I get several Link Exchange Emails a day, and the majority of them go straight into the trash bin. What makes the difference between a Link Exchange email I will read, and one that I wont even open? Simple: the subject line.
Even with a good subject line, if I can be convinced to open such an email, the majority are scanned and deleted within 2 seconds. I received an email just this morning with a subject line that was a good example of an email I wont open:
We Link To "http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com" - Please link back : )
Most Link Exchange emails will try to leave you feeling obligated to return the gesture. Dont. Just because someone links to your website, doesnt mean you should link to theirs.
This email message went on to say:
If you link back to us, send me an email asap, and I'll move your listing to the top of the page and give you a few stars! Also. I'll change the link to be your home page, as well as whatever anchor text you prefer.
When I clicked on the link where my site was listed in their "link directory", I found my link on page 3 of a 5-page list of outbound links.
These types of links are basically worthless - and so are the emails that are sent by the linker. While this may have been a decent strategy several years ago, it is very obviously outdated at this point.
Personally, this type of message offends me. And it should offend any legitimate online business owner that has invested a lot of time and energy into their website. Give my website the 'stars' it deserves, or list it where you feel its most appropriate on your own site. But dont expect me to reciprocate just to win false favor.
If you send these types of emails, or respond to them, you should stop. Why? Because search engines think more like humans now than they did a few years ago. Every link does not carry the same weight towards your search engine rankings, and some links can even count against you.
And of course most site owners ignore Link Exchange Emails altogether, making this manual process a time consuming task with very little return on investment.
If you would like to have a link page or resource directory on your website, then you should use Link Management Assistant (LMA) by Duncan Carver. You can download it free from that link, and it manages all of your links automatically.
People can submit their link to your directory, their submission requires a reciprocal link, and the application checks to make sure their links remain active. All emails are sent by the program, and handled by the program - so it is a completely hands-off directory manager.
Back to the Link Exchange Emails, I mentioned earlier that there are certain messages that I will open and even respond to. Following is a quick list of criteria for the proper link exchange email request...
Personalize the email.
My name is not 'webmaster' and my name does not begin with http://. If you dont even know who I am, dont bother sending me an email.
Use a Subject Line that will get their attention.
A good example might be "Hi Lynn, about ClickNewz..." or "Hi Lynn, loved your Social Networking article!"
Keep your email short.
Nobody is going to read a short novel in their inbox. Keep it short and to the point.
Dont ask for a reciprocal link.
Link to a website because it is resourceful, without any expectations in return. Email the site owner and let them know you placed a link and where they can find it. If you also have a resourceful related site, this may result in a link back - or it may not.
This type of message is a good first step in networking, and a foundation for potential linking and joint ventures down the road.
OR, Suggest possible linking options.
When doing this, assume that you are talking to an intelligent person that stays up to date with current linking strategies. Start your email with a clear message about who you are (name & link, not a novel) and why you are writing. Be specific about why you like the page you want to link to (and want a link from)... and end it with a specific suggestion for mutual benefit.
Here is an example:
Subject: Your Think & Grow Rich Download Page
Hi Lynn,
This is *name* from *link*. I noticed that you give away a free copy of Think & Grow Rich at www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/tagr.htm and that you also link to a few related sites at the bottom left side of that page.
I have placed a link to your download page for my visitors at *link*. I manage a site that has a unique view on the Law of Attraction. If you think it would benefit your visitors, I would love to discuss any reciprocal linking opportunities.
The subject line would get my attention of course, as it addresses a web page of mine. My response to this email would be to check out the website, add the link if appropriate, then respond via email.
The bottom line is that you want quality links on related content pages. Not just ANY link, and certainly not links on mile-long links pages (ie link farms)...
For more on Linking, see:
Best,
Technorati Tags: inbound links, link exchange, reciprocal link, backlinks
About Lynn Terry
Great post Lynn.I never get any eMails asking for recip links.LOL.After all my blog is just 1 month and has two more months to have a page rank.So they won't ask me.They don't ask because we have a good content.They ask by seeing our PR.PR has a great capability to attract the eyes of such people.I have seen this in technorati.If your blog has less authority and less PR,no one will come forward to link to you except few.Even those who have PR zero also won't link to you.If you have great numbers in authority and PR,then so many blogs will come forward expecting a recip link.Good Analysis by you Lynn.
This is some excellent advice, Lynn. Hopefully the people who really need to read it actually do. 😉
~ Teli
For some reason I've gotten about 10 of these link exchange requests just in the last week. I thought it was another new "scam" thing.... maybe not?
I think that its of course your priority whether or not you would want to reciprocate and return the favor by linking their site to your web site.BUt lets always remember that link exchanges is not one way-thats the reason why its called exchange right?
Excellent article. I have never asked anyone by email for a link unless I know them (a handful of times).
If you have got to resort to this tactic something is very wrong.
Just think of the amount of time these jokers are wasting when they'd be better served out in the blogosphere making new contacts and getting links 🙂
If you need to use some kind of silly "link management" program, you have many problems as well.
My suggestion? Forget about links. Create good content that others will link to that content "naturally". Forget about pagerank as well as NO ONE knows the real PR but Google. Matter of fact; uninstall ALL your toolbars you have loaded up right now.
In summary; concentrate on your sites and making them better.
Not sure how the heck I found this place, but whenever I find blogs or sites that seem to be listening to wrong "gurus", I feel I need to help out. I'm not talking about you "Terry", but about who you may be listening to. 🙂
Cool, thanks Doug - I actually agree with you on those points, in case you missed that.
-LYNN 🙂
Great advice.