There are no hidden secrets on how to rank high with the major search engines. All that is needed is a basic understanding of
how search engines work and a bit of know how. Perhaps the biggest contributing factor to a successful web site is incoming links
or Back Links. Without links, your website will more than likely go unnoticed. So how should you accumulate these links? Below
are a few basic methods to accumulate quality back links.
Before You Get Started
You MUST understand how search engines work. Over 90% of your business will likely come directly from search engine results.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential to optimize your site for search engines. You could have the greatest deals in the entire
world, but if no one knows about them then your efforts are wasted. Do a search on google for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
You will find tons of great information on how to create a website that is both user friendly and search engine friendly. There
are also countless numbers of companies and freelancers out there who offer SEO services. Just be cautious of their offers and
do your research first. Remember, NO ONE can guarantee top placement in major search engines, no matter what they say.
Where Should Back Links Come From?
1. Articles are a fantastic source of links and additional traffic to your site. There are countless sites online that
want your articles. It's a win win situation for everyone. When you write articles and submit them online, you are able to leave
a link to your own site and sometimes even anchor text. I know what you're saying, "I can't write about anything." I use to feel
the same way. But the truth of the matter is, anyone can write. You just have to find a topic that interests you. You can write
about anything from dogs, to computers, to personal training, to web hosting - heck you can even write about writing. The bottom
line is, articles are a valuable source of "relevant" back links to your site.
2. Submit to directories. There are literally hundreds of "free" and "paid" directories online. With 3 hours of painless
work, you can have your site submitted to hundreds of great directories. There are many quality lists of directories that are
regularly updated. One of my favorites is Best-Web-Directories.com which is
always updated and maintained.
3. Develop link exchanges with relevant sites. The major search engines such as google see incoming links from relevant
sites, and give them more rank compared to a link from an unrelated site. For example, if you have a website about pet care
products, your link strategy should target pet related sites. Again, with a bit of hard work and determination, you can develop
a great number of "relevant" back links.
4. Forums are a great source for additional traffic and links. Many forums allow their users to display signatures in
their posts. These signatures can consist of both text and links. When you post a new message on that forum, your website's link
will be displayed for everyone to see. This not only helps build valuable back links, but will bring additional traffic to your
website.
5. Join a link co-op. Co-ops such as the one found at DigitalPoint.com are an
amazing source of valuable back links and free advertisement. What is a co-op network? A Co-op network is a network of site
owners/webmasters that offers ad space to the network. In return, the ads they define are displayed across the entire network.
The best part of ad networks such as the one found at digital point, is, they are free. Having your site in a co-op can literally
mean thousands of back links for your site.
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6. Buying ezine ads is a paid method of advertising, but it works, because it is the most targeted of these approaches.
Write a concise ad for your business and link to either a lead-capture page or directly to your autoresponder. Then, begin
contacting ezines to place your ad. (Do a search for "ezine directories," and you will find enough lists to keep you busy.) When
you contact an ezine, look for rates for both classified ads and solo ads. The advantage to a solo ad is that your ad goes out
by itself in a separate email, but they can be more expensive. Because these ads are targeted (you should NOT advertise in an
unrelated ezine), you will definitely see traffic, but you will need to track your results to see which ezines bring you the most
and best traffic.
7. Ad Swaps can be an exellent source of advertising. Start by writing some killer copy (to coin a phrase...there are
many free articles and ebooks writen on the subject). Simply use your favorite search engine and type in..."how to write ad copy".
I googled this phrase while writing this article and got 12,400,000 results. WOW! Once you have your ad written, search out
ezines that are in the same category as your business or service. Again, use your favorite web search. Build yourself a list of
ezines and then email them, asking if they accept ad swaps. Include your ad in your correspondence so they can see what you are
offering. Another way to find ezines is to do a web search for "ezine directories". Look up ezines in your category of business
or service. Most listings will tell you if they accept ad swaps and the parameters of the ad such as how many lines and how many
characters per line. Don't forget to place your website url in your ad.
If you want to have a successful site, whether-it-be a hobby or for business, you have to understand how search engines work. Part
of that understanding, is knowing about link development. Maybe in the early 90's the idea of "if you build it they will come"
might have been true. But, in the year 2005, the internet is a far more competitive and complex place. To be successful today,
you have to work at it. Without a quality source of back links the search engines will all but ignore your site.
About The Author
Richard D. Moore is the President and Founder of IncomeNow! Marketing Masters. We offer Free support to every subscriber to
IncomeNow! A No Hype, No Bull, Honest and Real source to help you start or grow your business and/or Ezine.
http://www.incomenow.9k.com
