Search Engine Optimization: External Links

These days it's not enough to merely have keywords for indexing your site. Search engines also take into account which sites are linking you. Therefore it's important to build a solid network of sites linking to yours. There are several ways to achieve this.

The simplest is what is known as a link exchange. First, compile a list of web sites with similar themes, then offer to exchange links with the webmasters of those sites. It is recommended to target popular sites that already have a decent amount of traffic. Not only will you receive a boost in your search engine ranking, but traffic from those sites as well.

There also exist link lists, sometimes also called portal sites. These sites are little more than directories of links and some even contain their own search engines. There are many link lists available, usually for specific themes. Look for link lists that match your own site's theme and submit to as many as possible.

Finally, it is possible to pay for links or advertising space on some sites. This method usually has the advantage of increased visibility on the sites that you are linking from.

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