4 replies to this topic

[dawndelcastillo]

hello everyone, I am working on a linking strategy for several of my clients and I am wanting some ideas on effective link request letters. I understand that it is important to keep it simple and personal with compliments on the link site. Has anyone had success with a particular format over another? any help would be appreciated, I am certainly not a fancy writer..

thanks
Dawn

[Leann_Pass]

Dawn, If there is any advice I can give it is to Pay Attention to the site you would like a link from.

Take the time to actually visit the sites you wish to link with.

Note whether or not they have a directory or some sort of resource area already set up.

If they do, see if they have any specific guidelines for requesting inclusion and follow them to a tee.

If they don't, write a personal letter......not a form letter....to the webmaster letting them know why you added their link (it is a good resource, etc..) and let them know why your link might make a good addition to their site. Let them know the exact title and description you would like for them to use and where exactly you feel your link would fit SHOULD THEY choose to link back to you.

Do Not announce your PR.
Do Not explain to them the value of linking.
Do Not be rude or insistant.
Do not write them back in a few days threatening to remove their link.

Hope that helps,
Leann

[Michael Martinez]

At Xenite, we have a policy of ignoring all requests for links. We have had to become quite rude on our contact form because people still occasionally disregard our admonishment not to ask for links.

So, bear in mind that link requests are more and more becoming treated like spam. While many people may still read and respond to them, ain't everyone going to.

What you could try (and I am NOT saying this would work with me, because it WON'T solely because I am suggesting it in an open forum) is to put a nice descriptive link about a site on your client site and send a, "Just so you know..." email.

==========================================
Subject: Just so you know, they are linking to your site

Body --

Hi,

Just thought you would like to know that XXX is linking to your (domain/page) on their YYY page.
==========================================


Now, it should take about 1 week for that to hit the spam filters. But notice that it doesn't waste anyone's time with nonsense about PageRank, link popularity, and search engine rankings. All it does is inform a Web site operator that another site is linking to them, and where they can find the inbound link.

If it were me, I would deep-link to an interesting page, not the root URL.

If it were me, I would either put each link on its own page, or make it part of a set of mini-reviews.

In fact, when it IS me, I don't even bother to tell people that I am linking to them. Somehow, they find out anyway and usually link back.

[Debra]

dawndel....

I echo what Leann said and would add that depending on the site and how much having a link from it would be benefical, the eaiest, fastest and most personal way to garner a link is pick up the phone and call.

Also, link requests have a greater chance of being successful if accompanied by an incentive. Instead of suggesting you swap links, offer a product discount/free coupon/free shipping/ etc from your client in exchange for the link. Write the email as you would any business letter and send it. I think it's important to be professional, courteous and impactful in your initial correspondence.

If you act or sound casual in your initial email, you'll be taken that way.

[dawndelcastillo]

Hello everyone, thank you so much for the great advice. I am really trying to ensure that I do things properly as far as link development and I have no mentor close by. I will see how my first requests go and will post back here in the future. thank you again