Need links? Follow the breadcrumbs

I posted before that I was going to follow the breadcrumbs another SEO had left for searching for cheap links in a certain sector.

However, something I’ve always done when pushed is to follow the breadcrumbs for links left around from SEO activity.

For example:

1. Following advertisers

If you see a site selling links in your vertical, do a check on the incoming links for the advertisers and keywords to find which other sites are selling to them. This can give you a got idea of who in your vertical is selling opportunities you can follow up with. Then approach the site webmasters to negotiate getting your own links up.

2. Following SEO’s

One of the first things I did when I set up as a SEO was reverse engineer the links from a major SEO ranking for SEO keywords. You can do the same. Sometimes you may be able to find some unexpected surprises in where to get links. :)

3. Link exchange emails

I don’t do link exchanges, but if I did I wouldn’t bin link exchange requests - but instead use a link check to find out who else has recently added links from these requests. That way, you don’t have to plough in valuable time finding link partners bit by bit - just follow the breadcrumbs left by someone who’se already done all the hard work for you finding link exchange partners. :)

4. Spam

Spam is bloody annoying however you get it - emails, blog spam, forum spam, etc. However, sometimes blog spam can offer value by showing you where to get additional links. For example, lots of blog spammers are big into “parasitic hosting” - ie, leveraging a subdomain or subfolder on more established domains that you can get your content up on for free - such as free forum & blog hosting services. Blog spammers can provide big lists of parasitic hosting options if you want to leverage them. :)

5. Following rivals

This is the biggie that’s easily overlooked if you’re not careful, even though it’s usually recommended. If you find a competitor suddenly moving up, or your position falling, this is where you can find the competitors link sources and try and follow the same sources. That way you negate any competitive advantage your competitor was trying to leverage. :)

Maybe a few obvious things in here, but I’ve found myself too often sitting on my laurels with ranking successes. However, I’ve found myself becoming increasingly competitive, partly because I’m finding the competition is hotting up - and competitors are reverse link engineering my links and following where possible.

All the more reason to keep my options open on new sites and areas to leverage. :)