Asking for links - how not to do it !
So you know you need links for your website yes - and there are many ways to gather links.
One way which is time consuming but probably reaps the highest rewards is to track down closely themed sites as your own, actually visit the site in question, find a real person and their contact details then write them a personal email.
You should have already placed their link on your site, let them know where it is and the page rank of your site and request a link in exchange because it benefits you both.
Contrast that to the link request I have just received:
Dear Sir/ Madam
I have been to your site at ”[my site was here] and I like it allot. I found it while searching for the key words “trading forum”
I too have a trading forum, but it is more related to trading using artificial intelligence and neural networks and trading.
[spammy site was here]
At the bottom of my forum I have added a set of associates, and I can see that you have done the same. As we are both forums, with the same relevant content however with no too much overlap so that we do not compete, I think we could both benefit greatly by adding each other as associates.
Let me know what you think,
Kind Regards,
Michael Page
Now, there are 2 things that wind me up big time about this email.
Firstly, I don’t own a trading forum - and if I search for trading forum on google my site isn’t there (which is not really a surprise because I don’t own a trading forum)
Second: the spelling. If people can’t spell, then sorry, I don’t deal (I’m refering to “I like your site allot” - last time I looked the word allot didn’t exist)
The thirdly (which is a third point but hey) the rest of the email goes on about associates at the bottom of my forum, but I dont have a list of anything at the bottom of my forum.
So I know the person has not visited my site at all and I just don’t want to deal with him.
Be personal with link exchange. Don’t lie and above all please visit the site in question and sell the reasons why people should swap links with your site.
