If you are like me, then a lot of you have tried the classifieds, FFA pages, links submitters, and on, and on, and on! And if like me, you mainly recieved a bunch of email trying to sell YOU something! There may be some very good places to submit to along these lines, but I have found very few. In this article, I want to explain to you about reciprocal linking, a very good way to get your site noticed!
There are different views on where you recieve the most traffic from. Some say search engines. Some say reciprocal links. I have found that a lot of my traffic comes from reciprocal links. For those of you who do not know what reciprocal linking is, read on!
Reciprocal linking is a very good way to increase traffic. Let's say you operate a cooking website. Then your next step would be to do a search on cooking related websites. Visit these websites. If you think the website has a good layout, easy to navigate, and would be a place where you would enjoy looking through, then chances are, others like it too!
Next, contact the website owner, and ask if they would be interested in a link exchange. Most websites have their email address listed. Include your website name, your URL, and a description of your website. Try and keep your description short, don't write it as an ad! Be sure to include the best way to contact you.
Double check your spelling and your URL address! If you make just one little bitty mistake in your URL address, they will not be able to get to your website the first time. Chances are, they will not try again. Wait for their reply. I would not try and contact them again if you recieve no answer.
If they contact you, and agree to a link exchange, make sure you add their link where and when you say you will. I have done reciprocal linking with some sites, and they never added mine, and I had their link up and running. That is very frustrating! Once you have made an agreement, check and see if they have added your site when they said they would. If they havent, contact them and explain that you have had their link on your site, and would like to know when yours will be added. Give them a little time. Sometimes circumstances prevent them from adding your link exactly when they say they will.
I can not stress the fact enough that you have to be fair in reciprocal linking. Do not say you will exchange links, and then a few days later, take that link off(unless they dont add yours!) That is not fair. Of course, if you find out that they are involved in something you would not like to be involved in, contact them and tell them you are removing their link, and for them to please remove yours.
Now, think of other sites that might be related to cooking. Fishing sites, (they have to cook the fish dont they?) Hobby and craft sites, family sites, and so on. Just use your immagination! This principal can be used in all types of websites, no matter what kind of website you operate. The more links you have on other websites, increases your chances of a higher hit rate from search engines. You never know, that one website you exchange links with may increase your traffic a lot!
About The Author: Peggy Humble operates a free Cajun recipe website. She also publishes a bi-monthly ezine-Free Ad And Link Exchange, which includes free ads for family oriented websites, food tips, recipes and more. You can subscribe for free at her website.
05/19/2009
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