Increasing link popularity is an important goal for many websites. Before beginning a link campaign, there are things to do, first.
What types of pages do you need?
This is important, for improving search engine visibility. Good pages get you qualified visitors. Without being too specific, the types of links you want are specific to your industry.
Here are a couple of examples. Suppose you are selling custom hot-rod accessories. Your search begins in the automotive-type areas of directories. If selling plumbing services, your search begins in the regional listings or business listings.
Find your starting points.
The goal is quality links, from relevant sites. Directories provide the best listings. However, there are many other potential link providers.
One of the best places, to look, are the “top” directories. A good directory, or site (e.g. find the links page), has a category of other potential link partners. This gives you even more possibilities.
Determine how good a site is.
There are BILLIONS of web pages. This leaves lots of options for getting links. Don’t spend too much time determining whether a site will give you a link.
For a relevant large directory, or site, go to the next step.
Consider if your site is about "dog food". You visit a site about "car parts". Guess what? Keep moving to the next site. Don’t get bogged down reading. Stay focused on relevant web sites. Try opening lots of windows and bounce around. If the site is not a match, keep moving!
Find the best category.
Often, directories have hundreds, or thousands, of categories. Start at the “top-level” of the site. Work your way through each relevant category.
A commercial, product selling site, would look in the “shopping” or “business” categories. Service-based sites go for regional listings.
Each directory may lead to other directories. Or, you may hit a dead-end. This is why you want to start at the "top". If you are stopped, at a certain level, keep going "up". Go, until you hit a point where there are no more relevant options. Trust me, there is no “end to the Internet”.
Find the site submit page.
Before submitting, be sure your site fits on the site. Next, find where it belongs. Locate the method to submit your site.
Frequently, there is verbiage such as “add url”, “list your site”, “submit a site”, “add link”, or “add a resource”. These links are, normally, located near the top, or bottom, of the page. You are looking for these words. If not available, find an e-mail address to contact the webmaster. DON’T contact the webmaster directly, if there’s a submission form.
Write good descriptions.
Each site has specific submission guidelines. Some allow long descriptions. Some do not allow descriptions. Be prepared for different scenarios.
Keep your descriptions in a word document. You may want to re-use them. BE SURE your descriptions fit within the guidelines of the site.
Document your submissions.
After submitting, document your submission. You are able to return and verify the link was added. You avoid bugging the webmaster. Besides, it is not easy to remember every directory where you submitted. Documenting lets you keep everything organized.
Conclusion.
Have patience. Keep searching. There are a lot more pages out there. Go and get those links!