How to Win Links and Influence People - Part 1

[thejenn]

Authored by: Jennifer Laycock

Full Text: http://www.searchengineguide.com/laycock/007962.html

A Snippet:

While there's no argument about the value of building quality links to your web site in order to help increase both traffic and search engine rankings, there is often some confusion about the best way to go about doing that link building. What would happen if small business owners started to think about link building in another way?

[St0n3y]

Great article Jen! This is very much how I've been thinking about links as of late, especially the thing about relationships. In a couple months we'll be losing our primary link builder. She's been great for the past couple years but has never really taken the job tot he next level, she just does what she's told., which is great... but as we look for her replacement, one of the things I keep mentioning to prospects and around the office is that this position will be more of a marketing position than anything else. It's no longer about sending impersonal emails but may require a bit more research for each site, finding contact names, using the phone and establishing that relationship... and then working on the link.

[thejenn]

Thanks Stoney!

It was funny because that book popped in my mind the other day and I went and looked it up on Wikipedia to read the main tenets of it... I'm skimming through going "whoa...that's exactly what you've gotta do NOW" Kinda neat to see how the two work together.

It comes into play even more when I get to the viral marketing and online reputation management article.

I'm just sort of tired of SEM and all the related marketing being made out to be SOOOO complicated that no one could possibly do them themselves. Most of this stuff is good old fashioned common sense.

[Matt McGee]

Ditto what Stoney said ... well, about the article, that is. )Not about losing our link builder. We don't have a link builder....)

Anyway, looking forward to Pt. 2....

[tresmom6]

I have read some other SEO sites and do read up on it as much as I can, but have never felt compelled to join in. Your articles have been fascinating and a breath of fresh air to me.

Teresa

[Trainer Bubble]

Thanks for posting this article. I have just started up my business and linking is all new to me, so any help I can get is gratefully accepted.

[thejenn]

Hey tresmom6 and trainerbubble! Thanks for the kind words and thanks for joining up!

There are three articles in the series, in case you missed the other two. Hopefully they'll all help you figure out some better ways to get good links to your sites.

Stick around! Always good to see new faces.

[MarieS]

Hi Jennifer --

I just wanted to give an enthusiastic THUMBS UP for your article...I read 1 and 2, did not find the link for 3.

My husband & I love Carnegie...we will often read a short snippet aloud over breakfast, GREAT reminders for being human and being "present" for others.

In researching the latest Internet marketing techniques...my brain starts to fuzz over, and I found myself just the other day trying to think of the process more from where my HEART is..and that is the PERSON-TO-PERSON element. It is how I do my best work, being of service and making true connections with people; so I find your article just when I need it...a reminder that running all over the web and posting to blogs just to get get back links isn't the only mindset out there for working online.

Peace!

[mikepudgings]

Read that article, it gave some great insight as I am new to this stuff.

[vangogh]

Thanks for the article Jenn. I've found I've been thinking and writing about the very same ideas a lot recently. It always help to look at the other person's point of view before asking them for something like a link. Why should they give it to you after all?

It's always easier to catch flies with honey than vinegar (or however that saying goes). Personalizing any request and showing you've taken some time to understand the other person's needs and how you can help them will go much farther than simply asking for a favor.

If the link is one you think is really important it may even be worthwhile to create content specifically for the site you want to get a link from. If you've seen someone on a site mentioning how they have a hard time finding 'X' online then create 'X' and send it to them to see what they think. You may not even need to ask for the link if you've created the content well enough.