On the SEO page we stated that link exchanges can work if done properly. Many of the major search engines add value to sites that are linked to by other sites. This value results in a higher ranking. Why? Well, think like a search engine. They want relevant results and they value links because they feel that if your site is good enough for someone else to take the time to link to you then you must have a valuable site.

Decisions

So what do you do? Well, the ideal solution would be to have a website that's so great people will link to it just because they love your product/service. And with the right branding campaign that can and does happen. But for most of us, we must spend either time or money to get the inbound links we need.

Time

If you opt for the time, start looking for sites that your users/clients would find interesting. Contact the owners and ask them to place a link on their site to your site. If need be, you could even offer them a link back to their site from your site.

Obviously this will take time as you have to find relevant sites, make contact, and sometimes do a bit of negotiating. But many, including us here at Blue Phoenix, consider it a valuable part of your overall strategy. However, it should be noted that this should be done by someone at your company who knows their stuff. If you start linking to so called 'bad neighborhood' sites, the links could have a negative effect.

Money

A better solution is to invest money rather than time. This way you can hire people who manage linking campaigns for a living. Our team has experience gained through working on a large number of sites. And while the process is still labor intensive, we've managed to streamline it and work more efficiently than most.

In Closing

A word of caution though, this isn't a silver bullet or quick fix. Your link campaign should be a part of your overall lead generation methods. By itself it can help greatly, but when teamed with SEO techniques and an ongoing PPC campaigns you'll be truly amazed at the results.