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The answer is - it is risky ground.  Some say it is good marketing, but there are examples of this backfiring - so the best advice is to be aware of the risks and tread lightly.  Technically when you really look at it - it is good marketing, but it is also an alternative to paying cash, and Google doesn't like this type of link building Giveaways and even offering a discount in exchange for a link can land you in hot water.  Take the whole Overstock penalty for example, they were getting links on EDU sites by offering discounts to students and faculty.  Good marketing or shady link building? Debatable. Would they have gotten caught if they weren't such a big name? Who knows... To be on the safe side, my recommendation is to host a giveaway, but make no mention of "linking back" to your site.  You can probably say "please share this contest with your friends and family" but "sharing" isn't necessarily asking for a link.  Any links obtained out of interest in the contest are earned through good marketing/content. Edited to add: You also have to consider FTC disclosures when giving away any product for a review. Also, I can't find it right now, I will continue looking, but I think remember reading something from Matt stating that if you are giving away a product you have to ask them to no-follow any links.

Hey Eric, Here are a couple resources and thoughts: seomoz.org - take a note from Moz's community building approach, it's one of the best, imho. Also check this: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/ecommerce-seo-making-product-pages-into-great-content-whiteboard-friday Which reminds me of Zappos.com Hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks First, Unfortunately, a lot of these advantages of using Textbroker don't seem to be offered inside of Raventools.  For example, you get to choose the interests of the writer, but you cannot retain a writer if you have found one you like.  Essentially, each time it is a crapshoot. I like the convenience of it being inside of the tool, but I'm not sure if I am willing to roll the dice every time.

Saw this and thought of you. http://www.seomoz.org/webinars/content-for-local-sites-and-local-search