Confessions of a Link Building Casanova

[martinibuster]

In another thread about how not to campaign for links someone made a reference to "link-begging..."

Link begging

I'd like to suggest that a link campaign that starts with the attitude of "begging" is somewhat damaged. A large part of an unsuccesful link request can be put to exactly that attitude. You can see it in the generic quality of the email, the lack of enthusiasm at finding your site, their inability to express what makes their site such a good link candidate...

A link campaign is very much like a courtship on some levels.

Genuine Enthusiasm
When you find a site with quality/relevant content that appears to be updated fairly frequently, it's possible that you have discovered a website that has frequent visitors who will be interested in visiting your own website. This is something to get excited about.

Targeted traffic lays the foundation to a grass-roots traffic campaign. Don't write off the word of mouth traffic- anyone who has ever received a chain petition in the email can attest to the power of exponential growth.

Are you interested in me or my PageRank?
Most people don't like to feel like objects, and webmasters are no exceptions. Make some effort to explain what you like about their website, how your website visitors would enjoy visiting their website and vice-versa.

There's no harm in asking
Hey, you're going to get rejected. You're going to taste the bitterness and anguish of rejection.

Ok, you can put on a Leonard Cohen record and mope :(, or you can get off your butt and send out some more emails ;). You will find your link soliciting skills improve with each website you study and each email you craft.

Keep copies of the good ones.

don't be afraid of rejection...
There's no harm in asking. Expect rejection.

But never look at this as "begging for links" because the process of scaling up link building is more nuanced than begging.

Anyone else have tips for the budding link campaigner?

[edited by: martinibuster at 10:41 am (utc) on Jul 17, 2021]

[trillianjedi]

Anyone else have tips for the budding link campaigner?

Nope, I rather think you just nailed it.

;-)

TJ

[Mohamed_E]

Anyone else have tips for the budding link campaigner?

To solicit links enthusiastically you need a site that you can be enthusiastic about :)

[DaveN]

The two for one approach.

I will link from these two sites (look ones a pr7) if you link to this one ;)

DaveN

[dougs]

How many 7's do you want to link to our sites Dave...I have a nice 3:)

[Wired Suzanne]

Thanks martinibuster for starting a thread on how to do it properly.

I always prefer the personal approach. Even I have over 100 domains to run links campaigns for.
You find a good site, ask for a favour, return the favour, be a happy partner. (I know this might seem a little over-enthusiastic for most of you.)

I know most of my link partners. I know their names, where they live, whether they are posting here at WW or not. I keep contact with some of my partners and discuss SEO issues, PR levels, or market related questions. Or just general ideas about setting up a business, tax issues, anything.
It's not just gaining as many high-PR links as possible, it's like collecting business cards in a way. Some point me at other usefull sites about SEO, some help me out with affiliating, etc. Sometimes you come across a DMOZ editor, or a lawyer.

It's not that I won't link to a site with an automated service. I'm just trying to point out the importance of good contacts.