Link Request Email on Site`s Link Pages

[hellopotap]

Hello

I have assembled a list of web-sites that have "Links" section that has a list of persons` favorite tools.

Those pages have a link to my competitor. I know my tool is just as good if not better and want to request a link.

I`m thinking of sending an email asking for a link and offering a small amount of money for it.

Questions:

A) How much should I offer? Should I offer anything at all

B) Is there an email style that someone can suggest that has been tested and proven to work for this type of situtation?

[AlanBleiweiss]

I would not recommend offering money for it.  I would simply ask to be included, or at the very least, what the criteria are for being placed on the page.  Links from such pages are not as valuable as you might think as far as SEO goes - they might be valuable if you believe a lot of people who are your ideal market go to such a page and click through.

Another factor is whether the page is clearly labeled as advertising space.  If it is, then sure, a fee would be valid.  But only based on statistics or data showing visitor usage and click averages, to justify the fee.  If it's not clearly defined as ad space, paying violates Google's terms of service (and possibly the FTC's rules on disclosure) and should be done with extreme caution.

[SteveOllington]

Alan is totally right, offering money for it is the wrong path to take, plus, as you'll need links more and more you'll forever be paying for them. Are the sites even that good that the links are of any value? If the page already links out to loads of people then that could make the link worth less.

Sure, pay for a link off of a site with huge credibility (as advertising), but not any old site with a links page.

Write something they'd like to link to and then tell them it exists.

[hellopotap]

Great replies, as far as the question A), for question B) are there any type of boiler template you can recommend or just play it by the ear?

[SteveOllington]

Well there is, but you want to only use it for reference as one of the biggest issues with it being successful is how personal it is (so never stick to a generic template). There's tonnes of tips out there, this URL should do the trick

http://www.seobook.com/art-pitching-email

[aarondicks]

The only links you want to be paying for are advertising ones if that's the route you're taking. If your tool is equally as good then they'll usually be more than happy to link to it!