Link from customers websites

[luckyg]

Hi All

I just wanted to run this by others as I am slightly paranoid its a tacky way to go about getting links!

Sending out an email to customers offering 10% off all future orders in exchange for a link from their website?

Anyone done it? Anyone have any comments on this?

thanks in advance

[franchiseshop]

Not only do I do it but I think of new ways of doing it on a monthly basis.

Not every site/client can. Depends who you are dealing with in the chain of command and how large the client it is. The larger the client the less likely you can get a link. Mcdonalds for example would not link to me no matter how much i beg, harass and pester. "Policy of no external links" etc.

10% off is good, I offer 15% but it costs me nothing to do this so win win really.

[luckyg]

What do you mean by it costs you nothing?

it costs you the lost revenue of the discount?

[franchiseshop]

Regardless of that, and no I still do not believe it costs me, it's a great way of getting inbound links.

[luckyg]

good to hear you think its a good idea.

It will cost me as I am an online retailer and some of my goods are hundreds of pounds. But hopefully by beating my competition on Google from more links I will get extra business which will break even or beat the cost of the discounts.

[luckyg]

Do you think i such stick to customers websites that have a certain pr or above?

[franchiseshop]

Yeah I was thinking you probably have a product. I run a directory so my product is a page of text. When I say it doesn't cost me I simply mean it really doesn't. I do of course lose 15% but every one grabs a discount anyway and it's one good way of offering a discount and gaining something in return.

Just make sure and keep a nice database of those clients who have replied with a negative so that you are not sending them repeat requests and offers for links. I do it once a month and get several positive replies each time, it's a great way of getting backlinks and for me, links from industry specific sites.

Now - time you starting writing that link request email ;-)

[franchiseshop]

Do you think i such stick to customers websites that have a certain pr or above?

Yeah I considered that but ended up not doing it. It's disappointing when someone takes you up on the offer and they get a decent discount and you et a link from a site with no PR or they try chucking you in the links page.

Depends how much your product is worth and remember, the people you contact may not have a clue what PR is.

Maybe you could custom send to each client. I do bulk but would probably get a higher conversion and better links if i was to personalise it more.

[Mystro]

What stops the client removing the link once the discount is applied,

Not sure what you do but you mention some of your goods are £100's of pounds, if your business is an ongoing business relationship with the customer i can see the benifit but for a 10% discount on goods say worth £500 is £50 for the link, and depending what and how many of those deals equate to £50 a go i would ratrher put the money into one of the guys on here who get links for a living, its a safer bet in my eyes

Paul