15 replies to this topic

[ldcdc]

Hi.

I'm thinking about launching a "link-begging campaign" . I was thinking about approaching web design companies that have a resources pages and ask them to place a link to my site if they feel it would bring value to their visitors.

Is this OK? Is this spam? Is there a best way to do it? (Best way to ask for links, not best way to spam. )

How would you feel if someone asked you to place a link to a website? Would you consider it spam? How should the email be formulated to make a good impression?

I'm asking all these because I don't want to do something inappropriate or dangerous.

Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks!

[qwerty]

The first thing you need to be aware of is that no matter how you do this, some of the people who receive your request are going to think of it as spam. Some of them are going to write back expressing this in no uncertain (or polite) terms.

That being said, if you still want to do it, make sure you research the sites you're going to write to and that your request reflects what you know about them. Use names if you find them, and talk about why you think their audience would be interested in your site based on conclusions you've drawn on their audience. Basically, you've got two jobs: prove that your email isn't some automated message written by a link-building app, and sell your site to them and their audience.

[Scottie]

I absolutely think this is a good idea provided your site really is a resource that is useful to their users.

I request links frequently for a local portal site when I run across a site that has a page of "about Columbia" links. They don't always add a link, but I've never gotten a rude response or an "only if you add a link back to my site" response.

[Jill]

I think you need to figure out what else you can offer these other sites to make it worth their while. For instance, if you are also a hosting company (which I think you are?) perhaps you could offer these designers free hosting or a certain period of time. Or that you'll beat whatever their current hosting prices are, etc.

Jill

[Scottie]

Good point! If you are a hosting site- why would they want to link to you? What do they get out of it? Why is your service so much better or more useful than any other of the bazillions of hosting services?

Just because you sell hosting and they need hosting (or their clients do) doesn't give them a compelling reason to link to your site. You need some sort of business relationship, IMO.

[Jill]

Well, I think he was talking about having them link to his "hosting reviews" so in that respect, there's some value, but still, there's gotta be more in it for the designer.

(This of course I learned from Debra, for the record!)

Jill

[ldcdc]

Hi.

Thanks so much for the input. You all make some valid points. I'll try to give you a bit more info.

The thing is that I don't own a a hosting company. I only search for good hosting companies. I also try to explain to the unexperienced web hosting shoppers which is the right way to find good hosting companies.

I try to focus on writing articles that provide useful information. Unlike the vast majority of the web hosting directories and other related sites I do not link only to affiliates and/or advertisers. Truthful information is *all* that I can give.

Now, what I was thinking was that a web hosting guide would be useful for the visitors and the clients of a web design company.

I know that some designers also host their client's websites so I wouldn't expect them to be very cooperative. However, some designers don't and they don't even plan to provide hosting services to their clients, so they would have (in theory) no problem linking to a site like mine.

It could in fact be a good thing for them, as some of their clients might ask for hosting advice. Some web designers will recommend the company where they host their own site, but if the client wants more info on the subject or a list of companies, they could send them to my site.

I think that my approach to explaining hosting and recommending hosting companies is unique in many ways. I do my best to provide unbiased information and I aim for total honesty. As a marketer might say, that's my niche .

Jill, you said that:

there's gotta be more in it for the designer.

I do not focus entirely on "hosting reviews". My aim is to create an entirely credible, almost insanely unbiased hosting shopping guide.

All I offer is knowledge; information; content. No services here! So no kind of barter is possible.

Now... if I get it right, natural linking (based on valuable content) doesn't work in the web design industry?!

'Cause if it doesn't work in the web design industry, it sure doesn't in the SEO industry. 99% of the SEO companies would ask for a link back, which I'd give gladly if I'd run an SEO directory - which I don't.

Is Debra saying (based on her extensive experience in the web design industry) that there's got to be more than just valuable content in order to deserve a link? Should I focus on another category of websites?

Thanks.

Off topic: Nice to *see* you Scottie. Thanks for all the help you gave me so far.

[amabaie]

This is a most timely post for me.

I have indeed two new clients in widely different fields that need to amass a lot of good quality links. In one case, he needs to replace a whole set of really spammy links (travel sector, need I say more?)

In both cases, my mind turned to possible business relationships to make it worth their while. In one case, I am considering something similar to Jill's suggestion about offering a free/discount service (I don't know if the site owner will go for that, though). In the other case, I am looking at ways to send traffic to partner sites other than linking.

I would love to hear any other ideas or experiences people have had doing this sort of thing.

(Thanks Jill and Scottie for the insight.)

[Jill]

Dan, valuable content is great, and many will link to it just cuz it's valuable.

How about finding all those people who've used your site and found the host of their dreams out of it?

They would be the ones to start with because they already know how great it is. You could even offer a testimonial from them on your site somewhere also, as even more incentive.

Jill

[ldcdc]

Thanks Jill for the encouragement and for the idea to offer an incentive of some sort. You gave me an idea I never thought about: to create a testimonials page for my own site. It's a great idea! Thanks!

I'll second what amabaie said:

I would love to hear any other ideas or experiences people have had doing this sort of thing.

I have one more thing to say: I was so lucky to join this forum! I got to know such wonderful people (that's you gals and boyz ), I learned a lot of things and I keep on learning new stuff everyday. It's just great to be here!

[jerry]

Is there a problem with offering to pay for links? For example, link to this site and I will send you a widget.

I thought I remember someone saying that Google penalized them for offering to buy links, but I'm not sure about this.

Of course, if it was done in an email, Google wouldn't know about it, but if it was posted on the website, Google would know.

I have some subscription websites. I could say, link to this site and the length of your subscription will be doubled.

Does anyone have any experience or oppinions about this?

Jerry

[ldcdc]

The SEs might not like us creating link popularity in such an artificial way, but I really don't think they will be able to stop people from selling links.

I was thinking about buying ads. But why should I buy ads (banner impressions) that bring me traffic only? Why not buy an ad with a direct link to my website and get some PR too?

Can the SEs determine the difference between an ad/unnatural link and a natural link? That is the question!

Now, what if I would link to your website from a page with a PR of 2? Would you double my subscription?

How are you going to ensure that you get quality links? Will you mention PageRank?

[Jill]

The engines can't tell the difference between a paid link and a non-paid one. Sometimes paid ones have tracking links, however, which may not quite pass on the link pop. you may be looking for.

We've had some discussions here in the past as to whether Google would want to discount paid links if they could. Personally, if it were my engine, I'd place a different weight on paid links than ones that were truly a vote for a site; however, Google may not think the same way. And even if they do, there's really no way for them to do this across the board.

And Dan, we're glad to have you here too!

Jill

[Scottie]

Hi Dan-

On getting links for your site (now that I remember it! :tooth:) I'd definitely be looking for other webmaster resources to link to you. Some designers might link to you, but I imagine most have a regular company they use for hosting and aren't really encouraging the do-it-yourself approach to finding a good host.

Also look for small business forums and resource sites as well as design and coding tutorial sites. They would definitely be interested in providing useful, unbiased info to their users.

On paying for a link- if it's worth it to you, do it! It's a business relationship just like any other in the world. If the local drycleaner says he'll hand out my business cards to his customers for $x a month and his clients have the same prolfile as my clients, I'd pay him!

[ldcdc]

Thanks for the tip Scottie. I thought about web designers as there are more web designers and they're easier to spot. (There are lots of web designers directories.)

You know this industry a lot better than I do, so I think you're right. I'll forget about the web designers for the moment.

Still, what would make a link-begging kind of request stand out? I don't expect to get only positive responses. I even expect some rudeness from time to time.

The problem: maximize the chances of getting a non-reciprocal link.

Important factors:

1. Targeting the right kind of websites. The websites must attract visitors that are interested in what my website offers.

2. It must be obvious that I'm not a spammer. (Obvious to as many poeple as possible. Everyone has a rather different definition of what spam is.)

3. Taking a close look at the other website and actually proving that I visited the website.

Is there a 4?