What Your Link Request Should Contain and Why
The Link Mensch tells you how to request a link. Complete with a sample link-request email and a list of everything it should contain.
The Link Mensch tells you how to request a link. Complete with a sample link-request email and a list of everything it should contain.
This week’s column is a bit longer than normal, as we have a lot to cover. Have you ever seen an email in your inbox that looks like this one?
Dear site owner,
I was looking at your web site and think we should link to each other. If you are interested, please add the following code to your HTML:
[Insert HTML gibberish here.]
Thanks,
StupidCompany.com
As amazing as it seems, the above link request letter, or variants thereof, land in my inbox every single day. The only part I added was the last line, StupidCompany.com, because it’s accurate.
A link request sent via email should include several elements. Collectively, all of them serve two key purposes: They let the receiver know you took the time to look at his or her site, and they make it as easy as possible for the receiver to make a decision whether or not to link.
Here are the 12 things that your link request should contain, followed by the reasons why. Although these may seem simple once you read them, 99 out of 100 link requests that I get do not contain any of them. While in certain cases there are also other elements, for this week’s column, let’s focus on those below.
Subject: LINK SUBMISSION
If you have not taken the time to look at the recipient’s site carefully, and you do not follow the link request directions, don’t be surprised if you never hear from the recipient again.
In the above link request I received, it was immediately obvious that this person had never been to my site even though the email indicated otherwise. If this person really had been to my site, my name is the first thing he or she would have seen, and he or she would also have known I don’t offer a links page.
By now I see that you know my name, my site name, and URL. You obviously are not lying to me or spamming me.
Don’t show fake sincerity or imply friendship when, in fact, you’ve never met me. Be professional, courteous, and to the point. I really get turned off by email from people who act like we are buddies.
And, if you are seeking a link on a site where a reciprocal link is required, also include:
Below is a sample of what a full link-request email would look like. A link request similar to this is being used to successfully build many new links for eNature.com.
Bob,
My name is Eric Ward, and I am contacting you regarding your Birding site at http://www.millcomm.com/ekblad/Index.htm.
I’m working with eNature.com to announce and link a new section on their site called “The Bird Audio Database.” eNature is located at http://www.enature.com, and the new bird audio section is located at http://www.enature.com/audio/audio_home.asp.
Per the link request instructions on your site, I would like to request a link to our bird audio section in your Links to Birding Web Sites section at http://www.millcomm.com/ekblad/Link-Gen.htm.
Please let me know if the above provides you with the information you need to review and consider our new section for linking. I can be reached via email at [email protected], or, if you’d like to talk about this by phone, my direct number is (865) 637-2438.
I have also subscribed to your e-newsletter and look forward to receiving it.
Best wishes,
Eric Ward, for eNature.com
mailto:[email protected]
Any webmaster or site manager who receives the above email can tell immediately many crucial things about me and my link request:
There are many more subtle points to this exercise, and many additional things I might need or have to include (HTML link code, button logo, reciprocal link, etc.), but these are not right for every scenario, so let’s keep things as simple as possible for now.
The bottom line is that by recognizing the individuals on the receiving end of your link requests, and showing them so, you immediately move out of the spam realm in their minds. When I receive link letters, I look for telltale signs that I was not singled out individually. If I spot an obvious bulk link seeker, I delete it immediately.
Yes, this means you cannot automate this process, and, yes, this means you have to create and send each link request one at a time. As you should. Sometimes each site takes an entire three clicks and two minutes. Big deal. This is a lifelong link you’re seeking.
Until next time, I remain, the Link Mensch.