Please let me know how to improve this email backlink request

[BobGW]

Hello,

How can I improve upon this email request:

Your "Links" section contains a lot of good websites, and we would like our site to be added to the list.

Our pagerank 4 website, which carries (Here I said what we carry) You have similar sites located in the "Other" Section on your link page. We would greatly appreciate being added to this list.

Sincerely,

BobW
Webmaster
Our Site Name Here
Email Address Here
Phone Number Here

[Webrevolve]

Hi,

There was actually a great post on this subject a few days ago, worth taking a look. I think based on this, you could improve the structure of your email. http://www.seomoz.org/blog/how-to-write-email-to-get-a-better-response-rate

[BobGW]

Yes, I read that. I could not locate a name for who I was writing to. I tried to structure the email according to that article. Do you have any specific suggestions?

[Webrevolve]

Possibly this:

Hi,

Bob here from the ** * * and I wanted to drop an email to you and compliment your site. Nice layout, good info, good resources.

I was looking around at a few different sites for product/service information and I thought your's was one of the best.

That being said, I also noticed you guys have some great content related to product/service.  I currently work for a company that maintains a website that offers product/service, www.domainname.com.

We are a nationally recognized, reliable source for product/service on the web and I was wondering if you'd be interested in exchanging/advertising via links between your site and mine?

If not, thanks for the time and keep up the good work!

Thanks,
Bob

[BobGW]

Michael, do you have experience using emails like the one you outlined? How well do they work?

[Klarke]

Try using 'broken' link building.

There's several guides and posts here on Seomoz.  Just search.

Basically, you scan through the list of links, and you'll probably find a few broken or 404 pages.  Point those out and also recommend the addition of new resources, including your own.  It works extremely well, and you don't come across as the typical emailer that the webmaster probably encounters everyday.

Round off that strategy with a regular guest posts, link bait and other content marketing ...and you're solid.

[Webrevolve]

Yes, they work ok - best to keep an excel sheet to track who you have emailed. If you dont get a response after a couple of weeks resend. If you still dont get a response then move on.

You can pick some links up, but just make sure you don't spam web-masters and that your requests are relevant.

[TheSEODR]

In my experience with sending out link request emails, they always want to know how it benefits them. Whether you are offering content, infographics, guest blog post, broken link corrections, reciprocal link, endorsing them on a social media or providing a testimonial for their business, I have seen the best results by telling them how it will benefit their website.

Create a compelling title that mentions the benefit so you have a higher open rate. Getting them to open is half the battle.

Also, try including your website url in the body of the message so it easy for them to click through and review your site:

"Our pagerank 4 website - http://www.example.com - which carries (Here I said what we carry) You have similar sites located in the "Other" Section on your link page."

Make sure your request is short, clear and direct. Possibly rewording your opening sentence to:

"Would you consider adding our site on the "Links" section list?"

[BobGW]

Hi Derek,

What could I offer to benefit them in my case?

[BobGW]

Hi Klarke,

What would the title and first sentence of the email be if I'm doing "broken' link building?

[TheSEODR]

In the past, I have offered a variety of benefits to the sites I am contacting. Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head:

• Relevant and original blogs or articles

• sharing their site or advertisement on social media profile

• writing a testimonial for businesses or individuals that I have worked with

• "how-to" articles

• Infographics or visual guides

• Bringing typos or broken links to webmaster's attention

• A reciprocal link

[Klarke]

Try this guide. Some templates here:

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/broken-link-building-guide-from-noob-to-novice

Customize and tailor each email as much as possible.  Really look at the target site, follow them on twitter, learn about them, etc

For example, I recently started following a target.  I was going to do a broken link email, but soon enough, they were ranting in a blog post about their brand usernames being taken by squatters and inactive accounts on twitter/facebook.  I used that to reach out to them and suggest what to do to claim their usernames since I actually had the same problem.  I didn't even mention or request links, but they are now linking to our homepage and referencing other pages on my site.  All I did was sign my emails with my domain name, so they know who i am, where i'm from.

Essentially I made a friend by offering value, and asking for nothing in exchange.  That target would have been tough to get a link from otherwise.

In case that hadn't worked out, I WOULD have eventually asked directly for the link after having made a great first impression.

[BobGW]

Derek,

I meant to click on "Good Answer" for your answer. You really helped. I apologize, and I will click yours first next time.

[TheSEODR]

No worries - Glad I could help out.