| Most web-savvy people quickly learn why they need | | | | guaranteed to result in traffic, so it is worth the effort |
| "links" from other sites pointing at theirs. Your inbound | | | | -- and sometimes the cost -- of getting listed in the |
| links are one of the most important ways of | | | | resources that score high for your keywords.Traffic |
| generating traffic to your website, and influencing the | | | | from Search EnginesThe second reason for getting |
| search engines.Traffic is what linking is all about. | | | | inbound links is to impress the search engines. Most |
| Without traffic your website is useless as a tool for | | | | search engines use the quantity and quality of your |
| selling your products or communicating your ideas. | | | | inbound links to evaluate the importance and relevance |
| Getting links from other websites is not the only way | | | | of your site to specific keywords. For instance, if you |
| to generate traffic, but it is probably the most important | | | | sell a product like Full Color Vinyl Banners, or you are a |
| one.But how do links generate traffic?Direct traffic | | | | Real Estate agent servicing San Diego Real Estate, |
| from linksFirst, links generate direct traffic. Links from | | | | one of your objectives is to rank high for searches |
| sites that share your target audience will be an | | | | done on your primary search phrase (and other similar |
| important source of traffic to your site. A visitor to the | | | | ones).This will result in traffic because when people |
| other web site sees the link to yours, clicks on it, and | | | | search for your important keywords your site is more |
| becomes your visitor. Some estimates put the | | | | likely to show up in the search results. The more |
| percentage of internet traffic resulting from this kind of | | | | inbound links you have that relate your site to full color |
| link as high as 21% of total traffic.Why do people click | | | | vinyl banners or web promotion services, or "fill in your |
| on these links? One reason is they may view a link to | | | | keyword here", the higher your site is likely to rank for |
| an outside source as an endorsement. They assume | | | | these terms, and the more search engine traffic you |
| the webmaster is saying "Here is a source you will find | | | | are likely to receive as a result.Using Articles to get |
| interesting or helpful". They are looking for the kind of | | | | traffic and influence the search enginesEmbedding |
| service you provide, so they click on the link to check | | | | your links in articles is one of the best methods of |
| you out.But just as important is simple curiosity. | | | | rapidly increasing your inbound links. Many times a |
| Someone sees a text link with intriguing wording like | | | | well-written article will show up in hundreds of places |
| "Powerful Cheap Advertising" or "Win a Free iPod" or | | | | on the web. And if it has your link embedded in it, that |
| "See Pamela Anderson Video" and, depending on their | | | | will obviously increase your inbound links. Webmasters |
| interests, a certain number of people are likely to click | | | | pick up these articles because they want content to |
| on it.This suggests at least three things about your links. | | | | enhance the value of their sites.Articles will also |
| First, you should get as many links as possible on | | | | generate direct traffic because people who read them |
| pages your target audience is likely to be visiting. The | | | | are already interested in your subject matter, and are |
| more people see your links, the more traffic you are | | | | therefore more likely to click on your link.This suggests |
| likely to get.Second, your anchor text (the words that | | | | that the most valuable place to publish your article is in |
| are linked) should be intriguing. It should be short and | | | | a themed or categorized article resource. For instance, |
| sweet, and suggest a benefit -- a reason for people to | | | | if your product is "health" related, having it published on |
| click on it.Third, your links should be on pages that | | | | health-oriented sites will be more valuable than having it |
| people actually look at. Having hundreds of links on | | | | published on generic sites.You can even take this a |
| pages that nobody ever looks at will not result in traffic | | | | step further. If your article is about something more |
| -- at least not direct traffic. Putting your link on a link | | | | specific like "weight loss advice", then getting it |
| exchange page containing hundreds of services similar | | | | published on sites that focus on "weight loss" will get |
| to yours is not likely to generate very many clicks. This | | | | more "reads", and have a greater influence on the |
| is why exchanging links with link directories is such a | | | | search engines.Second, when embedding your link, try |
| questionable waste of time. Web visitors rarely look at | | | | to use anchor text that contains one of your important |
| these directories.Finding good pages where you can | | | | keywords, not just your URL or web address. |
| place your link is not always easy. One method is to | | | | Remember that search engines are dumb.One of your |
| systematically do searches for your most important | | | | objectives is to have them relate your website to |
| keywords -- the search phrases people are likely to | | | | specific search terms (keywords or key phrases). And |
| use when looking for your kind of product or service. | | | | the best way to do that is to use them as your anchor |
| Many of the results will be competitors of yours. But | | | | text.Rick Hendershot is a writer and publisher of |
| one or two may be secondary sources such as | | | | Linknet Promotions. The Linknet article publishing |
| directories or reference pages. Getting your link on | | | | service, systematically embeds your links in targeted |
| some of these secondary sources is almost | | | | articles and blog posts. |