How to Do Local Linking

Link building can be a time consuming process and now that you added another criteria in the link building equation, local links, the job probably will not get any easier. But link building is time well spent on your web site promotion and this article will provide some simple tips on how to build local links.

Step 1: The first step is to determine the appropriate type of sites to link with and set up your own text link information; which you will use when asking for a link exchange. You should come up with a couple of different examples of how you want sites linking back to you; you do want the link to be a text link (clickable text) but also see if you can work your logo or image into the link as well for added visibility.

Step 2: Next is to find potential local links, but where do you look? You can find them in:
- current ads or listings in the local yellow pages
- printed newspaper and magazine ads
- bulletin boards found in stores and coffee shops
- search local online portal(s)
- from local business web sites already linking to other local sites

Step 3: Once you have your list together, review each web site and determine if a link exchange would be appropriate. With link exchanging, add your potential link partner(s) link on to your web site and then contact them via email or; better yet, since you’re building local links give your local ‘potential partners’ a call. Let them know that you can help each other out in being found online simply by exchanging links with each other; get their permission to shoot them an email and let them know where the link to their site can be found; you can do this in the email, also indicate where their link is and provide your text link information.

Step 4: After positive contact is made, confirm your link on their web site and continue the process until you have completed your link list.

You should, as a good web business practice, keep the links to your partners on your site for as long as they keep your site listed on theirs; nothing will lose a link faster than if they visit your site, possibly when showing a friend (and potential customer for you) how you’ve listed them, and their link is nowhere to be found. Remember you want as many good links as possible and you want them to remain in place linking back to you as long as they possibly can and will.

The beauty of link building is that it is an ongoing process and is something that can and should be done over time; get a few new links each month at minimum for maximum benefit within the search engines’.

You can start building links at any time, no matter if you web site is a week old or 5 years old; it’s never too late but should be started as soon as you can!

But why do I need to start right now? Well, unfortunately local linking can take some time. My experience has shown that many small and local businesses owners do not understand the power of the Internet or search engines. A recommendation would be to call or visit these businesses and discuss the link exchange with them. If you can explain what you want to do and how to do it, you might get further than simply with an email.
Have some patience but be persistent in contacting folks. If after a reasonable amount of time, you are getting no where move on to the next potential partners.

When dealing with local links, you will have a limited supply of web sites to choose from. You want to link to optimized and search engine friendly web sites so that your link will be of value. If the search engines can't see a web site, they will not see the links. By exchanging you will mutually assist each other and increase the visibility of both (all) sites participating.

Local linking definitely provides a new and valuable twist the link building process. Getting links to your web site from local web sites that compliment yours will provide your web site with better rankings in the search engines, more traffic, and usually more local customers. It is something that you will find to be well worth the time and will help you to get found

About the author:

Larry Sullivan, of LRSxpress Web Services (http://www.lrsxpress.com), provides local search marketing to small business (http://local.lrsxpress.com). With over 6 years online web experience, LRSxpress provides numerous other web related services (design, hosting, search engine optimization, link building, online promotions) for small businesses to help them get online quickly and affordably.

Check out his new blog Local Biz Bits (http://www.localbizbits.com).

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