Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Is it just me or are the rest of you finding it harder and harder to get webmasters to exchange links?
With the Google "you are who you link to" philosophy, it's no wonder people aren't interested in trading links. My PR8 site receives requests almost daily, and I delete every single one of them.
But what else can I do to get incoming? Are all new sited screwed now?
What does it take to move up a level. Do you know?
Don't bother contacting anyone in USA or Canada, they are years ahead of most of the world, and are fed up with link contacts.
Don't bother chasing anyone that has a much higher PR on their link pages than your link pages.
Be satisfied with getting the anchor text that you want.
PR is now only of value when contacting webmasters who still think it has value.
I will take links from any PR.
Spot on, forget PR, think anchor and theme
I have never considered google traffic free - but, in most of the industries I target, I get it way cheaper than I would via PPC. Also, if you build a good site, gain it good inbounds and fill it with content (even on the side for an e-commerce site) - that initial work should be able to carry that site for a long time. ;)
I think now people understand that it is a crucial factor in getting good serps. When some mum and pop reads a mail talking about pr and anchor they go and do some research to and start linking themselves.
What's entailed in doing that?
1 - The more the better
2 - The higher the PR of the linking page the better
3 - The fewer outbound links aside from yours on the linking page the better
The above applies to raising your PR, but as many have already mentioned, it's not really about PR anymore. It's about link text, lots of inbound links from unique domains, and themes.
"Google's "you are who you link to" philosophy"
I'm assuming it is saying that if you are linking to sites that are similar to yours than that is good, and if they are different than that is bad.
My question is if I have a site with very few in-bound links, will adding outbound links to relevant sites have much of an impact?
Inbounds still rule, outbounds simply help to *refine*.
What are your strategies for getting them to use your preferred anchor text?
Also, check out this thread for good ideas on the subject of the email.
[webmasterworld.com...]
And of course, check out this thread for what you shouldn't do.
[webmasterworld.com...]
I think that the subject is actually the key. If you can't get them to open the email, you have no chance that they will link to you. Of course, once they open your email, you have to make sure that you catch their attention right away (in the first line).
My other clues would be to use very short paragraphs: one to two sentences per. Short paragraphs allow them to scan easier and also give them the feeling that they are reading faster.
And of course, if you don't have a quality website, it really won't matter what you try.
Rephrased sentence
[edited by: yowza at 5:28 pm (utc) on Aug. 27, 2004]
What are your strategies for getting them to use your preferred anchor text?
I don't worry about that as much as I used to, because it's more natural to have some variety in the mix.
I would say, provide a suggested link text that reflects what you'd prefer, but if someone gives you something different, accept it with good grace and move on to the next prospect. As your link development progresses you'll accumulate enough anchor texts to support your target phrase(s), and you'll also have some variety to keep from looking "over-optimized".
What are your strategies for getting them to use your preferred anchor text?
Give them the HTML webmasters are just as lazy as everybody else.
Normally most webmasters would use the provided anchor texts, and very few would bother to make any changes. If you find that many webmasters make the changes, you may want to review the style of your anchor text...For ex., it might be too long and other webmasters have to truncate it or make it concise to fit with their page outlook.
If you find that many webmasters make the changes, you may want to review the style of your anchor text...For ex., it might be too long and other webmasters have to truncate it or make it concise to fit with their page outlook.
I suggest reviewing every page you submit to and adjusting your request to fit their format and style... and yes, not only is it getting harder, but it's really fatiguing at this end. ;)
there can still be a delayed response. I do have to read the mail - something I don't like to do.
>> What are your strategies for getting them to use your preferred anchor text?
I'll use what you provide.. within limits. I rarely change the link text, but the description is subject to length and editorial review.
For outbound only links I'll use what I can garner from the page or other resources.
Basically it will ask for your site's links page and will search that page for a recip, finding that, it will add your link to my page in return.
I don't think it gets any easier than that.
I've considered building a freeware site that would help webmasters manage their own link campaigns. Someday, after all the sites I still have in the backburner, waiting...
Another option, especially for when you're getting started, is choosing a handful of your articles and submitting them to places like articlecity.com where webmasters come looking for free content. Your link goes in the about-the-author box, of course.
Don't forget to volunteer to help edit the DMOZ and of course get your page listed, and subsequently listed in all the clones, in the process.
Also, having something unique/cool/linkable on your home page will help earn freebie links. Word of mouth has great power.
IMHO, time is too valuable to waste emailing people who are just going to delete it anyway.
