(2)
Link building is going to happen whether I like it or not, so I better accept the 949394 emails I get per day. A WebmasterWorld thread asks link builders how they ask for links via email. Some tactics include putting the link up first (and thereby then emailing people -- they often will give the reciprocal link) and keeping the email short and brief and personal.
Ask for the link. Don't demand it.
Offer people you link to something valuable in return. For example, wheel suggests that you say something along the lines of "I've got data your visitors may find interesting" or "Here's a unique coupon code."
Since these are email requests, though, can you be reported to Google for spamming someone else? There's no answer to that -- it depends on the recipient.
I should add from my experience that it's unwise to ask big blogs for links. They might have a high PageRank and is extremely relevant for your purposes, but chances are, old posts won't be updated. (And like I said in sentence #1, we get hundreds of link exchange emails a week. That said, most aren't read anymore.)
Forum discussion continues at WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
Michael Martinez
12/30/2008 09:25 pm
Asking for links by email should be a third-tier priority. If people are basing their search engine optimization on this kind of strategy, they are really working inefficiently. If you're going to pursue this type of link building, the best sites to approach are new, less developed sites that are hungry for content. Give them unique content that they can use. Give value for value and help build your linking resources into partners rather than make them victims of abusive and outdated SEO practices.
No Name
01/09/2009 06:50 am
Thanks for the grate post. I think this could help to get a link form through and i could get around 10 link in 1 week time for my new website.