Generating links for your site. Inbound links
I've been agonizing lately on how to develop good quality inbound links to my sites. I've been searching for answers all over sites such as Search Engine Forums, Digital Point Forums, WebMasterRadio.fm and more.

Fundamentally, the web is all about linking out, and getting links back from other sites. It's really nice to have Google.com link to you, and Yahoo.com. It's probably more important to have thousands of related sites linking back to you.

In bound links are like word of mouth marketing. These are the best and most credible referrals of all. When a webmaster thinks enough about your site to link back to you, that's a huge vote of confidence for your site.

I wrote a post over on Search Engine Forums - Link Building as follows:

Hats off to excell and SportsGuy!

My exercise yesterday was to create a small campaign where I write about an important topic for our industry. I'll be honest, I had been having mental blocks about what to write as I don't have a clue about the details of what those suppliers do.

THE KEY:
I called each and every supplier before I emailed them my questions about my topics. They're experts in their fields. They know what they're doing.

Most were interested in receiving my email, and the fellow that wasn't interested gave me the answers verbally over the phone. I learned more in that little phone call than I had known previously.

Side benefit: All of a sudden I had a ton of new ideas to write about for my website.

After I compile all of the information that I've gotten from my phone call and email research, I'm going to have a strong article on the subject that i'm writing about. (This is where the links come in)

Because I've taken the time to write a thorough article about this subject, NOW I'll be able to go to those related industry sites and tell them about my valuable information. At this point they'll probably be much more likely to link over to my site, one way.

I couldn't see it before. I would write good quality articles, however I didn't feel confident enough in promoting them to other sites. With this type of solid research and credibility, it will be no problem to solicit links from other credible sites in related fields.

Side Note: In order to do this successfully, you have to have the mindset of an expert, which has its pros and cons. I don't mind putting myself out into the light as the expert type. This type of activity is certainly not for everybody!

In the last few days I have been building some campaigns around important topics where I will be interviewing industry sources.

I have been phone calling the sources that I find on the web and letting them know I've got an email with some simple questions that they can answer to help out with my article.

So far the response has been wonderful. I can see good quality inbound links happening after I generate some quantity of these articles.

The process isn't so agonizing now that i understand the concept of generating professional, industry respected, high quality content. This content needs to be of the quality that could be used by journalists, reporters and industry insiders.

You can do the same thing with your websites. all it takes is alot of work and determination that you want to be an expert and a central figure in your industry. That's a tall order, however that is really the intent you need to have.

People will freely inbound link to your site when they respect you and what you have to say. If they find your information helpful and valuable they will link to you out of gratitude and to add value to their website. People always want to refer people who give others good value.

Articles from December 2006
More articles from Year 2006

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