Hi people,

I am about to start a reciprocal links campaign and have a list of sites I want to contact.

Does anyone have any constructive advice as to how I maximize the positive results of my emails?

Is there one "subject" which is any better than others, or anything I need to particularly mention in my email that is likely to make them want to link back to me?

I have also budgeted a free gift for one visitor to each of these sites so the sites can run a competition if they like, and I have also worked something into my prices so anyone sending me business can have a percentage.

Should I mention these programs first off, or should I just ask for a straight reciprocal link, and the ones who don't respond follow up with some extra options?

Your advice is well appreciated.

I dont suppose my experiences match what you have in mind but.

I do a Roman links site and I recently did a bulk mail to 400 or so people just to inform them I've listed them on the site.

In that email I put a polite appeal for help for people to link to the site basically saying it needs all the help it can get, which is true!

Out of that I got 50 or 60 replies, 1 rude, 3 or 4 indifferent, and about 45 others, of which about 20 or so took me up on the appeal.

I have a copy and paste banner code up and serve the banner off my server just to add to the appeal of the idea and to make it as easy as possible for someone to do, and I put a link to that page in the appeals in the emails.

Virtually every response turned into a 4 or 5 email discourse and I'm sure if I hadnt been quick onto every reply half of them wouldnt have bothered. Be, polite, not pushy, honest and even try to be helpful whenever an opportunity arises.

If people perceive you as real, you'll get real results hopefully.

Mabye have a 2 level thing, a plain text link or button or banner, and have the gift thingy as an incentive to use a banner link on their main/entry page specifically (specify a period of time it must be up b4 you come thru with the gift just to be careful, or set up a referral tracking script of some sort and award gift after x amount of clickthroughs, etc).

I guess the subject I went for is basically the truth = Help, I need hits!

Originally posted by horoscopes2000

Should I mention these programs first off, or should I just ask for a straight reciprocal link, and the ones who don't respond follow up with some extra options?A reciprocal link program should be just that, reciprocal. I wouldn't ask or suggest that your targeted site do anything that you wouldn't or haven't done for them until perhaps after you have a relationship. In other words, I'd link to them and ask them for a reciprocal link -- and of course ask them to let you know when they do link. Then reply to those people suggesting the competition idea and your affiliate program.

Another option might be to mention in your initial letter that you do have other options, linking programs and affiliate programs, available and ask them to reply for more information.

As for the ones that don't reply to your first message, send them one more, worded slightly differently but no more "pushy," and with a different subject line. If you get any replies that are basically polite, like you site, etc., but don't want to link, you might want to reply to them with information about the other ideas.

Cyberpunk's results -- 50 or 60 replies to 400 requests -- are very low, but that's because, as he said, he sent "bulk mail." At my company -- a SEOP firm -- each letter is personalized for each site, and we get a response from a significant majority of the targeted sites.

Good point JayC, bulk mail does have a certain taint to it.

I'd love to do it all personally but the site dosent make any money and the time involved for personal contact would be prohibitive.

Its the best solution for me, not the best one there is :)

Another good point is linking first, you definately have to give to get reciprocally speaking it seems.

Hi!

Asking for a reciprocal link can be challenging. The best approach in my opinion is to point out how they can benefit by linking to your site, that is, how can it serve their visitors. Furthermore, point out how can you help their site in return. It would also help to tell them where you plan to place the link to their site.

An honest letter is preferrable.

Personally, I prefer a text link. Banners can sometimes be prohibitive (if I may borrow a word).

Good luck.

:)