Web Visibility – The Missing Links

What is a link?

If you know what linking is, please skip to the next paragraph. Links are the colored and underscored words that allow you to jump (or “link”) from one page to another or one website to another. For example, here's a link to our website, http://www.AlmostEverythingWEB.com. The links you will find most useful for building web traffic are links from other websites to your website.

Why do we recommend linking strategies?

Links from OTHER websites to YOUR Website help you in two ways.

INCREASE TRAFFIC – When people visit the other website, they may travel to your site via the link. Getting listed on a busy site can be a tremendous boost for your web traffic, especially if that site is designed to connect potential clients with service providers. For instance, some of my clients are listed on Berkeley Parent's Network, a wonderful resource that connects parents through out the East Bay look with recommendations for products and services.|
INCREASE YOUR GOOGLE STATUS- Google gives a higher standing to sites with links. Having 3-5 links is a very good start, and will help insure a higher ranking when people search for your name, business name or things related to your business.

How you can get links

Generate a list of people and sites you can ask to link to your site. The common way to do this is to offer to exchange links or to set up reciprocal links. I link to you and you link to me. Start your list with:

1. Your Contact Sphere – those businesses who serve the same client base as you do, but in different ways than you. These are the businesses that are most complementary with yours, in fact, you’re probably already trading referrals with them. For example, my contact sphere includes a printer, a graphic designer, a photographer and other marketing related businesses.

2. Colleagues who are not in competition with you.

3. Organizations you belong to, ie. Chamber of Commerce, Trade Associations, City Website, …many have member directories on which all members who ask are listed.

4. Business Networking sites like Linked In or social sites like MeetUp (depending on your business.)

5. Places you could submit an online article.

Only exchange with people you know and trust and are happy to recommend, because exchanging links is the same as a recommendation. In business as in life, the company you keep reflects on you.

Make this list today. So you’ll be ready for the next Web Strategies, when I'll tell you how to complete the process.