Incoming links to any site are incredibly important.
Incoming links show your site is respected and has some credibility.
Of course as well as looking great to search engines (Google loves incoming links) you are bound to get some traffic from those sites who are linking to you.
It’s all about traffic and rankings baby!
Here is a list of ways to get linked, increase your traffic and become very good friends with the search engines.
Watch your incoming links at Alexa and RankChecker the more incoming links the better.
Feel free to link to this article add your thoughts to the comments
1. Content is key
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ll keep on saying it because it’s true!
If you write good content, other sites owners are going to link to it.
Write original, quality material.
“If you write it, they will come”
2. Comment
Comment on other people’s sites. Read relevant posts, write relevant, polite, comments. Don’t be an idiot when you comment, that’s a good way to get banned from sites. Give some feedback. Socialize.
3. Give away free stuff
People love free, if you’re knowledgeable enough in your arena to write an ebook, white paper or something. If it’s good people will link to it (see #1) also, put a link list in there. ebooks tdo count towards links in a funny, roundabout way.
4. Participate in forums
Again, keep it relevant. Be nice ‘n all. Add a link too your forum profile and signature. This is a link back from a site (the forum) to yours – genius!
5. Burn it! (RSS)
Use a service like Feedburner to get your content out there all over the web. Using RSS is a great way to bump up your exposure, it brings your content to individuals and sites.
Services like Feedburner get your content into some of the blog directories and services.
6. Guest Write
Build a reputation, get your name out there, write posts for other sites in your field. You’ll often be working for free but it’s a great way to increase exposure. Most sites won’t mind a line at the bottom of your post stating “Andy writes for the TechBurgh Blog” and link it out.
7. Thank people
Something like a testimonial goes a long way. If you use someone’s products or services ask them if they want a testimonial or just write one on your site for them. If they’re worth a testimonial they’ll post it on their site and link back to you. I’ve found this to work for sites that have a “media” page listing wherever they’re mentioned in the media. Other people want to see what current customers have to say.
8. Make it easy to link back
Don’t use lengthily, complicated address systems on your site. Make it easy for others to link to your site or posts. Put a “link to this” link at the bottom of your posts.
9. Practice the art of reciprocation
I’ve talked about it on here before. It’s human nature (for most people) to feel the need to give something back. Email relevant sites asking them if they’re like to exchange links. Even better, put a link to their site and drop them a note saying “Hey, I like your site so much I linked to it, care to do the same?”
10. Pick your linkers carefully
The more authoritative the site that is linking to you the more pull they have. Of course it looks better to be linked to by Yahoo etc.
Don’t pick those sites that have nothing but links all over the pages. That doesn’t do anyone any good, you just get lost in all the links.
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