Do you solicate individual webmasters or do you sign up for free directories? Do you pay for inbound links or sign up for free link exchanges? What is your main choice for building inbound links?
With some of my sites, I have had pretty good success with Link Vault. It is Free and automatic. Here is my referral link, if you want to sign up. http://www.link-vault.com/?ss=7012 Also, free directories work well, articles, etc, I think a good mix is best.
I don't do paid listings. I usually go for free directory listing and mail webmaster for link exchange. ('',)
My main site is offline due rebuilding process but usually people ask me for reciprocal links so I do nothing except accept and run a script to verify links are in place to keep theirs.
I don't have hard evidence for this, but it is my opinion that free directories particularly those asking for, or demanding, a reciprocal link, are virtually useless as far as improving your position in the SERPs. Particularly Google's SERPs. I think that some of the paid directories are worthwhile. In addition to any help they may give with SERP placement I also get some actual click through from these directories. The cost of these is usually a one time $39.95. I recommend to all my SEO clients that they list in some of these directories.
For new sites I start with free directory submissions, using LV and Coop, submitting the site to the various social bookmarking services, doing some link exchanges with quality related sites and releasing a press release. I believe however that for a site to really take off people have to like it that much that they start linking to it for themselves, so I use link building mostly to get the word out in the beginning.
Interesting point of view and maybe the reason why I ended up with my site listed in unwanted sites which never asked for a link back but they have my site listed there. I had to take the site offline because that situation along with outdated links kept by Google caused a big mess. When I get the site back up online I will give a try to any of those pay service as you suggest, thanks
There's nothng link building your links. Link purchase or getting 10000 of links in one shot by signing up some service is not a ethical way of building links. Search engines can easily understand these things. Try to get liks from relevant websites.
I think the best method is to get one way links as they are the most influential on serps, so it is best to avoid free directories that require a link for the directory on your site. It is best to avoid swapping links with tpoo many sites unless they are highly relevant to your site and both of you stand to gain. If most of your links are two way then they will not influence the serps as much.
Here is the list I usually recommend to my clients: Joeant <http://www.joeant.com/> BlueFind <http://www.bluefind.com/> Microsoft bCentral <http://sbd.bcentral.com/> Wow! Directory <http://www.wowdirectory.com/> ExactSeek <http://www.exactseek.com/> Gimpsy <http://www.gimpsy.com/> Skaffe <http://www.skaffe.com/> GoGuides <http://www.goguides.org/> DMOZ <http://dmoz.org/> I haven't updated this in awhile. I'm not sure about BlueFind anymore.
As mentioned above, developing good content is a great way to get natural links, but we all know that Also viral products will help gain alot of quality traffic and backlinks. Reciprocal links can work great to initially raise the awareness of your site, as can article submissions. Brad
Generally I dont go for paid site submission. Free Directories are OK if Reciprocal is asked for. One-way link building will have more weighted. (Look for the site that falls in the same categories with good PR.) Beside link exchange, Good content of the site, and Regular Blog Upload would also help. Submission of Press Reliese is again a good idea.