5 More Ways to Build Links to Your Website --So People Can Find You!
Ready for more link building ideas? Yesterday I shared five easy link building strategies. Today I’ll share five that aren’t as easy. They take more time. But the results are worth it.
6. Submit articles to article directories and other information portals.
A nice percentage of my traffic comes from articles that I’ve written and submitted to sites like EzineArticles.com, SelfGrowth.com, and WAHM-Articles.com.
EzineArticles & WAHM Articles are among a large group of “article directory” sites where you can submit an article you’ve written and give permission for others to republish it. For example, I’ve submitted articles to these sites that ended up on sites like CWAHM.com.
I also submit articles directly to some websites, like Frugal Fun. Here’s one I’ve published there: Setting Up Your Home Office on a Shoestring Budget. SocialBrandWagon is another site I’ve submitted content directly to.
Many sites accept direct submissions and that can be a great way to get your content in front of the readers you’re looking to connect with.
You can also check out sites like HubPages.com and Squidoo.com to share your content and build links.
The benefit for you is that you’re getting your content to a wider audience. The benefit for the directories and other web sites who publish your articles is that they’re getting quality content free.
I’ll be blogging more about article marketing later this month since it was a requested topic when I asked you want you want to read about. If you’re in a hurry, I’ve got a guide to article marketing here.
7. Use social bookmarking websites.
My personal favorite is StumbleUpon. You can also check Digg, delicious, and others. I notice that StumbleUpon can generate a significant amount of traffic, but it comes with a high bounce rate. Still, if 100 people click to visit and only two stick around to subscribe then then 2 seconds it took to bookmark on SumbleUpon was worth it.
If you want to follow me on StumbleUpon, here’s my page: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/MichelleShaeffer/?grid.
8. Guest blog post for other blogs.
This is one of my favorite strategies for getting in front of the audience I want to bring here. Since I work with work at home entrepreneurs I look for opportunities to post on sites that have that audience like Solo-E.com, CWAHM.com, WAHM-Articles.com, RaisingCEOKids.com, and similar sites.
Guest blogging benefits you in several ways:
- you’re reaching a wider audience to share your expertise
- you’re building links back to your website
- you’re establishing credibility
It also benefits the blogs you visit because in addition to getting your content they’re getting your promotion and visits from your audience. When I’ve had guest bloggers featured here on my site, traffic spikes as they share their guest blog posts and their followers stop by to visit.
So it’s really a win-win for both the blogger and the blog.
If you’re interested in guest blogging and want a step by step plan to follow, you’ll like my guide: Become a Web Celebrity with Guest Blogging.
9. Write and submit press releases.
Press releases can help you get media attention (obviously, right?) but they can also help you build links! Many online press submission websites are free and when you submit your press release you get a link back to your website.
Here are some sites you can submit press releases to (these offered free options last time I checked, but most require you to setup an account and will offer upsells so you’ll need to decide if that’s a good idea for the specific release you’re submitting):
- www.prlog.org
- www.free-press-release.com
- www.free-press-release.info
- www.pr-inside.com
- www.theopenpress.com
- www.clickpress.com
- www.newswiretoday.com
- www.1888pressrelease.com
- www.24-7pressreleases.com
- www.free-press-release-center.info
- www.pressmethod.com
- www.express-press-release.net
You can also submit your press releases directly to news websites (like NPR.org) — but please be sure they’re really newsworthy with an interesting angle before you do that. You’ll get more bites from the press by developing your own media list of contacts specific to your niche and/or local area, or going after interviews/quotes through a service like Help a Reporter. But the online press release directories can be a good way to build links to your site and get some press attention.
Want to learn more about press releases? Sign up for my free ecourse here: https://michelleshaeffer.com/resources-2/press-release-power/
10. Post link bait on your website — like great freebies, tipsheets, lists, and other resources.
A few weeks ago I wrote about self care and linked to a free massage guide. I’ve also linked to other freebies and giveaways. Creating valuable content that you give away (either free with opt-in or just free to download) encourages others to share your site and link to you.
What can you create? Here are some examples of what I could create from the 10 Ways to Get Links posts (yesterday’s and the one you’re reading right now):
- a PDF version of this post as a “special report”
- a 10 day ecourse where each day I offer one strategy with tips on how to make it work
- an audio version where I read these two posts and turn it into an MP3
- a YouTube video with a slide for each strategy and either voice over of me talking or just background music
- a slideshare presentation with a slide for each strategy
- an article combining the two posts that’s free to reprint (with credit to me)
- an action guide that offers each tip with space to make notes and check it off as it’s done
- a checklist of directories to submit to – using the list I posted yesterday and adding check boxes
See how easy that is? These are just 8 ideas off the top of my head that could be done from two blog posts.
You’ve probably already got content you can turn into a cool piece of link bait! Make it happen.
Your turn: What are your favorite ways to build links? What’s worked well (or not so well) for you?
Photo Credit: Yuman at sxc.hu
Hi Michele,
Thanks for the list of press release sites, and I especially like tip #10, the link bait ideas! I don’t do that enough, so thanks for the great ideas.
You’re welcome. The link bait one is fun. :)
Hi Michelle,
Wow – these tips are wonderful and will keep me going for ages.
Thanks so much.
Heather x
Thanks, Heather. Yes, there’s plenty to keep us busy!
What an easy set of things to follow. I’ve started guest blogging and I love it. What really excites me is when I want to write on a topic other than photography – instead of confusing my readers, I can guest blog for someone else.
I’ll be submitting a piece for an animal commuicator in South Africa next week. It will give me an opportunity to find more readers for my blog by tapping into an audience that I wouldn’t normally go for :)
Thanks for always sharing great ideas!
That’s an excellent approach, Kimberly. Guest blogging does add a lot of freedom for us to write about different topics than we normally would.
Even more great tips, Michelle! Thanks.
You’re welcome, Angie. :)
Hi Michelle,
Great tips! I especially like the last one. Repurposing content is always a great thing to do and using that for linkbait on your site, well what can I say. That’s brilliant!
Guest posting is also a fantastic way to get more links (and traffic) to your site. I’ve only done it a few times but am planning on doing it more in the near future.
I need to figure out how to balance guest posting with posting here.
Yes, once we’ve got that content created, might as well make use of it in as many ways as we can! :)
Michelle,
Thanks for the resources. Some of these directories I had not heard of. I have been looking for some new ideas I can use for a couple of clients. I think I will start with HubPages.
There are so many out there, aren’t there? Always somewhere new to get listed or another site to put content on… :)
Michelle, These second 5 tips are absolutely great! I’ve already implemented most of the first 5, and I’m about to guest post with someone else who writes in my overall genre but different country and slightly different slant. I’m actually scheduling time in the days ahead to implement some of this post’s tips as well. Totally cool! Keep doing what you’re doing, you’re sharing is really helping a lot of us, and branding you as the expert at the same time. Win-win! Thanks
Linda, that sounds like a great plan. :)
Great tips michelle, didn t know about the comment luv plug. 2 links cool. I will definitely be looking out for that. thanks.
These are excellent tips Michelle. I’ve noted the comment luv plug on other blogs. I need to see how to add it to mine.
Hi Michelle, as always you provide solid information and this means a lot of work for me to do. I like putting into action your suggestions! I tried to join Technorati today and it’s giving me an error message on my first name. The message says that it has to be between 1 and 31 bytes. Any idea what that means? I will try to join again later because I tried several times and it didn’t work. Thanks!
The link bait idea was great! Gave me a lot of ideas!