Tips for Obtaining Legitimate Reciprocal Links

Join online trade associations and local or web based chambers of commerce. Most of these types of sites will have an online directory that can provide a link to you. There are also many associations or web groups that offer free inclusion in their directories.

Write articles for publication with your URL in the mandatory byline. Not only does publishing articles present you to your peers as an expert, it is a great source for links.

Host a "Web Award" program. Have Web sites which are related to yours apply for an award from your site. The winning sites will have the honor of displaying their "award" in the form of a banner or button, which should link back to you.

Apply for awards from other Web sites.

Contact sites that are similar to yours, but perhaps not in direct competition, and ask for a reciprocal link. Let them know why a link would be advantageous for the both of you and provide them with the HTML code to put up your link.

Offer to supply testimonials for Web business that you have patronized. If someone did a great job designing your Web site or your banners then ask if you can provide a testimonial for them to display on their site, with a link to yours of course.

Post to message boards and discussion lists and make sure to include your URL in your signature line. Many times these posts are archived on the Web.

Set up new Web sites with similar themes and link them together. You can also control the "quality" in these instances.

Start an e-zine or newsletter and submit it to e-zine directories.

Write press releases about important business events, your "Grand Opening" for example. Submit these releases to online newswires.

Purchase ads on various inexpensive directories that relate to your site in some way.

Create a useful and informative site and people will WANT to link to you!