8 things you can do to get more replies

1. Don’t require too much action from the other webmaster.

Some people write link exchange messages that read like this: "If you want to exchange links with us, click this, go here, and fill out this to make a request."

Remember that you ask the other webmaster and not the other way around. Link to the other web site first and tell the other webmaster where he can find the link.

2. Don’t teach the other webmaster about search engine optimization.

Don’t tell the other webmaster how great the effect of a link exchange will be for the search engine ranking of both web sites. The other webmaster probably knows this anyway. Some people don’t like to be taught in an email message they didn’t request.

3. Keep your email message short.

Don’t bore the other webmaster with long email messages. Come straight to the point, tell the other webmaster where he can find his link and where he can find easy to use copy/paste code for the link to your site.

4. Don’t ask for a link if the other web site is totally unrelated to your site.

Many webmasters don’t like it when they receive a request from a totally unrelated web site. Most people will only link to another web site if the other web site has something to offer for their visitors. Only write to related web sites.

5. Link to the other web site first.

Make sure that you link to the other web site before asking for a link back. Why should the other webmaster link to you if you haven’t bothered to link to him first?

Tell the other webmaster where he can find his link and make sure that the URL is correct.

6. Make sure that your web site has a professional design.

It’s very important that both your web site and your link pages have a professional design. Your company shouldn’t look like a dubious shop. Professional site design is very important for the success of your linking campaign.

7. Be polite and humble

Don’t praise your own web site. It’s enough to mention your web site URL and to explain what both your site and the link partner’s web site have in common.

Don’t use superlatives or more than one exclamation mark in your email message. Do not use "sales talk" in your link exchange message, for example, listing 5-10 benefits to the potential link partner.

8. Don’t use free email addresses.

Do not use a free email account. It makes your link request mail seem like a spam mail.

In short, really do visit the potential link partner’s web site and write a short and personal letter.

5 tips: how to convince webmasters that they should link to your site

How do you convince the webmasters of other websites that they should link to your website? Here are five tips that will help you:

1. Offer something in return

The easiest thing that you could offer is a link in return. Note that not all webmasters want to exchange links.

There are many things that you could offer in exchange for a link. This could be a discount for your products, an ad on your website or even a simple hint.

If you find a broken link on a website, inform the webmaster about the link. Tell him that your own website might be a good replacement for the broken link (if it is).

2. Ask your current link partners

If another website already links to you then they might add another link to a different page on your website.

Getting a second link from existing link partners is much easier than getting new links because you don’t have to explain yourself anymore. The other webmaster already knows you and your site.

3. Make friends with people from your industry

Networking can help you to get links to your website. This works best with blogs that are related to your website.

Contact the blog owners and compliment their sites. Do not ask for a link in your first contact. When you’ve a good relationship with the blog owner, you might inform him or her about a new product or a new article that you’ve written.

Chances are that you’ll get a link from the blog then. These links from related blogs have a great impact on the position of your website in Google’s search results.

4. Show that other webmasters already linked to your website

It’s easier for people to do something if they see that other people have done the same thing before. If many other websites link to your website, you could mention this in your link request.

If a well known website mentioned your site, that’s even better: "As you might have seen on NYTimes.com, we’ve published a new product. This might be interesting to the visitors of your website."

5. Offer something that other people don’t have

This is the easiest way to get links. If you have a report with ground-breaking new information or something that’s very interesting and only available on your website, then it will be very easy to get links to the page that contains that information.