Prompting sites to reciprocate links

the all-important follow-up letter

[stavs]

I have recently wrote to 20 related - but non-competing - websites requesting a reciprocal link arrangement. I had taken the liberty of linking to them first as a good will gesture, and had took the trouble to explore their sites and comment upon their content in my emails. The letters were individually tailored to each recipient.

How do I deal with those sites that do not reply - i.e. those sites that have gained a free incoming link and can't be bothered to reciprocate. They might not know the value of a good incoming link but I sure do!

I want to write to them and prompt them to reciprocate but of course in a way which doesn't suggest an ultimatum i.e. I don't want to say, 'if you don't link to us, we shall remove our link to you!'.

BUT, I do want the letter to be effective. I really don't know how to approach this and I'm amazed at the general reluctance to play ball. Our site has a PR of 5 which should be regarded as a good link.

Any ideas, friends?

[Liane]

Several people have noted that notifying a webmaster that you have placed a link on their site and would appreciate a link back is either inappropriate, manipulative, annoying and perhaps even dishonest.

I understand how some may take it that way, however, I have done this successfully with several dozen sites which are of direct benefit to my clientele and vice versa.

Before we as a community get all upset about another's approach ... let's examine the purpose behind a link request.

1) To increase web presence and traffic through means other than "just" search engine listings.
2) To create your own marketing venue which is not subject to algo changes, penalties or radical business model changes.

Note: I currently get about 28% of my traffic through links which are not search engine based. I'd like that to be higher. I have not paid for any links whatsoever.

3) To increase link popularity which may in turn help in the SERPS.
4) To be listed at any and all sites your target audience may visit.
5) To increase sales.

On my business site, I only link to those sites which are:

1) Directly (and slightly indirectly) associated with the theme/topic of my site.
2) Offer unique content which will be of interest and benefit to my clients.
3) Well designed and easily navigable.
4) Have not been PR0'd.
5) Are not link farms.

I do not offer or place links on my site to all those I request links from. Those sites I add links to (prior to even requesting a link) will usually stay there because I feel they offer my clients information they will be interested in and which compliment my theme. I never request links from sites which are not likely to attract my target audience.

In my letter, in which I state, "I particularly liked (whatever) about your site", ... is a true statement and is not intended to be gratuitous flattery so they will link to me. It shows them that I have taken the time to read through their site and have found the golden nuggets of info which I (as a business person) am interested in and which I feel will benefit my clients.

I am very picky about whom I link to and also from whom I request a link. I think of linking as a type of business partnership. I go after links where my competition are listed ... sure! But I also go after unique, content (of high quality) from which my clients will benefit and which is "on theme" with my site.

IMHO, those who chase down links which are unrelated to their theme/topic and simply for the purpose of building link pop are wasting their time and energy. If the site you are requesting a link from offers nothing to compliment your theme ... what is the point? Nobody benefits from unrelated links!

Those visiting a site dealing with Catholicism are not likely to be interested in a site selling fuzzy blue widgets ... even if it does have a PR9. They may however be interested in other sites dealing with Buddhism, Judaism, Atheism, religious relics, pictures of the Pope, books about various religious leaders, religious poetry, religious battles, religious martyrs ... and a hundred other topics all centering around religion.

If the link request is a valid one ... give the guy the link! Then ask for one back if the content really offers something special for your client. ;) (You'll be glad you did next time your site gets buried in the SERPS!)

--

[Catnip]

Here is my dumb question of the day........ Does everyone send the email to the webmaster of the website. Or just any contact email address listed on the website, if a link contact or form can't be found.

Thanks,
CatNip

[katiej]

I'd just hunt around on help / contact - if no luck, why not send to [e-mail] and cc in [e-mail]. Put in your subject FAO marketing or webmaster and see if that does the trick. If you're polite enough to say

"Please would you be kind enough to forward this to the person concerned, this way I need not trouble you again!"

should get somewhere!

[markymark]

It's interesting that most of the posters here either post a link first or ask to exchange links. I do that on occasion - usually with sites/companies I already have some kind of relationship with. Generally speaking though, I simply ask for a link - not quite in the manner that Visit Thailand was suggesting, though.

I've found that I get a greater % of responses that way - usually saying 'sure, you can have a link if you'll give us one' but not always.