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