Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Paraphrased:
Since one way inbounds aren't given out by authoritative sites, we recommend reciprocal link exchanges. Your website becomes an authoritative site by interlinking with similar sites.
I received this from a company offering to do link building for me. This is not a backstreet firm either, they are quite well known and have a large client base. I disagree with everything they are saying:
1. "Since one way inbounds aren't given out by authoritative sites" - yes they do.
2. "Your website becomes an authoritative site by interlinking with similar sites." - no, your website looks like a link spam directory. "Important sites" (to use their words!) don't have link exchange pages ......
I'd like to know what other think of this sales pitch though.
[edited by: martinibuster at 4:15 am (utc) on Sep. 9, 2005]
[edit reason] Paraphrased sales pitch [/edit]
Really? - what important sites are these then? Since I began on the web, 6 years ago, I haven't had one 'important' site give me a one-way link for nothing or an even an exchange of links.
What is your definition of 'important'? As important can mean different things to different people. Tell you a story, I asked Yell and others if they would exchange links with me and they bluntly refused, so I'd be interested in what important means.
I can't see why some major company would give out a decent link for little or no gain - I wouldn't! Why should they give you or I exceptional ad space for free lol.
I got a PR8 link (back when TBPR meant something) - one way - without even asking from a large consumer info portal... several links from television stations, newspapers, etc to various sites. Heck, my blog even got a link from a newspaper in a permanent "local blog listings" page they published without me even asking for it - in fact, they asked me permission to give me the one way link.
no important site is going to give out a link for free" - yes they do
Really? - what important sites are these then? Since I began on the web, 6 years ago, I haven't had one 'important' site give me a one-way link for nothing or an even an exchange of links.
I think this was more along the lines of saying that an important site will still link to a site that has decent content, for the benefit of their users. They probably didn't get solicited for it, but they still link to sites that have good material, hence a link for free.
On a personal note, our site has only about 10 outbounds on the whole site, and they are to sites that are required for the user to be able to properly interact with the site, such as Adobe, Verisign, etc. We don't bother using the rel=nofollow on them because it is good to do a few outbounds, as long as they are to quality (preferably authority) sites. If I really wanted decent content from another person's site, I would just note the facts and rewrite it. This way I wouldn't be infringing on copyrights nor would I have to link out to them.
Granted, reciprocal links are not useless, in fact they can be a good starting point for a link building campaign, but I think we all know that one ways are better. This company probably finished their pitch with "We can get you 10,000 links for $39.95!"
no important site is going to give out a link for free" - yes they doReally? - what important sites are these then?
Heck, I can even get my direct competitors to link to me (reciprocally mostly) so getting a site to which my content is useful to its users is even easier.
Since I began on the web, 6 years ago, I haven't had one 'important' site give me a one-way link for nothing or an even an exchange of links.
Then you probably need to spend more time reading the "how to email someone for a link" threads. I think your targetting is a bit off if you're aiming at companies like Yell. They charge everyone for a listing so of course their not going to give you a link for free - but Dmoz will and that's probably worth more. Murdoch said that he links to companies like Verisign and Adobe because it helps his users. You need to target sites where your content will help the users of that site to obtain that one-way link.
I'm using Yell for other reasons, but I'm not using them for targeting purposes. My targeting is deliberately 'off' for a reason.
Then you probably need to spend more time reading the "how to email someone for a link" threads
Others might. My emails work fine for link exchanges, it's not exactly rocket science. People love free stuff - especially free weblinks with good content.
They charge everyone for a listing so of course their not going to give you a link for free - but Dmoz will and that's probably worth more.
Yes, they charge upto £2000 for a UK campaign, which is targeted by region and town. ie Greater London.
Their line entries are pretty useless though - as you'll get nothing but sales pitches from other companies. You'll get about 30ish calls per 12 months from the basic entry and bugged by Yell's sales staff from the call centre in India.
Also getting into Dmoz is very tough to do. I've given up wasting time submitting to them. Nice free link, but worthless if one cannot even get in - and please don't suggest I'm doing something wrong, or tell me to contact their forum etc etc.
Been there, Done that and got the t-shirt.
Thanks anyway.
regards
I can't see why some major company would give out a decent link for little or no gain - I wouldn't! Why should they give you or I exceptional ad space for free lol.
This is a common view from people who think that "companies" are the only things on the web.
Most sites that belong to major medium and large companies want to do business with Big sites, eg sites with networks etc. The smaller guy isn't a safe bet and they fear losing their cash.
Really? - what important sites are these then? Since I began on the web, 6 years ago, I haven't had one 'important' site give me a one-way link for nothing or an even an exchange of links.
Jeez...most important sites link free, don't they?
I have a site that's linked from <many sites like the BBC>.
It's really not that difficult if you're doing it right.
[edited by: martinibuster at 3:45 am (utc) on Sep. 12, 2005]
[edit reason] exmaplified/unlinked urls. [/edit]
Also getting into Dmoz is very tough to do. I've given up wasting time submitting to them.
Then become an editor of the category you want to be in and that way you can ensure that you get in, you stay in, and no-one can mess with your listing. Hell, nearly everyone I know in this industry is a Dmoz editor or has one on their staff!
And they would want someone with total committment - I would think.
I'm a very busy bee. buzz buzz
Yeah, I see what you're saying, it's just I really don't have the time to edit someone's elses website
You don't edit them, just review them and decide whether or not to include them in the category.
The only problem with this theory is that you have to start off in a small, highly specific, preferably regional category, and then work your way up to the more competitive categories. I guess if you work in a niche area to begin with this is ok, but if you are in a large industry then it'll take some time. Of course, you could always try bribes...
Of course, you could always try bribes...
[coughs loudly] .... I have a Paypal account and cover quite a few broad categories ... ;)
[edited by: internetheaven at 9:45 pm (utc) on Sep. 14, 2005]
One thing i am not from that company :) Cheers :)
The company that told this guy is no backstreet firm so knowing from that , that firm must have had some success with linking building and seo
Granted, but they could also be rolling out an inventive new ploy that takes advantage of website owners who have no clue about SEO. When it comes down to it if you have any idea what's going on you know you can undertake a reciprocal link campaign easily without the help of a firm. If you pay a firm to do your link building campaigns they should be getting you quality, one-way links (or at least advising you of how to go about it). I could hire a monkey with an eyepatch to do a reciprocal link campaign for me.
As getting a site on DMOZ can do good to your PR so can link building
First of all, getting your site on DMOZ is link building. And an important link too, maybe one of the MOST important. I can't tell if you're just stating the obvious here or you think we're complete idiots, considering that the majority of the threads in this forum are on LINK BUILDING.
So if the guy is series in link building he should look at prospective client reviews for that company's performance before going ahead.
As far as I'm concerned, any company, regardless of it's size or stature, should take the time first to compose an intelligent e-mail if they plan on mass distribution of it. Considering many of us get hundreds of e-mails like this every day, what's to make us pick this company over the others, even to take the time for a quick review?
In the end, you referring people as idiot i just wanna say dont that it personally kiddo.
Absolutely horrible sales pitch, clearly geared to sell some nasty link building campaign. No important sites give out links for free? Well then the BBC and Harvard Business School mustn't be all that important.
As do we.
We provide outbound links "for free", as the BBC knows, they are good for the reader.
Matt
you have answered everything regarding my post. But when i said look at that companies clients comments you say you dont have the time.
Touché...
You are right I did spend a bit too much time disecting your post but the fact remains that, while this forum generally provides a wealth of information to people who are keen enough to weed out the bad information from the good (or learn the hard way through trial and error) sifting through hundreds of "link exchange" and "get 10,000 links for $39.95" messages is a waste of time. If you are actively looking for a firm to help you with SEO, there is little they can do to help you with link building that you can't do on your own or by hiring a single person. And if you are actively looking for a firm you should just Google "SEO firm" and not reply to ridiculous e-mails.
In the end, you referring people as idiot i just wanna say dont that it personally kiddo.
I didn't refer to you as an idiot. I questioned whether you were either stating the obvious or thought WE were idiots. I apologize now that I know you were just having a hard time putting it in the right words.
Honestly though, any money you spend on paying a firm to promote a reciprocal link campaign could be better spent buying some quality one-way links.
BTW I work on 2 monitors at once so I can post while working ;-)
And if you are actively looking for a firm you should just Google "SEO firm" and not reply to ridiculous e-mails.
Just thought I should point out (as the guy who placed the original message) that this information was not received via email. It was through an online discussion with a popular company on Elance, the company had many good reviews from clients which is why the information alarmed me so.
I think this pretty much ends the topic here. :)
It does?
(see ... I can boost my "number of posts" too! ...)
