Link Building Software

pros n cons

[Pumkin_Dan]

Having just leapt into the world of link development much of this is new to me. I have spent some time reading some good articles in this forum. Thanks.

My boss has directed me to a piece of software. I am sure it is far from perfect and that many of you professional link builders will turn your noses up at it but I was wondering how beneficial it might be to an amateur like myself.

I am about to embark on my first attempt at a link building campaign. So my question is, Is it worth while me using this software or something like it or should I do it all 'by hand' so to speak?

It does feel very faceless. Is there a way to use it in combination with a more hands on approach?

[edited by: martinibuster at 8:16 am (utc) on Mar 25, 2010]
[edit reason] Removed specifics. [/edit]

[tangor]

When link building there is one thing to keep in mind: will my efforts get me banned? And can I blame it on some piece of software when my boss fires me?

There's an art to link building, and a fine line between beneficial and sure to get you shut down. Do a little more reading and internalize that info. Then make that decision. I can say from experience that most of these softwares promise more than they can deliver.

[Pumkin_Dan]

Thanks for the swift reply.

I don't expect the software to live up to most of its/their promises. However, I was hoping that I would be able to customise to a certain extent to save me some time.

I do hope I don't get banned, getting fired might be OK though!

[gn_wendy]

Software you need for linkbuilding 101:

Browser.


Tools you need:

Searchengine
EMail
Spreadsheet


I have tried a couple of tools and found that they don't really add any value. I've ended up using one more recently, just to keep track of where I have links, what my linkgraph looks like and if links I got a while back are still live and followed.

[webcreationuk]

Better go with manual link building, I do not trust this kind of software...

[londrum]

the thing you've got to avoid at all costs when asking for links is an email that looks automated. that is the worst thing. automated emails that swap out the name of the site and URL, whilst keeping all the other text the same are easy to spot, and people just bin them.
you've got to add a few things in there that proves you're acquainted with and interested in their site. you've got to explain to them where the benefit is in linking to you.

link building software is still useful though -- in getting together a big list of sites to look at, and gathering the contact details from them. but i wouldn't use it to send out the actual emails.

[dertyfern]

Those needing software to research link building opportunities are not familiar enough with their space to convince others of giving them a link.

Quality link building is a bit of a no-brainer:

1. make a list of the biggest, badest, most influencial and authoritative sites in your niche
[a] when you're done with your niche, subset further...

2. find a page on their site where your own would make for a good resource
3. create outstanding content specifically for that link (oh yes, there's risk that you won't get it)
4. get high-level contact info
5. write an email that conveys the value of your site and the reasons why your target would be nuts not to link to you

Problem is that most don't want to go through the hassle of crafting a sensible approach to link building. It's far easier to automate the "research" targets and then shoot out emails that have no thought behind them.

I frankly think most links out there totally suck, passing no or little value at all, and the only ones that have a chance of making an impact are those that most others are too lazy to get--or try to get with automated solutions. Let me offer a big "thank you" to all my competitors--past, current, and future!

In the end, the quality of effort (not just time but thought, of which quality is improved by education--read a little) one puts into link building determines the quality of links one acquires.

[FranticFish]

I use different software tools to crunch through data and am writing my own too, to try to bring it all together and automate the bits that can be automated - tracking, organisation, recording etc.

All of that helps to save time and to help you put together a shortlist, record what you do etc. But I agree 100% with those that say that the final decision to approach a site and the approach itself (plus the method of approach) should be left to humans to decide and implement.

[Pumkin_Dan]

Thank you all for your replies.

Although it is a new world for me, I have decided to go for a hands on approach and hope that I don't get too lost. I always hate getting automated Emails so that was never the plan. I shall boldly step into the link building world.

Thanks again for all your input.

[boomerang]

Your decision is perfect :))

[Pumkin_Dan]

Just as an update.

My site has now achieved page 1 return on our main search term.

I didn't use any software but chose to use the old hands-on approach. I did not get a great response from the (personalised) e-mails I sent out but the replies I did get and resulting links have proved very helpful.

I think there are some other factors involved in our ranking rise to page one like linking to YouTube videos etc but over all I am happy with the results of my efforts.

Thanks again for all the help and guidance.

[brotherhood of LAN]

It sounds like it may have taken a wee bit time, but the benefits are evident now.

Congrats.

[BradleyT]

I think there are some other factors involved in our ranking rise to page one like linking to YouTube videos etc.

Why would you think linking to a YouTube video would help your rankings?

Your new-found inbound links helped your rankings.