How to Get Links from Influencers

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When it is all said and done, there is only so much you can do without the help of others. The most successful websites may start with an aggressive initial push to obtain links, but afterwards it is inevitably the case that those sites retain authority because people willingly link to them. The challenge thus becomes to find influencers and readers who are genuinely interested in the information you provide.

Link building can be a difficult, time-consuming task. That’s why the link building strategy you  decide to employ should be targeted and determined from the very beginning. The following steps will help you improve your link building strategy by obtaining powerful, relevant links from influencers within your field.

Step 1: Find Influencers

When it comes to virtually any social networking site, some users will tend to be more active than others. But don’t get me wrong: it isn’t enough simply to connect with active users. You need to take it one step further: you want to connect with people who others listen to. When it comes to Twitter, for example, you want to look for “brand evangelists” with myriad followers. Additionally, influencers tend to have their own blogs or websites that may be useful for traditional link building, so be sure to look for users that have them.

Here are some steps:

• Use WeFollow.com to get a list of influential people in your niche
• Follow these individuals
• Note the subjects they tweet about
• Check their websites to get additional information
• Retweet their postings
• Finally, initiate positive interaction with these influencers

These initiatives will let you develop relationships with influencers. It takes time to get their attention, but it is worth it over the long term. Because you learned what interests them, they will naturally tweet and link to your content when it is on subject.  Thus you can push your own content at the right time. Think “How To Win Friends and Influence People” – take an interest in a subject that another is interested in, and you will have an instant connection with them.

Step 2: Survey Customers

Conduct a survey among existing customers to determine if they are already active on social media sites. If they are, follow them. See if they can provide value to your initiatives. Satisfied customers are usually willing to give you a link back from their websites or profile if you ask for it (or provide incentives for them to do so).

Step 3: Forum Link Building

Some people tend to think that forums are already overused… and who can blame them! A lot of internet marketers have abused forums for link building purposes, and no one likes spam. But nevertheless there is value to be derived from forums. The key is to find the right forums and communities to participate in. You can insert your links whenever appropriate, but don’t abuse the privilege!

When participating in forums, make sure you choose forums that are active and on-topic. Then, interact with respected users. Once you get them on your side, it is a lot easier to become a respected member yourself! And in all likelihood, active forum posters have their own websites or blogs. Getting links from these sites would be an added bonus!

All in all, if you follow the above tips, you should start making strong connections with people who share the same interests as you. You’ll be able to build some great links, and hopefully make some friends along the way.

Samantha Wells has been a leading search engine marketer for over 5 years. She currently works in the online marketing department for Raleigh Tree Services.

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