Some Wine While You Wait?

Use the DMOZ as a place to find link partners to buy/barter/beg or bait links from if you’re looking for sites that have been online for a couple years or more. Sites age naturally as they wait patiently to be added to the ODP so it stands to reason a lot of what you find there will have more than a few wrinkles.

Soapbox Out. Toolbox In.

The one constant in life is change. Without it, the world becomes stale, boring and worst of all – predictable. That said, I think it’s time to make some programming changes here at The Link Spiel.

Out go the longer posts and in come shorter ones. The Link Spiel format will become more a collection of “Link Tips” showcasing specific tactics, tools and linking resources than a running blog commentary. More focus will be placed on where and how to find links and less on talking about their relevance. Yes, relevance is important but with so many types of link promotions available I’d rather focus on talking about that than rehashing a concept already discussed to death.

(Disclaimer: The occasional long-winded rant on link buying, defending the Directories and stupid Christmas jingles may still happen).

I’ll also share link news from the engines and link to various SEO forums as I think both are important information sources. The Friends will still be stopping by with articles but other than that, the old format will cease and the new “Link Tip” format will begin.

I’m not very good with change but I dislike "predictable" even more so we’re shifting gears. Start with the blog….. Next the website and then maybe even a new hairstyle. ;)

Where No Link Has Gone Before

Read this story today and in an eggshell - I think the concept is brilliant!!!:

From the NY Times - In September, CBS plans to start using a new place to advertise its fall television lineup: your breakfast.

The network plans to announce today that it will place laser imprints of its trademark eye insignia, as well as logos for some of its shows, on eggs — 35 million of them in September and October. CBS’s copywriters are referring to the medium as “egg-vertising,” hinting at the wordplay they have in store. Some of their planned slogans: “CSI” (“Crack the Case on CBS”); “The Amazing Race” (“Scramble to Win on CBS”); and Shark” (“Hard-Boiled Drama.”). Variations on the ad for its Monday night lineup of comedy shows include “Shelling Out Laughs,” “Funny Side Up” and “Leave the Yolks to Us.”

George Schweitzer, president of the CBS marketing group, said he was hoping to generate some laughter in American kitchens. “We’ve gone through every possible sad takeoff on shelling and scrambling and frying,” he said, adding, “It’s a great way to reach people in an unexpected form.”

Newspapers, magazines and Web sites are so crowded with ads for entertainment programming that CBS was ready to try something different, Mr. Schweitzer said. The best thing about the egg concept was its intrusiveness.

The bold is mine as it touches on what a lot of us in the link marketing business are saying and finding as we work - most traditional linking tactics are a thing of the past. Now you either have to create content and flaunt it or concentrate on looking in off-beat but targeted places to find effective link partners. Both tactics net uncluttered air space and the opportunity to set yourself as a trendsetter.

Here's an example of an "off beat but targeted" area to look in:

Consider buying space in online publications such as newsletters, ezines, reports etc. I look for publications that will insert ad copy throughout the content areas and archive past editions. A great place to buy targeted ad space is in an online conference handbook. They offer content areas, actively look for sponsors, are archived on busy and usually well ranked sites.

Just about every business niche has an association or professional organization offering conferences and seminars. Think about how people in your industry get information, receive education and aquire training and look for sponsorship opportunities in those venues. When people are in the "learning" mindset they're more apt to be responsive to what they read and SEE (don't discount using tagged images). Take advantage of that focus!

Crack! Wish I had thought of the egg thing, have the perfect client to use it on....;)

Slashdot / Del.icio.us / Digg

Cut Link Bait And Run

Remember the pixel link craze last year where some genius raked in over a million bucks selling image links all on one page? Well today, after following a link from a link from a backlink from a press release, I came upon this site:

www.500women.com Top 500 Women Links is the new (and easy) way to promote your web site! It is geared towards the ever increasing market of women on the web. Get in the click by purchasing a word below. A word link on Top500WomenLinks.com provides you with a direct hyperlink from that word to your web site for at least the next 2 years. Your word is yours! This online What Women Want Expo is a great way to increase your traffic.

Interesting, so I scroll past the first fold and find the rest of the page filled with single "chick friendly" keywords. Here's what part of the page looks like:

Mate Mediation Politics Removal Stocks Ideas Stress Reception Stamping Jobs Grandparenting Treasures MARRIAGE Share Bliss Hair-Care Cookbook Happy Business-opportunities photographs Intimacy Chocolate

Other than the Business.com no follow issue, this has to be the silliest thing I've seen in a while. Following a footer link I find the Top 500 Women Links site powered by something called LinkSizzler.com, a 'powererd by' software selling for $900 and listing the following reasons why buying the product will make you rich:

You see, there are THOUSANDS of niche sites that could be created with this software. And why would people within your niche buy words on your site? The same reason they bought words on my site! First, there is the novelty of having a word or phrase that belongs to you and you alone, linking directly to your website. Second, sites like this create a BUZZ in your particular niche. Others may have been the first to create a directory in your niche, but you can create much more excitement with a custom word site! Finally, you can put out press releases to get incoming links to the site and increase the buzz even more .

Well, I guess I did find out about the Top 500 Women Links site after clicking a link from a link from a backlink to a press release so that last sentence/quote may be ok but the rest of it sounds like bunk to me. IMO, this guy just wants to sell software and thinks he found an easy way to capitalize off last years pixel craze and this year's 'link bait' buzz. This software is no more a link promotional tool than I'm skinny.

Real link promotion (or link baiting if you prefer) is a fine art and this scheme ain't no fine art. Single words crammed on a webpage don't generate excitement, spark curiosity or entice a person to learn more. You need to develop promotional content that has gravitational pull toward your website and works toward building trust and loyalty. That's the real power behind a link promotion and what drives people to click -- lines of colored words just don't cut it.

Besides, I'm not sure how anyone would even find this site and if they did, why would they pass it on? Part of implementing a successful link promotion is in the visibility it nets and the ease in which the program perpetuates through an established network of targeted people. Woman, while a demographic, is just too broad a market segment to try and conquer without a targeted message.

When you see sites like Top 500 Women Links, don't be tempted to buy a link or think it's going to build brand loyalty or generate a quality click stream to your website. It's highly unlikely it would do any of that. Take no prisoners...just cut bait and paddle away!

Slashdot / Del.icio.us / Digg

Tom Sawyer Would Not Link.

The goal of any link building campaign is to find, cultivate and keep a loyal base of quality customers linked to you. Tactics vary but the prep and research needed before implementing a link campaign are the same, even for simple programs like Directory submissions and article writing.

The rest of this article can be found on the new Link Spiel here: http://www.linkspiel.com/2009/07/encore-post-tom-sawyer-would-not-link/

No Follow

Jill brings up that Business.com is using nofollow on their links. Sure enough, a quick check using the cool little searchstatus tool proves she's right! Interesting what $199 a year will buy these days...