Provide Rich Unique Content

                                                                 Rich Content

Spend time building valuable content on your site through different keyword windows.You can probably stretch it to advertising directories.But what if it does?By building up a working rapport with other local Webmasters or affiliates, there are lots of ways that you can mutually benefit by trading links with several similarly themed sites, which are non-competing.Inktomi's link analysis program policy is that sites that link to its relevant topic category page on Yahoo receive improved hub factor rankings because of Yahoo's popularity.What about the hundreds of free directories?First, because you have a good testimonial for your product/service and second, you've increased your link popularity -- all with one link!Also, make sure to thoroughly annotate links on your Web site with targeted keyword phrases.While you're at it, link back to the search engines.The answer is usually yes.Become a Content Provider: The bottom line is the easiest most obvious answer.Go after authoritative sites.Visit Search Engine Guide and Beaucoup for a listing of vertical engines and directories.Who Should You Target?There are also boosts and penalties involved.If you are a wholesaler, you don't sell to the public, only to retailers.Yes, the search engines have many employees, and some of them have the job of maintaining the integrity of their search results.Like AOL, for example.Think about it.Be creative but stick with your theme.Make sure the directory is already in Google, has a good PR, and doesn't use dynamic script in the address.By providing them with an asset, you're reaching them in a new way that goes beyond a simple link request.This will aid Google and other engines in their partial indexing.Same deal with your friends.Is there any reason WHY people should link to your site?If the cost increase is just a few cents, get in the top five, and your site could be found across all of Overture's partner sites rather than only at Overture.Take a few days and MANUALLY submit your site to every directory that will take it.A couple of notes: Don't market in your article.Include in your article sig file (or credit box) your site link and an enticing description.That way, everyone wins.The writer gets a link from you.One or two authoritative sites linking back to you will do you more good than 1,000 irrelevant links.Be sure to include your byline at the end of your article, including your name, company name, and URL's, and make sure to use appropriate keyword-containing link text.Web sites that employ emotional elements often find that other sites with a similar theme will automatically link up to them just because of that emotional appeal.You can take this approach a step further by offering your article or newsletter to other sites with the condition that they link back to your site.Remember to give your very best to your fellow Webmasters as these relationships are win/win.It's also the toughest to do.Your homepage is not the only part of your site that you can get links for.Give people a reason to link to you.Get a link in an appropriate category from an About.Find as many themed directories to submit to as possible.A very effective strategy to gain quality links as well as traffic is to license content from your site for free in exchange for a link back to you.If you offer an online newsletter, there are directories just for newsletters you can get links from.Have an easy way for people to link back to an article or content if they like it.List your top 10 retailers as a reward to them.What if the search engines check if your site leads back to them?Fill any gap you see - create something new that they don't already have on file Market in your sig file only and be sure to include your full site URL!If your site has multimedia files, there are multimedia search engines you can submit to.If you are niched or focused on one aspect of marketing, then also look to that for your directories.A sure fire way to increase link popularity is to have a high quality newsletter or article section on your site.You'll be shown a list of sites that have link pages on them in your keyword area, and some of them may be worth writing to.The top sites in a keyword category often don't have a links program, but they do have an e-zine or content library on their site.Dozens of them are directories.Look for popular sites.As you do, more and more people will begin linking to your site, as they're linking to your valuable content.Link directly to the page you can be found on.They read the popular search engine boards so be very careful about how you recruit a gang of cross linkers.Become an expert in your particular field and write related articles.Same with retailers, link to your main wholesalers, unless they have to remain a secret for some reason.This is especially good when you can get a high quality site to use your linked story on their site.Ask your upstream or downstream suppliers to link to you and you to them.But what if they don't have a links program in place?Advertising agencies and printing shops can link to their customers and vice versa.Here's one way to get yourself linked from these choice sites.Paying for a link at Overture.Think about your theme.Offer yourself as an expert.Now people will start linking to you.Be sure you get the bio with an additional link to your homepage as well.Link quality simply means how well positioned are the pages that link to you.Contact editors and writers and let them know you are available to be used as a source in exchange for a link and always push for the bio.Write a testimonial for a product or service that you particularly like in your topic area.Does it help?The popularity of About and the extent of their quality links positions the network as a mandatory stop in a marketing campaign.