How To Ask For A Link (Email)

[tshirtdeal]

Hi, I was wondering how to go about asking a ite to link to me. It seems that emailing sites can be considered spam so i am wondering if it can be done without getting in any trouble.

I am not talking about mass mailing, but sending 10 or 20 emails with my "pitch" as to why they should place my link...

These are just short personal emails like:

" Hi **** I found your "URL" interesting and thought perhaps I could convince you to place my link on it.

I have a small resource site about blah blah blah loaded with great content

Here are my ideas blah blah blah

Please let me know if these ideas interest you and thanks for your time...

Does anyone see anything wrong with this? Is this spam and can it get me in trouble in anyway?

Thanks for the help!

[uhwebs]

I think relevence is most important. When someone emails to ask me for a link-- no matter how nice or well-written their request is-- I will junk it or tell them to stop spamming me when it's obvious they never saw my site, (for example, I have a site about Apples, and their site is about gambling), and I clearly state on my link exchange page for related links only.

[wheel]

here's an example of what not to do, from a request I just received:

Dear webmaster,

I am interested in gaining a few text links from your website. I work for a website that provides {widgets},{red widgets} experts and etc and given the similarity with the content of your site *
www.mydomain.com* I feel it would be a perfect match.

I will provide all required information, as well as the link text and the URL. It would be great to hear back from you about this.

I look forward to your reply.

If that wasn't automated, it was a complete waste of their time for them to send this. Particularly since it's clear that I link out only rarely, and they've provided 0 reason for me to do so.

[Jane_Doe]

I should add to my previous post that I only submit on topic articles to sites that ask for submissions or actively publish articles from similar sites.

I've been getting a lot of off topic article submissions lately to sites of mine that do not publish guest articles nor solicit submissions.

[jeyKay]

Once I had linked to her site I simply emailed her with the following subject line "You Are Famous!"

I'm very surprised that didn't end up in her spam/junk folder. But good job if it got you a link.

I pretty much see it as Wheel does. I will usually spend a considerable amount of time on a site searching and knowing who runs/owns it, and get a name before I even think of contacting them. And when I do, it's approached in a matter where I offer something to them that they will want to link to my site. I try to put myself in their shoes and ask myself - "would I link to them?" ..."Is that something my visitors will find smart to refer/link to?"...etc. If all else fails I ask them to take a look at my site and if they have anything they like on it, to let me know and share their thoughts.

I've got a potential one way link in the works from About.com thanks to this approach ;)

[adipkn]

Following method works for me:

Find out a site that is complementary to my site.
Put a link to the site first from my site.
Mention it on the email title - 'you have a link from example.com'

Do not mention where or how the webmaster should link back to you. Just ask for a link directly - 'you have a link here <link location> ' , can i have a return link please?'

[nealrodriguez]

~ link me, and i'll link you back ~

[nealrodriguez]

seriously:

"Hi such and such,

Your article on - such and such - says a lot about the blatant - such and such - that permeates - such and such - culture.

My story - mother endures such and such - gives you the inside track into the life of one - such and such - who had to endure this type of - such and such - for 20 years."

I think it may be of interest to your audience.

Best regards,
such and such's father"