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Everyone wants links. But how do you get them if you are faced with doing things offline -- or rather, if you want to be unconventional and gather links in person, how do you do that?
A WebmasterWorld thread discusses some strategies you may not have thought of. One I did know about: going to industry conferences (ever see my link post?) But you can also give away free information offline (and over the phone) and be available for inquiries. In return, you can ask for a link. Some even resort to fax machines for this request.
Gather whois information and start calling -- sure, it's cold calling, but so is asking for links at times.
Don't be afraid to use the phone. Most of the later generation doesn't value it as much as the electronic communication, but it can be more potent when speaking to a person.
Forum discussion continues at WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
Michael Martinez
11/07/2008 06:28 pm
People don't need to beg for links like this. The SEO industry should be ashamed to be giving out advice like this. It makes us look no better than spammers and scamsters.
David Leonhardt
11/07/2008 07:47 pm
It's not begging at all. Consider the motel owner or the attractions owner. Either one will try to get his pamphlet placed in the others' establishment (think link exchange). But the smart attractions owner will also get that pamphlet into the grocery store, into mailouts, and anywhere else he can find a venue. It's not called begging, it's called trick or treating. Oops, that last line was meant for my daughter.
Tamar Weinberg
11/07/2008 07:59 pm
"People don't need to beg for links like this." Michael, where in the world did I or the post imply that anyone is begging for anything?
Michael Martinez
11/07/2008 09:35 pm
Cold calling for links = begging for links. This is absolutely ridiculous advice and no one in the SEO industry should be doing that. There are far better ways to obtain links -- and most sites don't need that many links anyway. That these kinds of inefficient techniques are in any way lauded as useful or desirable says a great deal concerning how much the SEO industry has forgotten when it comes to actual search engine optimization.
No Name
11/10/2008 03:39 pm
Although in general I'm not a big fan of cold calling anybody for anything and would personally never do it or be receptive to anybody doing it to me. However, this is one of many methods to achieving inbound links. It may or may not work and each of us will have to decide if it is something we would engage in but the moral questions of the advice doesn't invalidate the advice.
Orleana
11/10/2008 06:18 pm
If people have to beg for links in order to excel their businesses, then so be it. Don't tell them what not to do. They don't tell you how to run your business. As long as nobody's breaking law - knock your selves out.
No Name
11/10/2008 07:31 pm
If you can get links the legal way even if its calling, then why not? I personally wouldn't do this because it wastes too much time.