I'm interested to know how members of the community are attracting links to their website, getting inbound links is such an important thing I looking at ways to improve mine, so looking for advice.

 

I can think of:

 

1. Submitting to directories

2. Forum Signatures

3. Automated submission tools.

 

Has anyone else got any idea's & suggestions from your own personal experience that can help.

I submitted my site to lots of CSS galleries like CSS Import, CSS Mania, Screenfluent etc and luckily got listed on some of these sites - the hits to my sites sky rocketted! In February I had 2546 unique visitors - when I normally get around 300-400.

 

I get a lot of visitors from the sites I am listed on like freeindex.com, w3csites.com, viewcreatives.com, freelancecreatives.eu, and loads of other directories whether they're web design directories or business directories or the yellow pages.

 

I also get hits from this forum as I have my URL in my signature. I also have my URL as a signature within my email and I find people link from that as well.

When I submutted my site to CSS Mania I ended up getting over 1500 uniques for that month. I'm still getting a steady flow from there even now, two/three months after I submitted my design.

 

The tips Eskymo suggests in the last paragraph are used by almost everyone who has a website, so I would suggest that you adopt the technique also.

 

Directories are useless IMO, unless you know for a fact that they're of a very high standard and extremely popular. If that is the case then i'd suggest buying a premium link. But don't expect any miracles.

 

For me I prefer to get traffic from 'proper' websites with 'proper' webmasters. I don't like the thought of submitting my site to an endless amount of directories in hope I get 10 visitors in a month from them. Its simply not worth it.

 

Best of luck

First of all make your site content compelling enough for people to happily link to.

Other than the ones you've mentioned, you can also try a) writing for and submitting to article directories, on-site content syndication, c) link exchange (yes it still works if done with quality, relevant sites), d) link purchase etc.

I look for sites that compliment mine, e.g. I recently completed a website for a boat hire company.

 

I emailed a nearby holiday complex for a link. The boat hire company is now getting bookings and a steady stream of traffic through the link.

 

It took me a fair bit of time swapping chatty emails with the owners (compared to automated methods) but its better for the client to have 5 visitors who make a booking than 400 who don't.

 

Richard

I look for sites that compliment mine, e.g. I recently completed a website for a boat hire company.

 

I emailed a nearby holiday complex for a link. The boat hire company is now getting bookings and a steady stream of traffic through the link.

 

It took me a fair bit of time swapping chatty emails with the owners (compared to automated methods) but its better for the client to have 5 visitors who make a booking than 400 who don't.

 

Richard

 

What did you say in your initial email - I've try this route and my success rate isn't nearly good enough!

Well looking back it seems a bit lame and definitely not very polished.

 

My standard line is something like...

 

Hi

 

I've just launched a new website for blah blah blah and I wondered if you would add a link to us on your site as I feel that our two businesses compliment each other.

I have taken the liberty of adding a link to you on our links page.

Please let me know if you prefer not to be included on our site.

Thank you for your support.

 

etc. etc.

 

Some people do ignore me completely but I get a fair bit of positive stuff.

Interesting info. If any web designers want to exchange links with us, as a music library providing music for guys like you and also the production industry who commission projects requiring music and sites built, drop me an email preferably to sort something out.

I was talking to a friend yestarday. he has over 4500 websites with Googel PAgRanks from 0-8. His secret? high PR text links.

 

So I am saving up for some mega links to my site

 

Actually, as a shameless plug, I am writing abook on how to get users to your site.

 

its out soon.