linking site that is e-commerce

are their different challenges?

[australiangirl]

HI All,

I am thinking there are different challenges for linking to e-commerce sites-One of my problems is that the most relevant sites i.e in keyword search are actually in direct competition with us and therefore they decline.
All comments welcome,
Thanks!

[tigger]

A link is still a link even if off topic, one of my client’s sites has no links within his industry but is number 1 on google for his main keyword

[watercrazed]

I have an e-biz site, and develop link categories that are not in direct competition but related, ie aromatherapy products - pain management sites, natural product beauty sites, etc.. Since I don't ship international non US aromatherapy sites. Seems to work fine.

[paynt]

Welcome to Webmasterworld watercrazed,

I agree with your strategy. I think it would help people interesting in link campaigning to consider not just their immediate industry but also their audience; especially as it relates to directory development. Think in terms of peripherals to your market. If you took it from a potential audience viewpoint, think about what they might also be interested in. Those partners aren’t threatened by your product and it’s easier to get them to make sense of not only the link but the title and description you want.

[Robert Charlton]

>>Think in terms of peripherals to your market...<<

While this definitely makes sense, and is the route I generally go, I find that in competitive and highly commercialized areas these are often the sites that tend to have affiliate links. Great minds think alike, and all that...

In these areas, I've found that searching backlinks of sites relevant to my keyword search is often more productive than searching the keywords themselves.

[australiangirl]

Thanks everyone,

I have found a wealth of new prospects searching links of others!
Keep the ideas coming!
Have a great week!