·How to get reciprocal linksThe best method is to look on the internet for sites that complement your own. Don't look for sites that provide the same service - they won't usually link to a direct competitor! Write down the contact email address for the webmaster and a brief description of the site. When you have a list of possible candidates, contact the webmaster (by name if you can), tell them that you visited their site and ask politely if he/she would like to participate in providing a reciprocal link. I would suggest that you provide a link to their site before you email them. Not all will respond. Some may reject you, but others will be only too happy to give you a reciprocal link.
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·Check out the competition
Using the search engines, find who has given links to you competitors. Make a note of those sites and, using the steps shown above, ask them for a reciprocal link.
To find who links to a particular site use the following query at Google: "link:www.domain.com" - where www.domain.com is the domain of your competitor that you are researching for reciprocal links.
For a complete list of search operators visit Googles page on advanced search
operatorsFor a complete list of search operators visit Googles page on advanced
search operators
Search engines like sites that have links to them. They are seen as an authority on the subject matter. However, the type of link is important. I use text links with keywords in the link. Try to avoid reciprocal links like click here for.... For example, if you have a site that sells Western Clothing then get reciprocal links that read Western Clothing. If you want to emphasize particular keyword(s) for items sold on the site you could get other text links that read Cowboy Hats or Cowboy Boots. Your site will then be seen as relevant for the keyword Western Clothing plus Cowboy Hats and boots. YEEHAW! - or should that be YAHOO?
There is much debate about the value of reciprocal links from sites with low or non-existent pagerank. If a site has a pagerank of four or more (on the google toolbar scale) they are usually good links to have. However, the rules for the value of links changes. Newer site may wish to get links, any links, just to get the search engines attention. While established sites will only be looking for quality links. There has also been talk recently of discounting multiple links from the same "locale" or IP address. The best advice I can give to you is to try to get as many good links as possible from decent sites.
If you want my opinion - don't use them. I would rather have a few links from genuine sites than a hundred from a link farm. Beware of sites that put up a link to your site that is not a direct link. Some sites will display what appears to be a reciprocal link to your site but, is in fact, a link to a script which they use to associate the link on their page to direct people to your site. To be of any benefit the link must reference your site directly.
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