How to request links

[webgator]

I've been reading a lot that has been written about building link popularity lately but I have a question that I haven't seen answered.

What is the best way to request links on behalf of clients you are working with. Is it best to send a list of good sites to your client and have them request the links using their own email address and contact information. Or is it better for you to email the sites yourself and say that you are trying to obtain a link on behalf of your clients site. What about using a tactic that I have tried a few times where you use a yahoo mail address and say that you are just a surfer that found an interesting link?

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.

[rmridgew]

my 2 cents

i always find something about their site that i like and let them know it, asking questions about how they did something works too. then let them know that you would benefit by being affilliated with their site through a link.

[MsSearch]

I'd also like to add that when requesting a link, sometimes it helps if you already put a link on your site to their site....

[Advisor]

You can say you're doing it on behalf of your client, but having it come from your client does seem better some times. When I used to do this, I would often (with my client's permission), set my email address to the clients email and sign it as if it were from my client. You have to be careful of course, and make sure your client approves everything since their name will be on it. Or you can also use their name and say that you're working in conjunction with whatever the name of your company is.

Just make sure that whatever you do has your client's permission. It's their site and their reputation on the line. Don't lie and pretend you just saw a "good site" they may be interested in. It just makes your client look bad because everyone knows those dumb tricks!

Jill

[billy fullerton]

Hi Webgator,

There's no hard and fast rules for requesting reciprocal links with other Webmasters. You will get there by trial and error and your responses will let you know if you are going about it right.

I've posted a copy of an email that works for me and feel free to copy it, mess around with it, and adapt it to suit your needs.


Hi Paul,

My name is Billy Fullerton, and I am contacting you regarding your excellent dance site at http://www.dancesite.co.uk.

I am working with Panasonic / Technics to announce and link their new website celebrating 30 years of Technics dance culture called technics1210.com, a great source of information and fun for party people everywhere - Includes interviews with some of the worlds top DJ's, a unique 'sound tool' that allows users to create their own tune on-line, and much more. This site is not to be missed.

Technics provide what I think is one of the most detailed and informative sites for on-line mixing on the internet ... but then again, as Marketing Manager, I have admit to being slightly biased.

If you would be so kind as to consider our site for inclusion on your links page, I would be very grateful.

Technics1210 is located at http://www.technics1210.com

I would like to request a link to our main index page at http://www.technics1210.com from your "links section" at http://www.dancesite.com/links.shtml

We have found that trading quality links is one of their best sources of increased qualified traffic as well as increasing link popularity and search engine visibility for both sites.

Please let me know if the above provides you with the information you need to review and consider our site for linking. I can be reached via email at bfullerton@summitmedia.co.uk or, if you'd like to talk to me by phone, my direct number +44 (0)1788 523307.

I do not wish to appear presumptuous, but I have attached the relevant html for your convenience at the end of this email. I have also subscribed to your newsletter and look forward to receiving it.

Best Wishes,

Billy Fullerton

Link Management Consultant
A Summit Media / de-construct.com project
on behalf of http://www.technics1210.com


Text Link:
<a href="Http://www.technics1210.com">

<b>Technics1210 legacy website</b></a> Mix and Create your own tunes on-line now with the help of the technics sound flyer.<br>

<i>http:/<b>/www.technics1210.com</b>/ </i>

[OptWizard]

I go simple and I get about 6 out of 10 response

Hello--
Would you consider adding our website name, to your page.

We think it would be of great benefit to your visitors. It discusses many issues that can assist your viewers financially.

Here's our site title, URL and a short description:


http://www.website.com

Description

We've also linked to your site from this page: http://www.linkpage.com

Thanks for your consideration!

[markymark]

I run quite a few link campaigns for clients and work in a similar way to Jill. I always send a list of potential link candidates to the client in the first instance. They can then check (or not, as is more usual!) the sites. I use an @myclientname.com POP3 email address that routes to my inbox and write an email not dissimilar to the one Billy has posted. I think this is mainly because I read that exact same post over at SEF some months back and thought, yeah, that's the way to do it.

[billy fullerton]

Hi Markymark,

That's right I put that email in the SEF, maybe I should have used my imagination and posted another client as an example instead of technics:p

Once you have the basic email that you want it's just a case of changing the link text and you can use the same template for all your clients.

[webgator]

Thanks, this is all great stuff. I will have to work on a short template letter now.

[rmridgew]

i have just created a fishing guide directory that requires a reciprocal link or banner to be listed, i will then use a meta refresh page with a noindex tag to link to their page as to not build up my competition.

i have also begun emailing regional guides that are listed highest in the google directory concerning the directory

[Big Guerrilla]

I would suggest following the guidelines below set by Eric Ward:

A link request sent via email should include several elements. Collectively, all of them serve two key purposes: They let the receiver know you took the time to look at his or her site, and they make it as easy as possible for the receiver to make a decision whether or not to link.

Here are the 12 things that your link request should contain, followed by the reasons why. Although these may seem simple once you read them, 99 out of 100 link requests that I get do not contain any of them. While in certain cases there are also other elements, for this week's column, let's focus on those below.

1. A subject line that follows any stated directions given on the site you want to link to yours. On many sites that have collections of links to other sites, for example, the About.com guides, the editor in charge of the links section often states that when asking for a link, you should follow certain directions. One of these is typically a special subject line, like:

Subject: LINK SUBMISSION

If you have not taken the time to look at the recipient's site carefully, and you do not follow the link request directions, don't be surprised if you never hear from the recipient again.

2. The site owner's name. It seems simple, but take the time to look through the site where you want the link, and find the site owner's name. Address this person immediately in your email, so he or she knows you're not a spammer.

In the above link request I received, it was immediately obvious that this person had never been to my site even though the email indicated otherwise. If this person really had been to my site, my name is the first thing he or she would have seen, and he or she would also have known I don't offer a links page.

3. Your name. Again, it's just common courtesy. The person requesting a link is a human being and so are you. A first line like "Hello, Mr. Ward. My name is John Smith" tells me that at least this person has taken the time to find out who was running my web site and is nice enough to tell me who he or she is. It also shows me that he or she didn't send that same email to 4,000 other people, unless by some bizarre coincidence their names were all "Mr. Ward."

4. The home page URL for the site. "I have been spending some time looking at your site at http://[insert their URL]."

By now I see that you know my name, my site name, and URL. You obviously are not lying to me or spamming me.
Don't show fake sincerity or imply friendship when, in fact, you've never met me. Be professional, courteous, and to the point. I really get turned off by email from people who act like we are buddies.

5. Your site's name and home page URL. "I am contacting you about my site, called 'SiteName,' which is located at http://www.SiteName.com."

6. The exact URL on their site where you think the link is a fit. "With regard to your links section at...[insert exact URL of their links area/section]."

7. A paragraph that describes your site and why you feel it's linkworthy. "I would like to submit for your consideration my site, which I feel is a nice match for your collection of links. My site is..."

8. The exact URL from your site you want them to link to. "Since I have a splash page that has some large images, you may prefer to use this URL for linking: http://www.SiteName.com/home2.html."

9. A valid email address and response to any requests made to that address. "If you would like to contact me about this, please feel free to reach me at my personal email address below." (Put your email address.)

10. Your phone number. "Or, if you prefer, you can also call me at this phone number: [put your phone number]."

And, if you are seeking a link on a site where a reciprocal link is required, also include:
11. Confirmation that you have added a link to their site. "I have already placed a link to your site."

12. The URL on your site where they can see the link to their site "that you can see at http://www.SiteName.com/links.html.

Below is a sample of what a full link-request email would look like. A link request similar to this is being used to successfully build many new links for eNature.com.
Date: Thursday, November 9, 2000
To: (Address withheld for ClickZ article as a courtesy)
From: EricWard@urlwire.com
Subject: Link Submission

Bob,

My name is Eric Ward, and I am contacting you regarding your Birding site at http://www.millcomm.com/ekblad/Index.htm.

I'm working with eNature.com to announce and link a new section on their site called "The Bird Audio Database." eNature is located at http://www.enature.com, and the new bird audio section is located at http://www.enature.com/audio/audio_home.asp.

Per the link request instructions on your site, I would like to request a link to our bird audio section in your Links to Birding Web Sites section at http://www.millcomm.com/ekblad/Link-Gen.htm.

Please let me know if the above provides you with the information you need to review and consider our new section for linking. I can be reached via email at ericward@urlwire.com, or, if you'd like to talk about this by phone, my direct number is (865) 637-2438.

I have also subscribed to your e-newsletter and look forward to receiving it.

Best wishes,

Eric Ward, for eNature.com
mailto:ericward@urlwire.com
Any webmaster or site manager who receives the above email can tell immediately many crucial things about me and my link request:
· I took the time to actually look at Bob's site. How else could I call it by name?
· I took the time to find out who runs the site.
· I reviewed the site for appropriateness. How else would I have known he had a "bird links" area?
· I followed any link-request instructions. How else would I have known to put "Link Submission" in the subject line?
· I didn't send that same email to 25,000 people.
· I value Bob's time by making it easy for him to know just what URL I wanted linked, and where.
· I respect the site content by subscribing to the site's newsletter.
· I looked at more than just the home page.
· I am not afraid to put my phone number in the email; spammers don't do that.
There are many more subtle points to this exercise, and many additional things I might need or have to include (HTML link code, button logo, reciprocal link, etc.), but these are not right for every scenario, so let's keep things as simple as possible for now.
The bottom line is that by recognizing the individuals on the receiving end of your link requests, and showing them so, you immediately move out of the spam realm in their minds. When I receive link letters, I look for telltale signs that I was not singled out individually. If I spot an obvious bulk link seeker, I delete it immediately.

Yes, this means you cannot automate this process, and, yes, this means you have to create and send each link request one at a time. As you should. Sometimes each site takes an entire three clicks and two minutes. Big deal. This is a lifelong link you're seeking.

[ihelpyou]

Excellant BigG!!

Then and only then is your link request Not going to end up in the trash can along with thousands of others that go through the wires daily.

Very good. :thumb: