Reciprocal linking

Reciprocal linking is a great way to improve the position of your website and increase site traffic with minimal investment. An exchange of links between two websites, reciprocal linking connects your website to other relevant sites so you gain traffic, boost search engine rankings and expand relevant content on your site. Reciprocal linking is most commonly accomplished through banner ads or text links.

A successful reciprocal link campaign involves targeted research; a direct, courteous approach; and, of course, link placement. By following the steps below you will be well on your way to success.

There are some basic things to keep in mind when deciding on link exchanges. You should not use indiscriminate links that have no relevance to your site. These will only frustrate customers and reduce the validity of your site. Also, you should always choose links that you know are of interest to your visitors and that compliment your business by expanding the information available on your site.

So how do you find relevant links? There is a three-step process that will enable you to get maximum benefits from your reciprocal link campaign. First is the research phase where you investigate sites that would be of most benefit to your visitors. The most important step in establishing effective reciprocal links, research is worth your time so you find the best sites to link with and ensure quality results for your visitors.

Begin your research by making two lists. On the first list, record the types of sites your visitors would be interested in viewing. On the second, write the types of sites that would benefit from the information on your website. Once you have completed both lists, you should find that there are common subjects on both lists. These are the types of websites you will target. Write three keywords for each of the common subjects.

The next part of your research phase involves going online and conducting searches using at least five of the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.). Type in the keywords you selected for each of your common subjects and make notes of the top ten sites that appear. Remember, sites that come up on all three of your keywords should be at the top of your list.

Now, do a quick site search for these top sites. Spend about a minute or two looking through the site and making sure that the site is relevant enough to come back to later. When you are finished you should have a list of 15-20 sites. Take these sites and research them in greater depth. You need to make sure that there aren’t any surprises in the site that would offend your visitors or even take business away from you. It is also important to verify that your site would be of benefit to them. Make notes of why your site would be of benefit. You'll need these notes in the next step. Once this is done, make your final list of sites.

Next, you should approach each of the sites from your list via e-mail and ask them about exchanging links with you. Your approach is very important. With all of the spam today, you need to get straight to the point. In a brief, courteous e-mail include: your interest in the site, the reason for your interest, and incentive for them to visit your site. Explain specific features of their site that visitors to your site would find useful, and vice versa. It is important to explain how your site will benefit them and visitors to their site. Also, include a hyperlink in your e-mail that goes directly to the areas of your site you mention.

Send this e-mail to the sites from your final list. If you went through all the research and send out 15 e-mails, you can probably expect a 30%-50% positive response. This varies depending on whether the target site has a reciprocal links policy, whether your own site is professionally presented, and whether your approach was compelling enough. Still, you should feel happy to hear from 5 sites, and anything else is a bonus.

DO NOT follow up your e-mail if you have not received a reply. This may go against instinct, but if your approach was good and your research was thorough, the target site genuinely is not interested in linking to yours. The reason doesn't matter -- just accept the fact, and move on to the next site.

Once you hear back from your requests, it is time to schedule the actual link exchange. Since you made the request, you have to place their link on your site first. This is a good time to contact your webmaster and give them the information you have received.

Make sure that your webmaster is clear on the type and location of the link. Once the link is placed, it is time to contact your target site and inform them that their link has been placed. Provide an exact URL of the location of the link. If you don't hear back from them immediately, then check with them again in about a week. Again, it is important to be courteous. You initiated the request and need to work within their schedule.

Effective reciprocal linking does take time, but is worth every minute. It is essential to develop a steady program of exchanging links with relevant sites in order to boost your visitor count and add extra resources to your own site.

Finally, don't be afraid to reach for the big sites on the web. Contact the very large established web companies if they are relevant to your site and you have content of interest to them. You might be surprised at their willingness to exchange links.

SAMPLE LETTER

Hello. I visited your site on Food Photography earlier today and found it very interesting. I was especially interested in your article on taking pictures of food in a garden setting. I run a site about organic vegetable growing [http://URL] and was wondering if you might be interested in exchanging links with me. I am sure that visitors to my site would benefit from your information when taking pictures of their gardens and vegetables.

I look forward to hearing from you soon,
John Doe
WebMaster, Bird Spotting Paradise

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