Link Building Matters - Really!!!

We already know that inbound links from other blogs and Web sites are critical for boosting your visibility with search engines, but what can be done to encourage those links?

Obviously, the more interesting your writing is, and the more you work to engage the blogosphere, the more people will link in. You should focus the majority of your efforts on these practices. That said, there are a few other tactics that can improve your chances of getting inbound links.

While most pro bloggers dislike receiving emails asking, “Hey, will you link to me?” a personal email simply notifying another blogger about a recent post that might be of interest can result in an inbound link.

One key to this strategy is to focus on quality, not quantity, of links. A few links from sites with high page rank is far better than a lot of links from sites with low page rank. If you are going to take the time to email others about your posts, focus on blogs that rank higher than your site does. You can download and install the Google Toolbar browser plug-in, which will tell you the PageRank of any site you visit.

Getting listed in one of the various Web directories such as the Open Directory Project can also get you an inbound link that Google has deemed important. You can submit your blog to one of the categories they list, and if you’re approved, you’ll get a nice bit of Google juice. Another good method is to employ some good link baiting tactics. Checkout Marks post for more information on Link Baiting.

There are some new services that, for a fee, will broker links from high-ranking sites that they have determined Google likely sees as related to your blog. I have heard that they can be effective. There are some risks with this approach, as Google strongly disapproves of the practice, and you have to avoid being taken by a dishonest service. Id avoid taking any risks. Instead, I would encourage you to spend your cash on getting great writers.

One last bit of common-sense advice: Don’t forget to be generous with your outbound links. Bloggers will often link back to you if they notice you are

Although the practice of search engine optimization is a subject that can fill volumes, crafting your site and your posts to align with your intended audience is the critical element. The resulting links can make your blog findable and will help increase blog readership. Remember that blogs are built to include SEO right from the get-go.