Make Your Link Exchanges Sticky Content for Visitors
There are a lot of webmasters who spend a substantial amount of
time "working" their link exchange program. But very few who
realize that a good link exchange program can not only increase
your back links and your search engine visibility, it can also
be used as a feature to attract and retain visitors. (And the
visitors I am talking about are NOT just other webmasters who
are looking to exchange links!)
It may take a little more work than you are currently investing
in the links you put up on your site, but its well worth it. We
have just begun creating a very dynamic link exchange program
for Security
Resources Inc., and within just a few weeks, not only has
the entire links directory been spidered by Google, Yahoo, MSN
and others, it is averaging 20 visitors a day. And over half of
those visitors actually click through to the Security Resources
online store.
I can almost hear you thinking, "20 visitors? Thats ALL? Big
deal!" Ah but it is a big deal when you consider that the Security
Resources Links Directory contains fewer than 100 links, (so
far), and that 99% of these visitors are drawn to the site
BECAUSE of the link directory, and that 95% of them are NOT
other webmasters just looking for a place to exchange links. Add
to that a whopping 26% of the visitors have added the Links
Directory as a bookmarked favorite! If our results of a similar
link exchange directory at Webs 4 Christ are an
indicator, it would be safe to predict that the Security
Resources Directory will be averaging well over 100 visitors a
day within the next 30-60 days. How many of those will turn into
buying customers? Perhaps only 1 percent - but that alone would
be 30 additional sales per month!
What's the secret? There are three of them - target your links
directory to your marketplace, organize your links directory and
publicize it as you would your main website.
First, target your links directory. It shouldn't be a
free-for-all directory. There are plenty of those. In the case
of Security Resources, their directory only contains categories
and links to sites related to security. As the link directory
grows, it will eventually become a very comprehensive directory
of great value to anyone who is interested in security
resources, websites, publications, etc.
Second, organizing your links based on categories not only helps
each outgoing link have more value, (because of less links per
page), but it becomes a value add for visitors who are looking
for links and information on your targeted topic because they
can find what they are looking for. Take the time to alphabetize
your links, and if you find yourself with over 100 links in a
certain category, split the category.
Third, publicize your links directory. Have it as a sub-domain
of your main site, or even have its own domain name. Submit it
to as many web directories and search engines as you do for your
main website.
Dramatic results? No, not hardly, but content is king and if you
make your links directory into a valuable component of your
website, with ever changing content, you will have a better
chance of return visitors.