Reciprocal linking is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to increase traffic to your website and to increase your rankings in some search engines. It simply means that you include a website's information, including their clickable URL (internet address), on your own website in exchange for them listing your website information on their site.
There are several benefits of reciprocal linking:
- It creates an atmosphere of networking and community online, so that you are being helped in return for helping others.
- People will see you in many different places on the web, which gives the image of permanence and longevity and creates trust.
- It increases your website traffic from other websites.
- It increases your ranking in some search engines.
Before explaining how to create reciprocal links, there are a few things you should know. First, it may help to understand that no one is obligated to link to any other website on the Internet, including you. Every link that is placed is at the sole discretion of the website owner.
This means that the single most important element in reciprocal linking is respect. Website owners don't owe you a link; you are asking them to do you a favour, so be courteous and kind when requesting reciprocal linking. It also means honouring those who link to you by including a link to them on your own website in return.
Secondly, it will help you to understand how some search engines increase your ranking based on links. For example, Google uses their PageRank Technology to measure the importance of web pages by interpreting a link from Page A to Page B as a vote for Page B by Page A. PageRank then assesses a page's importance by the number of votes it receives.
PageRank also considers the importance of each page that casts a vote, as votes from some pages are considered to have greater value, thus giving the linked page greater value. Important sites with the most votes from important websites appear at the top of search listings.
So, then, how do you go about getting other websites of "importance" to link back to you?
First, you need to find appropriate websites:
- Think about what other kind of websites would your website visitors be likely to visit, and approach them for a reciprocal link.
- Do a search in your favourite search engines using keywords your visitors would be likely to use. Approach the top listed websites for reciprocal links.
- Find other websites similar to yours, and find out who is sharing reciprocal links with them.
- Do a search for directories pertinent to your website, and add your site wherever appropriate.
Once you have found websites to approach for reciprocal linking, how do you go about asking for a link to your website?
Send an email that includes all of this information:
- The name and URL of the website you're approaching
- A polite request for reciprocal links
- Your website name and URL
- Linking instructions back to your website
- Your name and contact information
Here's a sample email asking for reciprocal linking:
Dear ______,
I found your website, [their website name and URL], while searching the web today, and I'd like to ask you about exchanging links with us.
Our website can be found at [your website URL]. It is a website dedicated to [a brief description of your website here].
We have a links and resources section on our website where we'd like to add your website. We'd like to ask that, in return, you add us to your website's resources. Please use the following information:
Our website: [Your website name]
URL: [Your website URL]
Description: [Description of your site]
If interested, please reply to this email and we'll add your site with our next updates.
I appreciate your time in reading this email, and look forward to hearing back from you.
[Your name]
[Your title if applicable]
[Your website URL]
Reciprocal linking can be beneficial in so many ways for everyone. It's definitely worth the little time and effort it takes to put in place, for all concerned.
Recommended reading:
Read about Google's PageRank system at http://www.google.com/corporate/tech.html
© 2004 Renée Deakin. All rights reserved. Copying of this article in any form by any means, mechanical or electric, is strictly prohibited without express permission from Earth Spirit Creations. You may link back to this webpage, as long as full credit is given to author. Contact us for more information.