request strategy when traffic is unbalanced

[scorpion]

How would you proceed to request link exchanges with strategic partners for a new site that has incredible potential but can only send a small amount of traffic (until it grows) to its partners?

So the question is: DO you ask for the recip from the start and pump up the potential (will any serious website go for this?) or do you do paid advertising, SEO, etc.. to build up to a level where others might be comfortable to exchange links?

Then again, the traffic might be unbalanced still. So how to convince other webmasters you have VERY high quality traffic and it will grow (and you are 100% sure of this)

[Jenstar]

can only send a small amount of traffic

Most webmasters don't do link exchanges for the traffic, but for the backlinks & PR boost in Google. Most consider any additional traffic a bonus ;)

I wouldn't worry about hyping your site's potential at all from the traffic or click-through point of view.

[mil2k]

For new sites it helps if you have friends and aquaintances with sites. Get links from them. Then go after others. Your text should convey that you would pursue links very aggressively and this helps because the partner will then think that your site will gain PR over time and will help him in future. Of course lot depends on your site design , content and Category. HTH :)

[firstmark]

If all you can offer is traffic exchange as far as link trades and you have little traffic you offer nothing.
If your content is good it is often best to give links to quality sites, tell them and ask them to kindly consider the same. A small site has to give something first before a bigger site will even think about them I find.

[Perplexed]

I would never turn away a site just because it was new. That is never anything more than a transatiory position and PR grows.

The problem I have is with sites, new or otherwise, who ask for recip links when their content has little or nothing to do with my site. It smacks of random application, a type of spam, and shows little thought being put into the process

It was a good point about putting up their link first though. I would respond well to that if the site was appropriate.

[Imaster]

A small site has to give something first before a bigger site will even think about them I find.

Not necessarily true as most of the time it is the content and the email format thats the decider.

If the small site has good content and if the mail sent for link request is polite and eloquent, then there is a huge chance of earning links from biggers sites as well. I have earned links while promoting smaller sites and I have given links to smaller/new sites from relatively pretty bigger sites.

One can't rely on PR factor all the time. It may increase for a small site and at the same time, the bigger site could lose some.