I've recently just started sending out link exchange emails, and was looking for tips to make it successful as possible. (i.e. - best way to find sites that I should send link requests to, content of the link exchange request email, etc). Any other link exchange tips and tricks?
run a search on google for "Your Topic" + "Add Link" or "add url" i.e. http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q="baseball+equipment"+++"add+url"
And, if you need to e-mail people to do the link exchange, it's generally better to have their link on place and ask them to reciprocate.
Really? I don't think I want to bother doing that... I have more traffic and way better PR than most people I'm doing an exchange with - I'm getting about a 20% positive reponse rate so far... that's pretty decent, isn't it?
Not to discourage link exchanges, but I've always thought they are just way too much work. First finding them, then keeping an eye on everyone you are trading links with to make sure they are staying honest. I would definitely look into getting some software (or developing your own) to at least monitor the sites you are trading with. I couldn't imagine doing it manually for 50 sites much less for the 10,000 or so I would want.
I've never actually done any exchanges really *(only with a few people I know I can trust) but I'm sure Shawn does have a valid point. Creating excellent content is always the best way to grab a lot of free links.
Yeah... I really am only doing it for the 1 site for now - my photography forum, and honestly, with the help of the co-op network, I don't need a huge boost anymore. The link exchange is not only helping with backlinks, but is also creating new, active members on my forum. About 1 in 4 successful link exchanges with photographers becomes an active (and very helpful/useful) member of my site, which is great for the amateurs on there. As I start running more and more sites (maybe... I'm not quiting my day job!), I may have to come up with a better way... but in the meantime, and for the site of my site, it serves it's purpose. Shawn, just out of curiosity, if you don't really do any link exchanging, what do you do in it's place?
I'm lazy... I go about it programatically (coop network for example). I don't really do any link exchanges... I was lucky enough to have PR7 before I knew what PR or SEO was. I figure if I build great stuff (Optigold, tools, etc.), I'll get lots of links. Building cool stuff is easier/more fun for me than manual link exchanges.
The real issues emerge when you need to be able to secure linkage for new sites you're deploying. Now as I've said countless times, the coop is paying off in a fantastic way - which is impressive - but it's effectiveness relates directly to the size (indexed) of the sites you have on board. Which means that if you want circulation for a new site, you give up exposure for your others (by exposure - I should be saying weight).. unless of course you're willing to wait quite a while for your site to be fully indexed (I tend to work with large sites). That's where recip linking comes in. If you have a broad base of WMs you can approach *properly* ie with full profiles in place for them, then you have the makings of a decent campaign.. hence my other thread regarding the db proposal. Management is always an issue, so software is essential, but automated checking is not a problem, and link additions to the site in question are mostly by invitation so management is further assisted (rather than the wild cards you have to go check yourself). All told, it's the type of thing that needs forethought if you're going to secure and manage volume linkage without dependancies on third parties (like LM or similar). If you plan well now, you'll save countless hours in the future. Cheers, JL
I know its so easy for people to program great tools and write incredible things its really a mystery why people swap links
- Personalise each link request, not just using their name. - Make sure your reciprocal link is spiderable/indexed/less than 2 links from homepage - are relevant - reciprocal partners is actively participating in link exchanges - you place the link first - complement their site Using these rules of thumbs you can expect a reciprocal link response of about 18-20%.