5. Link Exchange
Since the dawn of link building, this method has been done in order to get backlinks. As a matter of fact, this is the simplest way to get link building done. So how does it go?
Well, the name says it all. It is an exchange of links. You do this by messaging another website asking if he or she is willing to post a link on their site to yours and you will do the same. Of course, looking for a willing webmaster can be a pain. You have to surf the internet for hours looking for websites and messaging them. Ideally, the sites you do Link Exchange with should be relevant to your website. For the motorcycle parts scenario, do Link Exchange with sites selling motorcycles or organization sites for motorcycle riders.
If you go on and ask several SEO specialists about Link Exchange, you will find that some of them, especially the new ones, have never tried this method. This is because exchanging links does not really produce that much success anymore. For one, there are a lot of factors that can hinder the other site from agreeing. One such factor is the page rank. A high page rank website will certainly not agree to Link Exchange if your site is new. They will gain nothing from it.
Another problem with Link Exchange is that since it is one of the earliest methods of increasing backlinks, Google and other search engines have found a way to counter its effects. They do not give a lot of credit to a link if it goes to a site that simply links back to the first website. Each link counted by search engines is “graded” for quality. And if they see it as a Link Exchange between one site and another, they give the link a poor grade thus not giving much effect to the ranking of your site.
6. Social Bookmarking
This is a unique method because it combines Link Building and Social Media in one. Social Bookmarking has been created as a service for people to use anywhere they are. Basically, in these websites, you can save your favorite web pages for reference or a read later on. Yes, this function is already built in browsers. But, what if you’re on the go and don’t use the same computer every time? What if your machine breaks down? Social Bookmarking sites give you the opportunity to save your favorite web pages and access it anywhere you are, whichever computer you are using.
So, how does this help in Search Engine Optimization? The answer is quite simple actually. In order to save web pages in Social Bookmarking websites, you enter the URL in them. This is then placed on your profile page or wall along with all the other pages you’ve saved. And there you have it, instant links.
Another great thing about Social Bookmarking is the fact that it is SOCIAL. This means that you can add friends on the website and you can share your list of favourite web pages with them. Much like in Facebook and Twitter, this can easily spread thus giving you a lot of links to your website.
However, there are limitations in making use of Social Bookmarking. Much like in Article Submission and Directory Submission, you cannot submit just any link. If the link you are trying to submit contains adult related materials or inappropriate content, then it will be removed later on and your profile can get banned. So remember not to do that.
Other than that, Social Bookmarking is a great way to spread links. It uses the power of Social Media in order to help Link Building.