Have you ever thought of the best method of getting links to your remarkable blog posts? The solution is rather simple.

“Ask for them”.

This was the rather simple but effective advice that I was given, after recently reading a post on seoblackhat.com.  In fact, the advice has proved to work so well, that I have decided to share my success.

After publishing a notable blog post, send emails to fellow bloggers in your niche.  Get a dialog going.  An attempt at a conversation will convey a sense of respect but will also show that you read their blog.

Ensure that your notable post is the most recent and is easily identifiable/locatable from the front page of your blog.

Asking requires sending emails to fellow bloggers. As is suggested on seoblackhat.com, “I’m not talking about an email that says, ‘Please link to this remarkable post.’”

The key in acquiring new links to your blog is in the delivery of the email.

Template Email

Utilizing the email provided by seoblackhat.com, I constructed my own version to send to fellow bloggers.  I suggest you use the following as a guide, but cater the email to fit your blog’s niche.

“Hi [Blogger’s Name]

My name is Gavin Smith, and I’m the author behind BlogaPro (blogapro.com), the site that teaches individuals how to earn money blogging.

You may or may not know that I am in fact an avid reader of your blog. After reading [blog post they did], [blog post they did 2], and [Blog post they did 3], I thought that [remarkable blog post you did] might be something that you would be interested in blogging about.

Would you be interested in doing an article exchange? Your article would feature on BlogaPro and would include a link to your site in return.

Keep up the great work, I look forward to your blog posts.

-Gavin Smith”

The underlining key is to reciprocate the favor and link to other great posts.  Providing an alternative opinion on another post is a great way to lure new readers. Think about it - the other blogger does all the hard work (research, writing, emailing, linking), but you get the visitors. Works for me…

As the author of blackhatseo.com suggests, “The secret to getting your purple cow out of the barn is to get the word out when you have something truly remarkable. It will get you more links, more subscribers, and (if you have a business model) - more money.”

I’d be interested to learn if the rest of you have found the same success in the ‘email approach’…

You might be surprised to know that a number of individuals who search for BlogaPro enter the keyword ‘Gavin Smith blog’ instead of the term ‘BlogaPro’.

In fact, the searches against my name are so high on some days that they outnumber the number of searches for the name of the blog. It’s no coincidence.

People Associate by Name

It goes without saying that people associate by name. While some obviously associate the blog by its name, others associate the brand by its author.

The importance of creating word associations hasn’t dawned upon me until recently after conducting an in-depth analysis into visitor’s search behavior.

Most recently, I’ve been taking steps to enhance the probability that visitors form memorable word associations in order to increase the ratio of return visitors to new visitors

But I have one particular problem. Unfortunately, I am not the most popular Gavin Smith at least according to Google. There are a few who are slightly more famous than I. In particular, there is a Canadian professional poker-player who shares the same name. Needless to say, he is so famous that he warrants his own dedicated page in Wikipedia.

As I have suggested in a previous article, Wikis are deemed valuable by search engines. As a result, his Wikipedia entry ranks in at the number one spot for the phrase ‘Gavin Smith’, but he is in for a fight at least if I can help it.

Importance of Word Association

Consider the ratio of people who know the author Darren Rowse by name versus the number of people who know about his blog.  I think you would find that they are quite comparable.  Now consider the number of visitors that ProBlogger acquires after individuals have entered the search term of ‘Darren Rowse’ or ‘ProBlogger’ into their favorite search engine?

As a blogger, it is important to market, design and publish posts on your blog with word association in mind.

Four tips to encourage word associations:

1. If you have ever had doubts about publishing an ‘About’ section on your blog, hopefully I have changed your mind.  Include a bit of biographical information about yourself and your blog.  It doesn’t have to be too in-depth just something that your readers can relate to.  Clearly state your name in the autobiography.
2. Consider publishing your own article to MyWikiBiz, a Wikipedia alternative.  In order to compete with the likes of the aforementioned poker player, I committed my own article about Gavin Smith (myself) in an attempt to compete for that number one spot
3. Focus on attempting to improve the ranking of your personal name and the name of your blog within the likes of Google, Yahoo!, and MSN Live.  Doing this is easier said than done and falls down to old-fashioned SEO techniques.
4. Ensure that the name of your blog is clearly visible on each page.  Does your site’s domain name correspond to the name of your blog?  If not, consider a change…

Google has recently finished one if its much anticipated, quarterly PageRank updates.  You might recall that on the previous update which occurred back in July, BlogaPro was promoted to a PR value of 2 out of 10.

The latest results are in, and BlogaPro has received a 3 which is lower than my expected value of 4.  All in all, I’m not complaining.  It does show that the site is moving in the correct direction. On the plus side, I’m halfway to bringing the site’s PR in line with Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger.

PageRank starting to carry Value

Previous to this most recent update, I always felt that Google’s trademarked PageRank was merely a number, but my opinion is quickly changing.  Google employees have been hard at work bringing sites’ semantic values in line with their PageRank.

One example of this alignment is ProBlogger, statistically one of the most visited blogs in the world according to Alexa.  ProBlogger was recently demoted from 7 to a 6 out of 10.  While the layout or design of the site is aesthetically pleasing, there is more to a page than looks. Why do I believe Google’s latest valuation is fair?

1. ProBlogger’s ratio of HTML tags to content is atrocious.  The source code consists of ambiguous HTML code to unnecessary CSS and Javascript (which should be defined in another file).
2. Consider how many links are listed on the front page? Other than a brief synopsis of around 11 posts, the rest of the page consists of links - hardly semantically valuable.
3. There are numerous ads spread across the page.  Don’t get me wrong, my goal is to make money blogging, but they do detract from the value of a page.

Now please note that this assessment was conducted with only the front page in mind.

Frustrations with Google

I am of the firm opinion that Google is reshaping the web, and not for the better.  The Internet was initially designed as a fair playing field and this ethos is evident from every aspect from its network infrastructure to the registration of domain names to web site accessibility.  Now, Google is one of the few companies trying to change this.

Here are just three of many examples of Google’s attempt of to create an elitist web:

1. Google has recently deemed directories worthless that is unless you are the Open Directory Project (ODP).  This is Google’s attempt of preventing individuals from promoting their site by paying for inclusion into various web directories.  Prior to Google’s damning of directories, directories were my number one source for SEO (and I’m not talking about paid inclusion), but that has all changed.  Unfortunately, Google’s latest policy on directories really hurts the small fish in the pond.  After all, those individuals/organizations that pay for inclusion will likely focus their attention elsewhere, spending their money in a more effective manner.

2. Link exchanges are less as effective as they once were.  Webmasters now find themselves having to resort to one-way linking.  Unfortunately, this means having to resort to paying for one-way links.  Any of you going to give away one-way links on your blogs? Of course not, one-way links are not mutually beneficial. Again, only the big fish are likely to benefit from such a principal.  You might be inclined to jump on me and suggest that paying for links is against Google’s TOS.  True you are, but Google’s crawlers cannot detect any transactions that have occurred behind the scenes.

3. The search engine giant is now more selective on which types of pages are valuable. For example, it is clearly evident that an article from a news organization is more effective in a linking scheme than that of a random site’s ‘resource page’.  But which news organization is about to list BlogaPro in its front headlines? Exactly!

Let us hope that Google changes its ways; otherwise, I just might conduct my searches elsewhere.

Have you ever seen (or tried) Yahoo! Site Explorer?  Yahoo! describes it as a feature which “allows you to explore all the web pages indexed by Yahoo! Search.” But it’s more than that.  Site Explorer allows you to view a comprehensive list of all the pages that link to a particular site or any page.

Yeah, sure Google’s a great search engine, but it’s not a ‘one fits all’ solution.  You might be quick to retort that Google offers a similar feature inside its “Webmaster Tools” suite, but think again because Yahoo! Site Explorer blows it out the water.

How so?  Unfortunately, Webmaster Tools requires that individuals are verified/authenticated as the administrators or owners of a domain.  This means that only the registered owners have access to a site’s link map.  In my opinion, this is against the spirit of the web.

Using Yahoo Site Explorer to your advantage

Remember the underlying key to promoting your blog is to attain more and more links. Well, this is where Site Explorer comes into the mix. Ever wondered how the top blogs in your niche attract readers? Ever considered which sites link to these blogs? Have you considered how they manage to find their links? Study the ‘competition’.

Before we continue, I’m using the word “competition” very loosely. All-in-all, I don’t really see other blogs in the same niche as competition; instead, they provide a possible means of unforeseen success, but that’s another article…

Study Linking Techniques

Let the competition do all the hard work. You might feel as if this is taking the position of second best, but think again. Imagine how much you could learn if you studied the linking strategies of around 20 sites in your niche? You would be pleasantly surprised.

Furthermore, how many of you have the time to sit, searching aimlessly on the web for the next best link-building strategy? Not me, at least.

Points to consider when analyzing links:

1. Who submitted the link?
2. What was the overall result of the link being submitted? Positive or negative?
3. Is the link the result of a potentially broader scheme (ex: a site-wide link exchange)?
4. Who was the link’s target audience?
5. Does the link fit the type of content on the corresponding page?
6. What is the link-site’s Alexa rank?
7. What is the PageRank of the page containing the link?

Submit your Blog to corresponding Sites

Finally after you have considered the seven (7) points above, submit your blog’s link.  Sit back and watch the results.

My infatuation with wikis is nothing short of ridiculous.  Mind you, there is good reason behind my obsession.  Wikis are valuable.

Searching through the web I came across an excellent Wiki dubbed “MyWikiBiz“.  The wiki describes itself as, “…a new directory where you can author your legacy on the Internet.”

Are you guilty of attempting to gain notoriety by publishing links to Wikipedia?  Put your hands up, come on.  Look no further.  MyWikiBiz is of the philosophy that every person/organization is notable.

Once more, pages located within MyWikiBiz have proven to be just as valuable as those of its counterparts (Wikipedia).

Nonetheless, there are two points of why MyWikiBiz reigns supreme:

1. The wiki provides you with the ability to protect your point-of-view (POV).  According to the wiki’s description, this “…means you can say what you want about yourself or your business, without fear of someone else coming along and messing up your work.”
2. Best yet, earn money from your publications.  Utilize your Google Adsense Publisher ID to earn revenue through published pages retaining 100% of earned revenues. In addition, promote your blog, company, or organization using MyWikiBiz as a platform to sell and promote your products/services.

I’ve already taken a bit of time to create my own wiki of “Gavin Smith“.  Although it is by no means finished, it’s a great way to promote not only me but the BlogaPro brand. Well, what are you waiting for?  Add a listing now…

I have recently being trying to publicize BlogaPro with considerable effort.  Although the blog has been continuously growing in popularity, it’s been a tedious, ongoing process.

If you have been following BlogaPro’s progress, you probably noticed the recent announcement of a ‘Make-Money-Blogging Wiki‘.  Unfortunately, the wiki hasn’t gone down too well. I have yet to have somebody commit a site to the directory.  My attempt at link-baiting went drastically wrong.  “Why the lack of participation?”, I hear you ask.

I like to think that it’s not down to the fact that the wiki lacks quality.  In fact, I’m of the opinion that the wiki is the most aesthetically pleasing feature of the whole site. Indeed, wikis are still a huge fad, but where have I gone wrong?

The problem lies in my readers.  No, I’m not referring to the ‘reading’ demographic but rather the mere number of readers that BlogaPro attracts.

Consider that the blog is only around 3 months old.  Figure that only around 1-2% of the visitors to a blog contribute either in the form of a comment or reply.  For every 100 visitors that BlogaPro receives maybe only 1 or 2 will share a comment on a post.  Now how many of those visitors will take the time to visit the wiki (never mind editing it)?

My experience should strike a pressing thought in the back of your mind.  If you are starting out blogging with your newest blog, consider how the number of readers to your site potentially impacts the addition of new features.

1. Provided all other variables remain constant, the number of visitors to a blog is directly proportional to those visitors that will contribute to the blog.
2. Those blogs which appear to attract little public attention or lack visitor participation will struggle to encourage new visitors to participate.

If you’re new to the blogging scene, you ought to consider the following recommendations before incorporating any additional features:

1. Start out small - start out simply blogging, and blogging only.
2. Stick to what works until the number of visitors to your site warrants the incorporation of additional features.
3. Establish a large reader-base before venturing into new waters.
4. Encourage reader participation so that new blog features are successful upon release.
5. Ask your readers what features they would like to see included.  Don’t just add new features because it offers the potential to increase earnings.  Remember your readers are the ones that will earn you your money. Give them what they want…

In the never-ending quest to drive more traffic to my blog, I’ve recently been studying the effects that wikis (such as Wikipedia) can have in promoting blogs.

In a previous article, we have that wikis offer a great source of search engine promotion.

Unfortunately, main-stream adoption of wikis is yet to catch on. Sure Wikipedia is popular, but how many blogs do you come across putting the power of wikis to use?

Even after considerable amounts of searching, there are only so many wikis that I can submit my site to.

In an attempt to promote the BlogaPro cause, I’ve decided to publish my own wiki through blogapro.com. The wiki will feature those sites that teach individuals how to make money blogging.

Unlike others, the wiki will feature heavy moderation and stringent requirements for site submission.

It is hoped that I will be able to leverage the power of the wiki to increase BlogaPro’s presence.  Check back over the next couple days when I will officially announce the wiki’s release.

[Edit:] The wiki has been released.  Check it out.

Recently, I’ve been trying to build a collection of respected links to my blog.  Unfortunately, it is easier said than done.

My few attempts to initiate a few link exchanges have proven futile at best.  Sometimes I feel like I’m trying to force-feed a baby - it’s just not happening.  I shouldn’t feel too disheartened.  After all, the main page on BlogaPro only carries a PR of 2 - the blog is only around 3 months old.

Regardless, incoming links are the key to my blog’s success.

Most bloggers seem to travel down the ‘path most taken’ utilizing the obvious resources ranging from submitting “diggs” to committing sites to directories.

I will not deny the aforementioned marketing strategy can pay dividends, but sometimes it will only take you so far.  Ever considered how many other bloggers are committing their site(s) to digg?  And let’s not forget that as of a recent update, Internet directories are now almost worthless.

Recently, I’ve been looking into the power of wikis.  Yes, the most obvious wiki-run site is Wikipedia of course, but there are thousands of other wiki-run sites on the ‘net.  Some of these wikis are generalized while others pertain to specific niches.

Googling around for “blog wiki directory” and “Internet marketing wiki directory”, I’ve found numerous wikis that allow individuals to add their blogs.  Not only are these links free, but authors can devise their own description of their blog.

Although Google’s PR tool is not the ‘begin and end all’ measurement of a page’s value, some of these wikis carry some serious value.   For example, on a user-generated page of one wiki, Google was reporting that the page contained a PageRank of 6 out of 10.  Consider how much you would otherwise pay for a PR 6 link.

In an attempt to separate myself from the pack, I’ve searched the web and found 17 wikis that I have committed my blog to.  As stated, some of these are rather specific while others are more general.

Here are just a few of the pages containing links to BlogaPro:

1. Wikia
2. AboutUs
3. Wiki Blog Directory

Do you have any “gems” to share?  How have wikis worked for you?