Strong words? Well, yes, yes they are and I mean it. Over the last 3 weeks, I have received at least 15 emails asking for a link exchange with this blog to another blog. If you blog and have more than your mom reading your blog, you are most likely getting some of these emails too.
You and I probably can’t stop these emails from coming. What I can do is try to stop you from being a “blogging whore” and sending them out yourself. Seriously folks if you are reading this blog and have been reading it for any length of time don’t do it. And if you are, I am ashamed of you.
Why you shouldn’t send out those bone head emails
Of all the things anyone can do, sending out one of these emails is just stupid. We talk here a lot about building a relationship with other bloggers. Bloggers in your niche and out. Bloggers who have more influence and authority than you do. And even new bloggers.
The quickest and surest way to completely turn off what some might call an “A-lister” blogger is to send an email requesting a link exchange. Do you seriously want to get the “A-lister’s” attention? Instead of sending out that email, put a link in a post on your blog out to this blogger.
What do we mean by a link in a post?
Write a kick butt post, a “pillar” content post. A post that is at least 1,500 words long and is some of the best writing you have ever done.
Write the best post title you have ever written. Have a kick ass first paragraph that spells out exactly what you are going to say and what your premise is. Use sub-headings, bullet points, number paragraphs, short paragraphs and sentences.
Use internal links in your post, out to these other bloggers. Link to other bloggers who you would like to have link back to you.
What kind of links and to whom should you be linking too?
Don’t be afraid to link out to a competitor. Want to get the attention of a competitor, link to them. Trust me, if they are blogging they will know you just linked to them. At least if they are blogging right they will. Will they link back to you? Who the heck cares.
You are accomplishing a couple of things.
- You are showing your market you are not afraid. You have no fear of your perceived competitor. In fact, you actually think they are providing some valuable information which you want your audience to read.
- Second, your audience will appreciate the fact you are providing them with valuable information. Even information from a competitor.
Do you really think you are going to get any of that by sending out one of those bone head emails asking that competitor to link to you? And, do you really think they are going to take you seriously as both a blogger and a competitor if you send them an email like that. They are going to sit up and take notice of you a heck of a lot more if you just do an organic link in a blog post.
Organic linking is what you should be doing. That is what we have been mentioning through out this post. And I think I have talked about it in at least 20 previous post here on Blog For Profit.
“Organic link exchange is where a blogger cites a post or a blog from another with a link”
The blogger sending out those link exchange emails does not get the importance of that last statement. They don’t get the fact that using organic linking in a good, well written, relevant blog post is so much more powerful than any link exchange or even those god awful “blogrolls”. I am talking about those blogrolls you see on blogs that are full of irrelevant links to blogs which have nothing to to do with the content or topic you are writing about. They are a waste of good blog real estate and serve no purpose whats-so-ever. But, I digress.
Here is what I want you to do instead of sending out that link exchange email.
Go out of your way to find great posts to link too. Then, go to the posts you link too and leave a comment. Then, once you’ve published your post, email the owner of the post you linked to and let them know you loved their post and just published something about it on your own blog. Then, go and tweet the post you linked too – giving the blog owner another reason to pay attention to you. Send the post to your Facebook account, LinkedIn account and any other social media tool you are using.
In the process of all of this, don’t you dare ask for a link back from this blogger you linked to.
I will guarantee you, this other blogger is going to know you are linking to them and they will see the links and traffic from what you are doing. That is if they are blogging right.
This is the essence of organic linking and why it is such a powerful tool to use. You simply will not get that from sending out a link exchange email.
Final Thoughts
Why am I writing about linking again? Because too many bloggers are not getting it. Too many new bloggers are getting the wrong information when they are starting out. And too many bloggers are doing it wrong. If you are using a blog to market or promote your business, you want to get the best return on the time and investment you put into your blogging. Sending out a stupid link exchange email is not the way. Linking the organic way is the way. Just do it!
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be putting the finishing touches on something I am very excited about. Start Blogging Today will be a one stop shop where you can get all the information you need to start using or improve on what you are doing with a blog. Its focus will not be on “getting rich quick”. If that is what you are looking for, you can use this link to find those sites. What you will find will be a lesson plan which take you from day one and beyond using a blog and social media to market and promote your business or professional service firm.
We are not going to hold any punches either. You are going to get the down and dirty on how to blog and use social media. I can assure you, we are not going to sugar coat it or make it touchy-feely. Your business’ future and your marketing is too important for that. We want you to have a larger audience, community and readership on your blog than just your mom.
You can go here to learn more and sign up for our free report. You will also be on our list of people who will get news and the official launch date when we are ready to announce that.
