Tips
on Building Link Popularity Last issue
we talked about how you can raise your search engine rankings
through search engine submission and targeted keywords. This
edition, we take a look at link popularity. What
is link popularity anyway? Link popularity
refers to the number of web sites and directories that link
to your web site. It is an important ranking criterion for
most search engines, most notably Google, and is a critical
part of any site marketing strategy. Bonus Links to
your site from related sites not only increase your search
engine ranking but also boost traffic to your site. And isn't
this really the aim of any web-based marketing strategy? Get
Popular -Tips and Tricks Create
Content Give people
a good reason to link to you by providing information that
is truly beneficial to them. Add a content-rich
section to your site. Become an authority in your area of expertise.
Include an archive of your e-newsletters, useful tips and strategies,
complementary services, and a links page. Write industry-related
content for other sites. Visitors will see you (and your site
or business) as experts in the field thereby increasing your
credibility and exposure.
Exchange
Links
Trading links with complementary web sites is one of the most effective
ways to raise your link popularity. To exchange links, simply e-mail
the webmaster of a given web site and ask them to place a link to your
site on their web site. Do the same for them. Link exchanges are also
a great way to build relationships and attract more visitors to your
site. Personally
e-mail the webmasters of sites that are complementary, but
not competitive with your own. Explain to them how their site
will be enhanced by linking to you and identify the exact page
you would like your link placed. Place your
link exchange partners' link on your site before you suggest
an exchange. B2B? Exchange
links with suppliers and resellers. Hang out
with the cool kids. Approach top-ranked sites for exchanges.
Exchanges with popular sites are more valuable than lower ranked
sites. Sign
Up & Submit
Linking from web sites is only part of the puzzle. Don't forget the
rest of the Internet. Get your name onto listservs, bulletin boards,
chat rooms and usergroups. Contribute
to related usergroups and online discussion forums and increase
your credibility and exposure. Make sure your e-mail signature
includes a link to your web site. Register
your site in industry-specific directories such as health,
financial, travel, golf and other sub-directories that relate
to your products and services. Submit to
all national, regional and state web site "yellow page" directories
individually. Sign up
for e-zines and e-mail newsletters relating to your industry.
This adds to your link popularity and provides you with useful
industry-related information.
What
Not to Do
"There's no such thing as a free lunch." And, "If it looks too
good to be true, it probably is." These hackneyed clichés hold true
when it comes to easy routes to increasing link popularity. Most of the widely
available shortcuts will either not work or get you kicked off search engines. Avoid link
farms. Link farms link to other sites for the sole purpose
of increasing their link popularity by linking to totally unrelated
sites. For example, if you sign up for a service that will
generate 100 inbound links in exchange for 100 outbound links
on your site, you are growing a link farm. This practice is
also called link stuffing. Search engines disregard these sites
and may even boot you out for participating. Do not link
to non-related sites. All links are not created equally. Link
to sites that offer genuinely useful and related content of
value to your customers. These links will generate traffic
and increase your link popularity. Avoid link
generators that send out automated e-mails to webmasters asking
them to trade links. Personal e-mails to webmasters are much
more effective. Back |