Share your favourite link exchange template email with us!

[adriandg]

Hey Mozzers,

I've been working on a bunch of different templates lately to approach various companies in our industry for link exchanges.  But I'm somewhat stumped on what the best approach would be.  I want to convey the message that a link exchange would be beneficial to their ranking in search engines, but I don't want to come off sounding overly spammy.

Do you have a template that you have found worked well for you? Share it with us!

[AnthonyMangia]

I don't really do any formal reciprocal link exchanges via e-mail, but I do have a ton of success with the following method:

1.) Write a great blog post or piece of content for your own website.  Include in it links to other great blogs or resources about the topic you're writing about.

2. When the post is published, Tweet at the people whose websites you linked to and let them know that you mentioned their amazing, helpful resource in your latest post.

3. This generates a TON of retweets, and once in a while a great link back to my website from the blog/website that I mentioned.  It also helps me establish a line of communication with authoritative figures in my industry.  In short order, it puts me on their map, making future link requests much easier.

I know this isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I thought you might find it interesting.  Just my $0.02!

[adriandg]

Thank you for the advice.  We do have many other campaigns that are currently running and very successful at link building.  In this particular case we are looking to contact other local businesses in our area and offer them a link exchange.  They are not websites that blog, nor do we regularly blog, it just doesn't suit a small business profile.

So suffice to say, the only way i have ever been successful getting other local businesses to link to us is with the classic "link exchange" format.  Although it seems outdated, it still does work for this particular situation.

[AnthonyMangia]

Ah, gotcha.  In my experiences dealing with SMB clients, some great links for local businesses are from:

• Local directories (these also help build citations for local SEO purposes)
• Guest blogging on industry-related blogs (in your author bio, you can include a link back to your Wisconsin Cheese company - or whatever business it is that you are promoting)
• Sponsoring local events or finding other ways to get your company local press (links from newspaper websites, press release websites, and charity/event websites)

I don't mean to steer you away from link exchange requests as a tactic.  It can certainly be useful, and you're right, it can be an easy method for small businesses to obtain links from other local companies or websites.  I just get frustrated by the low response rate  and oftentimes relatively weak link opportunities that I see with this tactic.  Usually local competitors' websites are just like your own before you start working on SEO - weak, unoptimized, and with few backlinks.

I'd rather spend my time to get a guest post published on an authoritative website in my industry.  It might not be as relevant of a link as one of my competitors in the area, but I can guarantee that it is going to have a ton of authority and link juice behind it.

[KeriMorgret]

I agree with staying away from the link exchange page idea. However, I would think that you could find legitimate links from local sources, especially if you have any existing offline partnerships with them. Do you sponsor any little league teams or do any charity work? Do you offer free storage for women referred from the battered women's shelter (I know of movers that provide free moving for battered moving)? Anything like that you can ask for a link back from the people as a way for them to show their support. Natural links would also come from people involved in real estate, property management, student housing -- anyone that frequently deals with people that move and need a place to store things.