Fair go mates on link requests

[Gregse]

Hi all. Ive just been reading Martinbusters thread on link requests and would like to throw a cat amongst the pidgeons. As an Aussie - I like a fair go. Now we dont all have high vol sites like SEO, Dating "Adult" etc - and such and we all have to start from somewhere learning as we go. As a newbie, its a huge task to build a site & business and of course links. So, you guys in the happy positions of being able to delete almost all link requests, lucky you. While I have to be selective, I have long way to go in my link program and learning. And no - I dont take "adult" related links on out site - which so many successful sites seem to take advatage of. While criteria in link selection is admirable when coming from a position of strength, the position of "delete 'em" kinda peeves me - you mean you really dont care?.
In a way I would love to have the ego massage of deleting a swag of link request each day - must be boring eh, not to even peek?.

In sum up - I do my best - and carry on improving my site and making it attractive to the people the want to do business with me. In nature as everything - interconnectivity goes further than a simple link and is part of what the net is about - or maybe Im naive and there's more at stake. So - Thats my rave - its off my chest - whats your thoughts guys I'd be interested.

Keep well and happy.

[edited by: martinibuster at 2:55 pm (utc) on Mar. 16, 2005]
[edit reason] no solicitations, please. [/edit]

[rj87uk]

Why consider linking to the little guy when we have all the links we need and are at the top of search engines anyway?

[Rosalind]

Gregse, most link requests are some kind of automated spam, or else they are from sites that use sneaky methods that ensure that the link has little or no value in the search engines, or is stuffed into an enormous page with 100 or more other links.

Once in a while a useful request will appear, but it often means wading through a heap of junk emails first. Reciprocal linking is often a poor use of time. The rest of the net doesn't owe new webmasters any recognition, and that's something to bear in mind when you contact other webmasters. You may not have a high traffic website yet, but consider what else you may have to offer in exchange for a link.

This is one reason that some people are happy to write articles for other sites, in exchange for a linked byline. Do a few of those and you, too, could enjoy the ego-boost that comes from deleting piles of unwanted link requests.

[Gregse]

Hi RJ87UK,
Yes I can understand that - but have you really stopped building your business?
I read Liane's comment in Martins thread and agree with her - great comment and a thought out approach to which I subscribe to. I know us "littlies" dont rate on a top ranked site and I dont request from them - in fact I have made few requests at all to anyone and get on with my building. I understand the "link spam" syndrome, but somewhere in there there are the guys like me who - do email and ask legitimately and its anoying to be treated like a dust mote - does that make sense?
My post is as a kind of balance to Martins thread if thats at all possible - apologies Martin, I dont have your experience and working knowledge, just my 2 cents worth :)
Keep well.

[Gregse]

Dear Rosalind,
A reasonable voice in the wilderness, thank you.
I agree and my writing is underway. Im not #*$!ing BTW. I just wanted to add some perspective to what seemed like a lop sided thread :)
I just get on with content and learning etc, I dont expect favours, owed or otherwise but any is welcome :) The advice that comes via forums such as this in incredably invaluable.
Thanks.

[Kirby]

Greg, take a focused approach to your link building at first, as opposed to just throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks.

While it seems there are many here who say they just delete all requests, IMO they are the minority. Of course this all depends on the niche/catagory of your business.

There are a multitude of sites out there that will link to you. You have to do a little homework and discover which sites that are relevant to you are linking. Start there.

[aleatrix]

Hi Gregse,

We are small site that has been on the internet awhile and I still accept links requests from small, new sites with little or no page rank, that have content I like.

Keep trying. We all started small at one time.

[buckworks]

that have content I like

That little comment points to two make-or-break issues:

(1) the quality of your site, and
(2) the quality of your targeting.

Fail in one, and you fail, period.

Quality is the only thing that can rise above the clutter in our inboxes. And even that's not guaranteed.

[rj87uk]

No one ever really stops building a business, but time and time again all I get are webmasters that have added my link to a page that has 1000 other links, low quality website with 7 exchanges.

Most are the same, So I just stopped answering them (I used to give advice to people but its not worth the effort)

I still look for link partners for my sites that are at the top of search engines...