Spinfield: Web marketing trends today, tomorrow, and beyond…

If you want your Web site to rank well in the search engines, you need links – lots of relevant links – coming into your site.

So you just snap your fingers and they appear? Unfortunately there is a little more work involved. Building links is an ongoing process. Get started by completing at least some of the following suggestions.

• List your Web site in Web directories, including DMOZ, and Google Directory, There are also numerous smaller and specialty directories - all of which provide a link back to registered sites. Type Web directories into Google search, and see what you come up with.
• Start a blog and post an article at least once a week, with links back to your Web site of course. Many blog sites, including Wordpress and Blogger, are free.
• Set up social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and others.  Be sure to include links back to your Web site.
• Make thoughtful comments on recent, relevant blog posts.
• And finally, find pertinent blogs and Web sites,  and telephone or e-mail the owner and politely ask to exchange links. Be sure to explain why exchanging links will benefit both parties.

It takes time to build a good network of links.  Avoid companies which promise hundreds of links for a few dollars, because the poor quality of the links will not help - and could possibly hurt - your rankings in the search engines.

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