getting links ..

[bluezebra]

I want to develop my links page as I have been told this is a good way to improve search engine ranking.

Can anyone advise me on the best way to do this please? I sell natural baby gifts. Should I look for large established organisations or link with small companies (does it make a difference?). Also are text links more effective than having banners (i.e. for reciprocal links should I provide a text link to my site or a banner or doesn't it matter?)

I'm still getting to grips with this IT stuff so any help or advice would be great. Thanks

[bitsnstuff]

I do searches for relevant sites with information that is not conflicting but useful to my visitors or complementry to my content. Then send them an email asking to exchange links.

You could use software to find suitable links like, IBP, Arelis, there are many types. You type in your url and keywords and the software goes off and finds suitable linking partners.

I set up banner exchanges and text links, I'm not an expert, but I don't think it makes much difference so I have both.

Anyway, how about www.treehuggermums.co.uk to get you started? :lol:

It takes a while to build up, but I now get emails requesting link exchange, so that takes some of the work away.

Kate.

[chris1317]

I have also found it hard to find relevant sites to share links with. They are either in direct competition with me or give tutorials on the type of thing that I do.

Like bitsnstuff shows you probaly have to find sites that are related to what you are selling like mother and todler sites or possibly even a site that does cards to congratulate parents.

[nickkis]

You need to think sideways...

How about approaching companies who sell car travel systems? Organic food for babies? Setting up an affiliate system with someone who sells gifts for women? My own kids are yelling at me so I'm not in the most creative of modes but hopefully you get the idea.

Consider your target audience and then think about other resources they may need/desire and work outwards. Its always hard, not all people are prepared to cross link.

Of course links from bigger companies are always going to be better (PageRank, which is what I assume you are after is a bit like A, B and C celebrity lists, if you rub shoulders with A listers you are more likely to be taken into their group) but all links are good.

Grab me on MSN, I work in this area and am always prepared to help.

[bubbaducks]

I'm happy to exchange links with you. I'm not a competitor, and our target markets are related.

Catherine

[DuaneJackson]

For improving search engine rankings it's actually better to have one-way links coming in to your site without you linking back. Search for directories relevant to your business and submit your site to them. It's time consuming but worth while.

Text links are infinetley better than image links. Also, the text used to link to your site is vitally important. If for instance you wanted to improve your rankings for the term "natural baby gifts" then have people link to you as follow , this is much more effective than <a href=www.yoursite.com>Your company name (www.yoursite.com>Natural), unless ofcourse your company name is "natural baby gifts" or similar.

Before deciding what search term to use and investing time in building the links - make sure it's actually a term that is used regularly. There is no point being number one for "Natural baby gifts" of no one ever actually searches using that phrase.

I hope that helps!

[broadband-engine]

Hi

I have used Brad Callens SEO Elite for some time now and the Version 3.2. allows you to find and submit your details very quickly to other sites. It then will create a linkspage based on a template you define. It is excellent. Before it gets slated, it is not a spammy tool - it simply is a bit of software that trawls google, MSN, yahoo etc based on keywords you use, it then lists these and you can visit each site and submit your predefined details by clicking an autocomplete button, visit the next site and do the same, then do this over and over.

If you are in a good niche and can get a dmoz listing you'll get 1000's of incoming links from all the sites that syndicate the dmoz.org directory.

Another brilliant source of recipricating links is via www.linkmetro.com - a truelly excellent free resource.

Cheers
Phil

[Rob Holmes]

Before it gets slated, it is not a spammy tool - it simply is a bit of software that trawls google, MSN, yahoo etc based on keywords you use, it then lists these and you can visit each site and submit your predefined details by clicking an autocomplete button, visit the next site and do the same, then do this over and over.

Hi Phil,

Has it got you to the top of Google on your chosen keywords?

I'm asking as this is one bit of software that I've never tried but have been tempted a few times.

Rob

[broadband-engine]

Too early to say really about SEO Elite, but it should have a positive impact I would think - I love the software it takes alot of effort away. To date the method getting the best result is link-vault.com and this has got me number one for the keyphrase

compare loan companies (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=compare+loan+companies&meta=) in google (just checked it and I have dropped from number 1 - I'll up the keyword density I think)

If you or anyone is interested in joing link-vault PM me and I'll send you my referral URL - that will earn me more vaultage.

Cheers
Phil

[epiphany]

Write an article relevant to your business area (or get someone to write it for you www.writingworld.org), submit that article to lots of article directories (that will get you 10/30 links). Then if it's a good article private website owners will use it on their own site as well.

Also this gives you links that are actually worth something in the eyes of Google. Google looks at the content of the page that contains your link and if it's relevant to your business then the link is worth a lot more than if your link is on a business directory.

[broadband-engine]

Hi

Do you have a list of good article directories to submit to. Which have you found get the best results????

[fridayteam]

I have got a 'women in business' links page on my site which I am happy to add links in return for a link exchange.

Don't worry lads, there are / will be areas for you to be included too!

www.fridayteam.com/pr/wibl.htm

I also have an article archive on my site as well, if anyone is interested.

[Pete Williams]

I use goarticles.com, buzzle.com, and ezinearticles.com to submit my articles to. I find them very good but would be interested to find anymore that I could submit to.