Hi there, I've been trying to build the backlinks for some friends and right now we've been focusing on emailing web owners in our niche and trying to sell them on the site, recommending where they might put a link to us, giving them the anchor text and html, etc. This allows us to focus on getting higher PR and more related backlinks. The problem is, it takes so long to get all the details for all of the sites and the update rate is so low that I'm not sure this is actually any better than getting tons of low PR backlinks from forums or blog comments. Has anyone tried both methods and found one more or less effective? Does one high PR, closely related, one-way backlink really equal 50+ unranked forum/blog comment backlinks?
Trying to obtain backlinks with your method is Extremely time consuming and you'll be lucky to get 1 link for every 100 emails you send out I suggest you use a backlinking service, but you must do your homework because using the wrong service could actually get your website Banned PM me if you'd like my recommendation .
One of our sites - http://www.chateaudeplehaut.co.uk/ - has got pr1 with 1 link from the local tourist office and only 2 small unrelated links. It's been at the top of Google for numerous keyword searches for a while now. Our own site has got 250 or so backlinks (some from the same sites) but is only pr 1. Don't know if that helps?
I think sending personal emails like you are doing is an important part in building a long-term linking strategy that will give you great SERPs for a long time. Yes, it's slow. Yes, your conversion rate is really low. But these kinds of links seem to withstand any algo update. Build lesser links in addition while you wait on the responses to your 500 emails (you'll get about 5-10 responses per 100, most telling you no). The combination of a few quality, relevant links from your emails plus the lesser links will boost your SERPs.
I've had success with best-web-directories- dot com. Thats a good place to start and do the slow submission. Also, keep on sending emails as that also helps.
Thanks, I'm definitely wary of using a service as you suggest vstar but might be something worth considering. I think the best advice here is to combine the two tactics of emails and lesser links as well, as mauik suggested. Thanks all
Another option to add to your backlinking campaign is making valuable comments on DoFollow blogs. I just updated my dofollow blog list and shared it at the site below in my signature. let me know if you have any questions.
Unfortunately link-building is a time consuming activity. That's just the way it is! Having said that there are loads of ways to build quality backlinks into your websites - the quality ones will require more time than others though. I've been an in-house SEO for the last 5 years - we tried outsourcing so many times but it's really difficult to find the right quality at the right prices.
Link building is very hard I would just target getting backlinks from your competitors, do some article submissions and directory submissions as well as this on a measured scale.
Do it yourself... that is the only way you can guarantee it is being done properly, and it will save you the most money. Here is my DIY link building guide: The Link Building Cookbook