Paying for Links to Own Site

Can this be done

[ffctas]

Is is proper to offer incentives to other sites to link to one's own site.
Any problems with this?

[jdancing]

Unless there is a reason for sites to link to you (some amazing tool, great content, or unique gimmick), you will need to buy at least some links to have any hope of getting decent SERP position.

[mister charlie]

the only way to get anybody to link to you is to incentivize them.

figuring out the incentive is the tricky part. how can you influence them to link to you? how can you make them want to link to you? why will it behoove them to do so?

[Robert Charlton]

Is is proper to offer incentives to other sites to link to one's own site.

Any problems with this?

Not sure what you mean by "proper," or for that matter what you mean by "incentives." If you're talking about cash incentives, Google doesn't like it. It's a kind of manipulation that they feel is definitely crossing a line. Neverthless, you might consider some directory submission fees to be incentives. It can get complicated.

Please, I don't want to get into an "all SEO is manipulation" kind of discussion.

[kevinpate]

You're simply buying ad space. Print ads include telephone #'s and domain names. Web ads, being an interactive medium, can include a slightly more direct avenue, i.e. a link.

Lots of folks will sell ad space to you, even search engines. I suspect the incentive most prefer is cash.

[Justilien]

This is actually a very useful method to acquire links. For the right incentive it may even create a natural viral marketing campaign that will propel your link building.

Couple of Tips:

-Include a request in all outgoing e-mails, paid receipts, letters and shipments asking for a link. Offer them a discount or something free with their next order. Too often people disregard their current customers. They are your best promoters. If your customers are happy they will be more than happy to help you grow your business. Everyone wants to be a part of something successful.

-Offer a gift certificate to your site to anyone who links to you (within your linking guidelines of course). If you offer a $100 gift certificate and your cost of goods is 30% it is only costing you $30.

-If you work in the software industry or something that can be inexpensively duplicated offer the product for free for a link/recommendation.

-Create a contest from user submissions (photos, jokes, cartoons, stories, tips, etc). Offer prizes. Have visitors vote for the winner. Offer people who enter a promotional banner (or standard text link) to put on their website to encourage their users to vote for their entry. That way you get some links and new visitors.

-Cash always works. Downside is you are paying monthly for years.

Best of Luck!

[Robert Charlton]

-Offer a gift certificate to your site to anyone who links to you (within your linking guidelines of course). If you offer a $100 gift certificate and your cost of goods is 30% it is only costing you $30.

This is where I thought this discussion would be going, and it is specifically the technique I was cautioned against by Matt Cutts. "Crossing a line" was Matt's language.

I don't want to defend Google's position or to debate it... I'm just reporting what was said.

[Justilien]

Thanks for bringing that to our attention Robert.

I have to agree with you I do not want to debate, defend or even analysis Google’s position.