| Inbound links, or links that direct people to your site | | | | services. Using a web service gives you portability, and |
| from other sites, are one of the cornerstones of a | | | | ensure you will never have downtime - rather than |
| strong online brand. Not only do they drive traffic | | | | having to remember to open a program to check your |
| directly, they also influence how much weight your site | | | | links, it is done for you every day and you receive an |
| carries with search engines, helping to bolster your | | | | email giving you an overview of new links gained and |
| online reputation. Many people take a passive | | | | lost. |
| approach to inbound links - if they appear, great, if they | | | | Develop a Linking Strategy |
| don't, they don't worry. Others work hard at getting | | | | You can then use this data to develop a weekly |
| new links, but are only aware of the links they directly | | | | strategy. Look at the new links you've gained, and visit |
| solicit. | | | | the sites they came from. Decide whether you think |
| Build Your Link Reputation | | | | that site has search engine relevance or traffic |
| Most people don't realize that by failing to monitor | | | | relevance for you, and if so how valuable it is. Find the |
| inbound links, you're actually missing a great opportunity | | | | context in which your link appears, and see if you think |
| to reach out to supporters, increase traffic to your site | | | | there is anything that could be improved - maybe it |
| and build your Google CV. The internet is built on a | | | | should go to a different page on your site, or have |
| model of reciprocity, and many people regularly check | | | | different link text. Then find contact information for the |
| their outbound links to see if the link is reciprocated. If it | | | | site operator and write them an email thanking them |
| isn't, they may cull those links to make more room for | | | | for the link to your site, informing them you have put up |
| people who will link back to them. Knowing when a site | | | | a reciprocal link (if you felt it was worth it), and if |
| links to you allows you to decide whether it is a link | | | | necessary asking them politely if they would mind |
| you want to pursue keeping, and gives you the chance | | | | updating your link information slightly. |
| to take the steps necessary to keep it. Knowing when | | | | You will also be informed when links to your site have |
| new links come in also gives you the opportunity to | | | | disappeared. In these cases, if the inbound link was |
| reach out to those people and, if necessary, ask them | | | | from a source you cared about, you'll want to send an |
| to improve the link text to best help your search | | | | email and ask why they removed the link to your site, |
| engine relevance. | | | | and whether there is anything you could do to |
| Collect Data About Your Links | | | | reconcile the situation. If they decide to leave your link |
| There are two main classes of inbound link monitors: | | | | removed, you may wish to remove any outbound links |
| standalone software and web services. Both has their | | | | you have to their site, as these one-way links may |
| merits and flaws, but as both have costs associated | | | | negatively impact your search engine rankings. |
| with them, most people choose to opt for free web | | | | |