Comments on: 200 emailed link requests and counting…

By: Raquel

Raquel — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:19:43 +0000

Never in my life I’ve sent an e-mail offering my services, and I’ve never received offering seo services from others. I’m agree that natural links are the best strategy to link building, but requires dedication and small shop online can’t affords it…Great article!

By: Doug Heil

Doug Heil — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:15:56 +0000

Yes. It makes you wonder why the entire SEO industry does not take a hard stand with some of it’s members who practice this kind of email spam. The industry would rather turn it’s head the other way and simply say “buyer beware” at most every turn. It’s the same way with plain o’l search engine spammers/blackhats as well. The SEO industry simply ignores it and says “buyer beware”. Many don’t want any standards whatsoever, so that also includes no standards for acceptable email practices for SEO’s, etc. It’s a never-ending fiasco of “rolling on the floor with laughter” about how the SEO industry stomps all over itself on a daily basis, and then asks others and itself why the SEO industry has a bad reputation. ….. Duh?

By: Michael Martinez

Michael Martinez — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:42:02 +0000

Joe, I think it’s okay for Webmasters with shared, common interests to discuss how they can help each other. It’s the “contact 200 complete strangers with no real connection to you” mentality that I am challenging with this post.

I tend to create connections with other people by writing about them, linking to them, etc. There are other ways. But sending bulk, unsolicited emails is — in my opinion — an inappropriate and inexpert method.

By: Wiep

Wiep — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:24:00 +0000

“Why is it that people donâ€™t read the numerous discussions in these very same forums where experienced SEOs tell people not to do these dumb things? Or is it that the voice of the experienced SEO professional doesnâ€™t sound authoritative enough? Naive people, having no knowledge or experience with the SEO community, just latch on to the first idea they see promoted in a forum and hope for the best.”

People tend to choose the easiest and/ or fastest way out. Creating excellent content, showing dedication or just being passionate about something is much more ‘difficult’ than shooting out 200 link request emails.

By: joepreston

joepreston — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:04:02 +0000

This is sort of an exception proves the rule type comment, because I think I agree with this post in its entirety, but I think one place where any quality site can solicit effective links is about.com. I point it out because not only is it a quality backlink (to me, a quality backlink is simply a link that sends relevant traffic, without respect to “link juice” or whatever) but also their format encourages personal contacts to the individual “guides.”

I would also encourage people to solicit links from other web sites in your locality, many web sites that are focused on localities or regions are actively looking and IME often appreciate the tip (gasp). Your techniques above work fine for these sites as well, but the geographical relationship cuts across keyword niches and makes it harder to identify good local sites to link to.

My guess is you will grudingly accept the first comment and disagree with the second.