The links you create to and from other sites are crucial to your online success. Drive more traffic to your site by carefully managing both types of links. If you develop a strong content-oriented site, you can persuade other webmasters to link to you or to trade links with you.

Networking

The key is to develop content people want to link to. Then get out there and network, both in person and online. In person, talk up your website to your personal and business contacts. Ask everyone you know which websites might be appropriate for mutual linking with your site. Find people who offer a related product or service (not necessarily your direct competition) and ask if they want to trade links. Explain that this benefits both of you. Online, visit people's sites, send personalized emails to their webmasters, and make posts to discussion groups, forums, and blogs.

Building Links

A strong showing of links to and from your site can really benefit your search engine rankings. When search engines use links to rate your site’s relevance, they are copying the word-of-mouth principle: if a qualified person is willing to recommend you by linking to you, this increases your standing in the online community, just as word of mouth recommendations boost your reputation in a real-world community.

What’s your experience with building your links page? Tell us your stories here!