Backlink 101, Day 5 : 7 Ways to Be A Content Provider
Alrite, it’s the day 5 of our 30 Days Backlink 101, the in-depth discussion for the oh so called backlink. Fasten our seatbealt, coz we’re on our way to begin the discussion to this Day 5 Topic, “7 Ways to Be a Content Provider.”
How come, being a content provider could be such a way in link building subject. Well, read on. You ‘ll found out the why and the how pretty soon.
1. Provide the best resources on a particular topic
The bottom line is the easiest most obvious answer. It’s also the toughest to do. Give people a reason to link to you. Think about it. Sites get linked to for a reason: usually if they provide the most information or the best resources on a particular topic. Is there any reason WHY people should link to your site? How is your content? Even if you are not a writer, ask the writers if you can use their stuff. The answer is usually yes. The writer gets a link from you. And you get great content. Now people will start linking to you.
2. Providing an Asset
We all want to get on the top ranking sites listed in Google with few, if any outbound links. But what if they don’t have a links program in place? Here’s one way to get yourself linked from these choice sites. The top sites in a keyword category often don’t have a links program, but they do have an e-zine or content library on their site. So… Write a 300-500 word article on a topic of real interest to their target market and submit it to the Webmaster, as well as to other e-zines reaching the same target audience. Include in your article sig file (or credit box) your site link and an enticing description. In other words, give the site owner something they can use that delivers real value to their constituents.
By providing them with an asset, you’re reaching them in a new way that goes beyond a simple link request. A couple of notes:
- Don’t market in your article. Deliver real value instead.
- Before writing anything, subscribe to their e-zine first or go through their site content. Fill any gap you see create something new that they don’t already have on file.
- Market in your sig file only – and be sure to include your full site URL!
3. Become an “expert” in your particular field and write related articles.
Become an “expert” in your particular field and write related articles. Market those articles to online content providers. Be sure to include your byline at the end of your article, including your name, company name, and URL’s, and make sure to use appropriate keyword-containing link text. Coachmaria.com has this list of places that accept articles.
4. Write a testimonial for a product or service
Write a testimonial for a product or service that you particularly like in your topic area. Many companies will put testimonials throughout their site, with links back to the company providing the testimonial. (Robin Nobles of Search Engine Workshops, Online Search Engine Marketing Courses, and the TNT-Guides for Successful Web Sites.
5. Create teaser articles
Create teaser articles. See if you can get the first third of the article listed on their site with a keyword rich text link leading back to your site where they can find the rest of the article. Be sure you get the bio with an additional link to your homepage as well.
6. Offer something free
Offer something for free (such as a downloadable report), and then ask for a link back to your site if the person finds value in the free item. This works because you’re giving away something of value, and when people find it valuable, they’re likely to reciprocate.
7. Use emotional content
Use emotional content to give people a reason to link to you. A site built on a single theme may often benefit from using content which employs:
- unique theme-related information which appeals to the emotions
- original and appropriate humor
- content of extremely useful nature (references materials)
- original cartoon work
- animation that appeals to the senses or tells a short story
- something with an uncommon emotional element
Web sites that employ emotional elements often find that other sites with a similar theme will automatically link up to them just because of that emotional appeal.
