I want to deal with them straight away while I'm sifting through my email.

SN

[EliteWeb]

I think that in the mind set of the owners and webmasters out there you would have to wonder what the turn around time on the link would be. Personally if i got a letter about a link exchange the only way I would humor a reply is if money were involved.

When I read my snailmail I am far from my computer, I dont think I would jump up and add a link per a letter request. But then again I have yet to receive a link request via snailmail.

[dragonlady7]

Honestly?

I'd think it was a joke. I wouldn't do it.

[moltar]

I would! Just to thank for dedication. And I would be somewhat honored that someone asked me to link from to their site via snail mail. Of course I would consider other factors, like site content, spam factor, etc...

[mack]

This idea has me thinking.

It is something I may try. I supose the main factor will be the recipient....

It may make your request more credible, or may just catch the recipient at the wrong time. May sound strange but I would include my email address in the letter, allows for a fast response. If you where expecting a response it may be to much like hard work for the reply to actualy be sent as snail mail.

Mack.

[digitalghost]

You'd be suprised at what a good bottle of booze and dinner coupons to a nice restaurant will do if delivered at the same time as your link request. Forget about the "exchange" part. Just politely request a link as you flatter them...

Think about using the same techniques you would use to get past a secretary that keeps you from getting through to the boss. Decline an exchange artfully.

"I'd be more than happy to exchange links but only after the site reaches the same level of professionalism that you have achieved with yours. Right now, we're just not on the same level, you're the Hilton and we're Motel 8. When we can afford to be as generous as you we'll certainly remember the favor".

[defanjos]

Thanks for all replies

[firstmark]

I once sent out like 5 letters requesting links as a test.
I got one to add the link, and they took it down later for whatever reason.
In general if I have to visit a domian registrar to find contact info either email or snail mail they are not likely to add a link I have found.

If I got a legitimate request for a link of reasonable quality that was sent to me via snail mail, personalized, for a largely content oriented site, and "stoked my ego" I would consider adding it. But maybe thats just me.
I do not suggest calling people on the telephone asking for links or sites to join your affiliate program under any circumstances though.

[wackybrit]

The main problem is that such requests will not reach the people with the inclination, or the power, to act on them.

Letters are often intercepted by secretaries, and even if they reach the CEO, what's the likelihood he'll care about linking to you? He'll only have to call up his Web developers, and they'd probably forget. And so, on and on it goes.

If you've really qualified the destination site, and think there's a good chance a letter will work, go for it. But on a 'blind' basis, I'd imagine the results would be far from impressive.

[nakulgoyal]

I think it's costly too and what eLiteweb is right. I won't jump to the computer to add the link. :-0

[ken_b]

I did this a couple years ago. I sent out 115 requests and recieved 14 responses.

Not bad, not great. Time frame was about 30 days.