Link Blog

Cheap doesn't always mean low quality. You can pick up quality links without paying quality prices.

Directory Submissions
Ok, ok, I know not all directories are cheap to get listed in. Yahoo! charges $299.00 a year for their listings, however, this is money well spent as long as you know how to write an effective title and description using proper anchor text. But Yahoo is not the only directory out there. There are hundreds of quality directories, many of which provide a listing in their directory for no cost at all.

Many of them request link exchanges, but they are not required. However, if the directory requests a link exchange, your participation can get your site listed faster, so I generally encourage link exchange offers with these directories. You don't even have to provide a link from the site you would like indexed. In fact, most of the time when I submitting client sites to directories, I will use another domain to host the link to the directory. That way the directory gets the link they want and my client gets the listing. Everything is as it should be.

SEO Directory Whiz has a great list of directories that you can submit too. Info Vilesilencer offers a downloadable list of directories that have been reviewed. Both of these are extremely helpful in locating directories.

Link Bait
When you start a link campaign you will want to make sure that you have good, original quality content. As, I have mentioned in my other posts, writing quality, unique content is the best way of developing natural links. By providing a resource to your community others will want to link to your content, this is called "Link Bait".

Not to keep harping on this subject, but this is, in my opinion, the most important step in getting quality links. The truth of the matter is most people are lazy and would much rather post a link on their page than to actually have to go out, research something and then write an article. By you doing the footwork you have saved another SEO from having to take the time to learn something and you have just started your link bait. The few hours (which once you get into the habit will turn into a few minutes) you take to do this should provide you with enough trusted links to pay for itself. Seriously get in the habit of writing something that your target audience would be interested in, not only do you provide a resource to your potential customers, but you will expand your audience by so much more.

Link Exchanges
Link exchanges can be very effective and should have no cost involved, other than the few minutes it would take to post the link(s). I personally like to use link exchanges that are indirectly linked to one another, a three way link exchange. That is to say, you own site A, the person you would like to exchange links with owns sites B and C. You provide a link from site A to site C and site B provides a link to site A.

Content Hosted Pages or Article Exchanges
This is a method I prefer to using standard link exchanges. This provides dual benefit of adding additional content to your site and extremely relevant linking. The way this works is you write an article about your products and services, embed your links in the text of the article (be sure to make proper use of meta tags and all on-site optimization techniques) then "swap" an article with the site you are seeking an exchange. Have them provide you with an article similar to the one you gave them, incoprate the new page to your navigation - make sure they incorporate you new page to their navigation as well - and then you are done.

Jim Westgren has written a great article on this topic as well. Take a few moments to read his article, Link Building Guide

That's all 'til next time!

Happy Linking,
LinkQueen