Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Here are a few of mine....
We would appreciate if you could adhere to certain guidelines before we become link partners:(Uhm, no)
Let me tell you something about search engine optimization...(I know something about it; that's why my site is higher ranked than yours, and you're asking me for a link)
If you want to exhange links with us, click this, go here, and fill out this to make a request(Are you kidding--aren't you making a request from me?)
Amy email that goes on more than 2 paragraphs.
Sound familiar? I don't know about the rest of you, but I've only got so much time in the day (and I don't want to waste it reading letters from strangers), so my advice is to keep it short and sweet if you want a link. Oh, and atleast pretend you've gone to the front page of my site by mentioning the topic somewhere in the email...
You can drive a good bargain by asking for 2 links for 1. Most will be happy to oblige. Since they are actively seeking links, you can expect their PR to soon go up and then you will have a major benefit accruing to your site.
How then do you build link popularity?
- I hate when they spell words wrong.
- When it's a request for a link exchange on a links page.
- When they can't give me their first and last name.
PR, green bars, link popularity - they all have their place but it's site content that sets the standard. If a site's good I'll link, if it's less good or off-topic I won't.
Things that create a negative response with link requests include:
Over-pushing the benefits:
eg. "if you link to us it's to our mutual benefit", "I'm sure you'll get a lot of traffic from our link", and other such talk which stresses how, coincidentally, doing what we want just has so many benefits for you. This is really 1-out-of-10 caliber sales talk.
Long messages:
Link messages are very common, I've seen your message many times before and I know what you want. Be polite and straight - all you really need to say is "Please could you link to us", and I'll say yes or no depending on your site.
Repeat messages:
I saw your message the first time, don't send it again as this just annoys me. People make decisions largely on how they feel, so if you want my help don't make me feel bad. It ain't a tough concept really.
Personalized messages:
Everyone says you should send personalized messages but I don't really like them - it's just so obvious you're trying to cover up the fact you've sent a similar message to 499 other folks. Putting my name, website URLs, and inquiring about my relatives' health doesn't really change anything. If it's personal it'll be obvious it's personal, and if it's been sent to multiple recipients it'll be similarly obvious. Like before, just be short, simple and open about the fact you'd like a link.
Followup/Warning messages:
This is the same as sending multiple messages, it's just the time scale that differs. I got your message, I've read it, repeating yourself just creates a negative response.
Messages saying "I've already linked to you so...":
While I want links, this says to me "I helped you so now you've gotta help me". It takes away choice and creates more negative response. Also of course, the links often aren't so great anyway.
-----
Most of these points stem in part from email templates found in link development software. Like all such tools it's possible to use them legitimately, but in general they are not used correctly and webmasters with any experience are accustomed to these templated messages.
One good thing I like is link code, my links directory has descriptions for each site and I don't want to have to write them each time.
So, in sum here's what I like for link requests:
Then it's up to me, or rather up to you - if you've made a good site you'll get more links, more traffic, and more importantly be offering a worthwhile service.
Best Regards,
Jeremy
but that doesn't stop people from trying. Amazingly enough most all the ones who request a link exchange have already Linked to one of my sites (but of course they are a PR2 or something....)
I don't care, the sites in question have "killer content" for the intended audience and that is what people link to them for.
As my site has only recently gotten PR, I don't get many link requests, but I have had good luck using this approach:
Good Day,
Would you be interested in trading links from your site at www.yoursite.com to mine at www.mysite.com?
Something like this for mine would be great:
<my kw anchor link and all that>
Thanks,
Me
In 6 weeks I have sent 250 requests and gotten over 100 links from sites that are on topic with mine.
Just also wondering why those people with pagerank 8 sites who never link out to anyone are reading the link development forum?
Agreed, 99% might be an under-estimate!
>Just also wondering why those people with pagerank 8 sites who never link out to anyone are reading the link development forum?
LMAO...Me too! But if they have and are, then good luck to 'em:)
In the past, I would totally agree. Now the situation is quite different and getting quality links are much tougher. Many of brand new sites do not make it and I think less than 5% of brand new PR0 site today would be capable of returning you a link of say PR4 in next 6 months, 1 year or forever...
While some link requests from PR0 sites might be good, I find that most of them are problematic. First of all, they are in abundance, link requests are sloppish, and worst yet, sites are crappy. Secondly, they waste our precious time either to click to read their message and to review their poor sites. Thirdly, they mar our opportunity to find the real gems of those real quality PR0 sites.
Another problem I often encounter with exchanging links with brand new PR0 sites is that I often find myself having to do a double job later. When their links and PR grow, they have a nuisance practice of moving the links to another pages of lower PR value. It often ends up that I have to re-look at the site and re-mark the new location pages.
Another problem of being an early bird to exchange links with new sites is that after they grow there is a high possibility that our major competitors will be on the same pages too. Therefore, I prefer to be an evening bird regarding this issue.
"I visited your site today widgets.com /blue-widgets.order.htm and felt it was on topic with our website to exchange links."
I like these better than the e-mails from the treasurer of some remote S. African town telling me I have $30 million in lottery winnings.
wellzy
2. If (1) passed, look for URL where they have placed link to me. If not seen instantly e.g. requires scrolling - delete.
3. Take note of the last part of URL where they say my link is (like widget-links.htm), and go to their home page for general impression.
4. Look what the site is about, and if experience and intuition tells me worthwile, go to other random page and try to find in navigation "Other Sites" or "Directory" or "Other Widgets" or anything that would suggest Links-page. Yes, links-page has to be reachable not only from homepage.
5. If (4) passed and my link appears inplace, go back to email and read it this time, and if it still does not rise red flags to me - proceed with link exchange.
No problem linking to PR0, if you passed (1,2,3,4,5) I know you are serious and honest webmaster/SEO, and your site is likely to stay there in a year and two ;)
R
No problem linking to PR0, if you passed (1,2,3,4,5) I know you are serious and honest webmaster/SEO, and your site is likely to stay there in a year and two ;)
Only answered the thread original question how everyone deals with linkexchange requests.
I'm hardly an authority on Widgetry work. I'm also no expert on Widget software, widgeting your employee's or widgeting your kids.
Fred
[edited by: martinibuster at 10:06 pm (utc) on Aug. 1, 2004]
[edit reason] Widgetized. Please, no spefics. [/edit]
The article writing and publishing is always a great idea, but what if there isn't a lot of content for me to write about the products I'm promoting?Than why start one? You should start web sites with something you know and won't have problems with. You can get free articles with reprint rights.
I prefer to be organically linked to, and link only to sites that I've found myself.
Than why start one? You should start web sites with something you know and won't have problems with. You can get free articles with reprint rights.
That's an idea. I haven't worked with reprint rights before. Does that entitle me to re-publish a copywrited article with the author's permission to add my own site link to it along with the author's link?
It's my understanding that reprint rights however aren't free, but they aren't always very expensive either. Maybe I can find such articles along the subject of doing your own widgeting, etc.. Where could I begin looking?
Reciprocal linking is also a pain in the butt as well.
Fred
[edited by: martinibuster at 10:54 pm (utc) on Aug. 1, 2004]
[edit reason] Widgetized. [/edit]
I'm happy to consider link exchanges with people, I'm not interested in approaches from robots.
'I just visited your great site....
However, nicely worded emails sent via the proper method which have come from somebody who has actually spent more than 10 seconds on my site (such as 'I notice on page Y you've got a listing of product Y priced at $z.zz'), then I'll be more willing to give a link to.
Spend time, get results...
