How to Build Link Popularity - The Natural Way
Link popularity is the number of relevant quality inbound links
pointing to your website. Most major search engines use link
popularity as part of their algorithm which helps to determine
the relevance of your website.
Exchanging Links is Not Always the Best Way
One of the most prevalent ways to develop link popularity is by
exchanging links. But it is not necessarily the best way. First,
exchanging links willy-nilly with anyone you can find willing to
do so is not a good tactic. It doesn't help your site visitors
if you link to irrelevant, poor quality sites. It makes your
site look trashy. And it doesn't help your search engine ranking
either. In fact, if you're exchanging links too carelessly you
could be pegged as a link farm and actually banned from search
engines.
The right way to exchange links is by finding quality, relevant
sites with which to exchange links. These are the links that
search engines care about. But the process of finding the right
sites and then convincing the webmaster or site owner to
exchange with you is a time consuming process. Time better
spent, we believe, on building link popularity the right way:
the natural way.
Link Popularity and Great Content Search engines include link
popularity as part of their ranking algorithm based on the
theory that if you have great content, offer a valuable service,
or sell a product people want, then people will naturally link
to you. So what's wrong with doing just that? The first step to
building better link popularity the natural way is to improve
your website. Spend the time you would have spend searching for
link exchange partners on creating sticky content for you site
instead.
Press Releases If your company or website does anything even
mildly noteworthy, write a press release and distribute it on
the web. There are several paid and free press release
distribution services that will post your press release with a
link back to your site. Take advantage of them.
Affiliate Programs Start an affiliate program. Offer to pay per
click through or per sale that originates at your affiliate's
sites. They'll link to you as affiliates and you'll have more
inbound links.
Offer Free Articles or Tools Write articles in your area of
expertise or create free web-based tools. Offer the articles or
tools free to anyone, and ask only for a link back as payment.
Directory Links Directories are crucial for building link
popularity and targeted traffic. Directories are broken down
into specific categorical topics followed by subtopics. A
quality link from a major directory carries more relevance and
weight than scores of links from websites that aren't relevant
to your website, product or service.
There are many directories out there that provide free
registration, and some charge a fee. Below is a list of quality
directories that we recommend and their PR:
**Important** Read the submission guidelines before you submit
to any directory.
Open Directory (PR-9) - Free. To submit, dig down and find the
most appropriate category for your website and submit. Approval
can take anywhere from 3 months to a year depending on the
category you submit to. Tip: submit to a regional category.
Submission Guidelines: http://dmoz.org/help/submit.html Add URL:
http://dmoz.org/add.html
Jayde B2B Directory (PR-6) - Free. To submit, find the most
appropriate category for your website and submit. Approval
usually happens within 1-5 days. You can expect decent traffic
from this clean user friendly directory. Submission Guidelines:
http://www.jayde.com/subfaq.html Add URL:
http://dir.jayde.com/cgi-bin/submit.cgi
GoGuides Directory (PR-6) - Free. You have to be an editor to
submit but its free to join. To submit find the most appropriate
category, click the add url link, then apply to be a Goguide.
Tip: read the editor guidelines before you apply. Editor
Guidelines: http://www.goguides.org/info/help_desk.html Editor
Agreement: http://www.goguides.org/DIR/editors_agreement.php?c=1
Add URL: http://www.goguides.org/info/addurl.html
JoeAnt Directory (PR-6) - Free. You have to be an editor to
submit but its free to join. Same as above. Editor Application:
http://www.joeant.com/editor_application.html Add URL:
http://www.joeant.com/suggest.html
Yahoo Directory (PR-8) - Charges ($299 yearly fee). A bit pricey
but very important. You will receive a nice amount of traffic
from a listing here as well as a nice pr boost for your website.
It's very important to read the guidelines and tips before you
register. Directory Basics:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/dir/basics/index.html Submission
Guidelines: https://ecom.yahoo.com/dir/reference/instructions
Add URL: https://ecom.yahoo.com/dir/express/intro/
Business.com (PR-8) - Charges ($99 per year). Business search
engine and directory with very affordable registration prices,
and submission review within 5 days. Listing includes up to 4
additional links per listing (about us, services etc).
Guidelines and FAQ Add URL : Standard Listing
BlueFind Directory (PR-8) Charges ($40) - Human edited
directory, accepts website registration, individual web page
submission that are relevant to the site, also offers sponsored
listings. Add URL : Home Page