| Many people are under the impression that | | | | certain point, the search engines will see |
| exchanging links and building link popularity | | | | that the links you're getting are irrelevant |
| is an outdated way of increasing traffic. You | | | | to your site. |
| should never rule out the power of link | | | | |
| popularity. It is a great way to drive | | | | Step 2: Initiate the link first |
| traffic to your site. | | | | |
| | | | When asking another website owner to exchange |
| Think about it… the more quality | | | | links with your site it is very important |
| links you have pointing to your site, the | | | | that you already have the link on your links |
| more popular your site becomes. It is just | | | | page. You wouldn't want to contact them and |
| like when you were in high | | | | ask to exchange links and not even have their |
| school… the popular kid had the | | | | site listed. |
| nice car, everyone wanted to be his friend, | | | | |
| and he had a pretty girlfriend. | | | | So, Take the first step. Contact them and |
| | | | direct them to your website links page. You |
| Think of your website in terms of the nice | | | | will be instilling confidence in them and you |
| car. It is a vehicle that illustrates the | | | | will make them feel good about their own |
| products and services you offer. The guys and | | | | company. I know when I see a good link it |
| girls that wanted to be his friend are the | | | | makes me stick my chest out and I am proud |
| links you are going to have pointing to your | | | | that someone else would want to link to me. |
| site. As for the pretty | | | | |
| girlfriend… she will be yours | | | | When you see sites with relevant content, try |
| once you establish quality linking partners | | | | finding out more information about the site |
| and become the envy of your competition. | | | | using search engines like Google, Yahoo!, or |
| | | | MSN. You will most likely see other link |
| That should give you some motivation. | | | | partners with a description, a title, and a |
| ïÂS | | | | link already in place. Use this information |
| | | | to create your link exchange. |
| Trading links remains one of the best ways of | | | | |
| driving targeted traffic to your website. | | | | Step 3: Contact the Website Owner |
| Link exchange will improve your credibility | | | | |
| and help you maximize your search engine | | | | You will have success in your link exchange |
| ranking. | | | | when you make contact with the website owner |
| | | | keep your e-mail short and to the point. Try |
| The question then becomes, "How do you | | | | and use the word you as often as you can. |
| actually begin exchanging links?" | | | | |
| | | | Explain to them that you are interested in |
| I have outlined the process for you below in | | | | exchanging links and make sure you place a |
| four simple steps. Follow these steps in the | | | | link to their own website on your page in the |
| order they are given and your link exchange | | | | email. It sounds like a lot of work for one |
| will be a tremendous success toward driving | | | | link, but the more effort you put into |
| targeted traffic to your website. | | | | exchanging now the less chance you have of |
| | | | someone telling you no. |
| Step #1: Seek Like-Minded Link Partners | | | | |
| | | | When I got started I contacted people |
| I can't tell you how many times I've seen | | | | directly. It may sound a bit extreme, but |
| people try and exchange links with other | | | | more and more people are using link exchanges |
| companies that are not even remotely similar. | | | | and you want a separate yourself from the |
| You need to find websites that are compatible | | | | others. |
| with your own site. Avoid your competition | | | | |
| and attempt to reach sites that have visitors | | | | Step 4: Follow-Up and Achieve Success |
| with similar interests. Think about where | | | | |
| your visitors are coming from… | | | | How many times do you have to remind yourself |
| where were they on the Internet before they | | | | to take out the trash? At least a couple of |
| visited your site? | | | | times if you're anything like me. So, it |
| | | | makes sense that you might have to remind |
| Think about the other products and services | | | | your link exchange partners to take action. |
| they need. If you sell golf clubs, perhaps | | | | Send them an e-mail in one week if you |
| you should link with a golf resort or local | | | | haven't heard from them. Be persistent but |
| golf course. Try and put yourself in your | | | | don't be annoying. |
| customer's position and think about all of | | | | |
| the things that are related to the products | | | | Never issue your future link exchange partner |
| and services you are offering. | | | | a warning saying that you're going to remove |
| | | | their link. This ultimatum is bad for you and |
| Ask to exchange links with Like-Minded | | | | bad for your website. |
| partners. Don't worry about setting the world | | | | |
| on fire in a few days. Start small and | | | | Here is a sample of a link to my website. |
| gradually build your link exchange. | | | | Create your own link and |
| | | | remember… it doesn't hurt to |
| Too many sites can be a bad thing. At a | | | | think outside the box. |