Links the old-fashioned way

[scottiecl]

If you looking for some quality inbound links and have already submitted to the directories, here's a thought.

In the US at least, almost all cities have a Chamber of Commerce. Typically, they have a website that links to their members. Most metropolitan areas will be working with several Chambers of Commerce- as small as the area I work in is, I have 3 Chambers in the area.

The Better Business Bureau also links to its' members. The page linking to my company, for example, has a PR of 5. Not too bad for a page 2 layers deep!

Not only do you get some "trusted" links that usually have a nice page rank, you also build credibility for your company. There are many reasons to join the BBB and local Chamber, but the link is a nice bonus!

[Matt B]

Good ideas, Scottie;

However, there is something coming on line that is being sold to Chambers of Commerce all around the country. It is called Chamber-Link. It is supposed to link the local chamber site to all members' sites. I am not sure how it will work. We pitched one of our local chambers for their site and they decided to pay $30k more than we proposed and go with this national chamber-link program.

I haven't seen it yet, I will in a few weeks, but from the sounds of it, is reads like a big link farm.

That being said, it is always handy to have your local chambers' business. Trading services for membership has always gone a long way for us.

[scottiecl]

Trading services for membership is a great idea! I hadn't even thought about that.

That link farm thing sounds ugly- surely it is not a free-for-all type of program? I would think that they would want control and limit additions to members only.

Do you mean they are more like ads that redirect to tracking URL's and not simple text links?

Ick. Thanks for the info- I will have to follow up on the guys around here.

[Matt B]

Yes, the links would be for members only, but the structure sounds very complicated, so I am expecting javascript links, tracking URL's, dynamic directories with a disalowed cgi-bin, etc. Anything but a directory or site that makes sense.

Anytime you get bureaucratic in the design and functionality it screws everything up.

Trading services is a great way to get involved in the community and get noticed, especially with good press when helping a service agency. We do websites for 5 chambers and promote a few of them as well. It has opened the doors to a lot of other businesses.

Right now, we are looking for a brewery to barter web services for product. :cheers:

[Kal]

Originally posted by SEO Guy
Right now, we are looking for a brewery to barter web services for product. :cheers: I tried that with Fosters, but discovered my services are more valuable :green: Perhaps I'll try Cadbury's next :p