Sep 7, 2007 - Development    3 Comments

Link Building

Is it getting more difficult or am I simply a lazy git? (Answers on a postcard)

If I could pinpoint one of my downfalls that stops my websites from progressing, it has to be Link Building. After years of being involved in the affiliate industry, I still hate it, find it very time consuming, and tend to always put it on the back burner which doesn’t help me one little bit.

In the past, I’ve created a site and have posted in the Affiliates4U forum asking for links which normally generates 3, maybe 4 reciprocal links at a push. Once these are in place I simlpy sit back and wait, which I know with all of my experience is NOT the way to do it. A few weeks will pass by before I regain my concentration again, and will then start creating PPC campaigns for the new website. Sadly, once again I will sit back and wait for the magic to being…. again NOT the way to do it. Finally, given a push, I will buy a few ad spots on places such as Text Link Ads, Tags Page or take out a page on PageRank10.

On top of this, I also submit a link or two to the “usual suspects” such as NetFizz, Guide4Shopping and a few others, but at this stage I stop. I know there is plenty more I could be doing, and should be doing, but never get round to finding out or actually doing it. I am aware there are plenty of people in the industry who don’t like to share their secrets, or simply think that everyone should learn on their own. Personally I am one of the ones who prefers to share any finds or tips I may have stored away.

Kieron previously blogged and shared some of his tips on how to obtain quality backlinks by way of offering a freebie advertising your website and also gave away a smartphone in a competition aimed at promoting his Bingo website. Although these are all great ideas, not every affiliate can afford to bulk order pens, nor does every affiliate receive a free smartphone from a merchant which he/she can then use as a prize. I’ve received chocolates in the past, but I’m damned if I’m going to give them away ;)

So how do you build your links? Do you have any hints and tips, or websites you submit to, that could benefit me and other readers?

For info, I am trying to get some reciprocal links in place for Makeup Bits.

  • http://www.guide4shopping.co.uk G4S

    Hi,

    I normally build links by finding relevant websites – although its frustrating to send an email and then wait for weeks to get a link up on the site. Getting a link from directories is highly preferable but again it takes months to get a response back unless you are paying them. I have setup link to us page on my websites for anyone interested to exchange links and still the response is low. I am more interested in free or reciprocal links like you.

    Link building is in itself requires patience and constant commitment to request links from relevant websites. I normally add the links first and then kindly request a link back to my websites. Keiron ideas are great to build links and i would agree with you that not everyone can afford to give away merchandise.

    Any more ideas on how to generate quality links?

    Thanks..

  • http://bingocodes.co.uk Dio

    I like the idea of parasitic SEO and Link Building. There’s some easy links out there if you take a bit of time. Flickr, quizilla, wikipedia, squidoo, etc – there’s a few links like that. Comments on blogs – although many are nofollowed – if its relevant I think google still pays it some weight.

    I’ve tried a couple of press releases for my Bingo sites, and loads of people have picked up the stories and republished them on their sites. Unfortunately, most of the sites in the gambling field are run by external link shy webmasters who strip the links out whilst keeping the content. (I’m not bitter…)

    That said, in a different field – a left field press release can pick you up some nice authority links. :)

  • http://www.affiliateseeking.com Affiliate Seeking

    A great post you have written. I can definitely say that link building it’s getting a little harder. The main cause of this is Google. People are getting more worried about what they should and shouldn’t do when it comes to building links to their site now compared to what they use to because Google is getting stricter on it. They had recently mentioned a few months back that they don’t want sites to sell or purchase links for PR gain.

    So as you can see it looks as if it’s getting a little harder, but just like anything, I would think people will work around all these issues and find other ways of getting their sites ranking.