I am one of those optimists who still read reciprocal link emails now and again in the hope that I see a spark of originality. I dont ask much, only a few details such as where do you want the link from (be page specific here or forget it), anchor text and description. Its not much to ask, is it
Rarely, I get an email where someone has actually visited my site, noted the page to which I should add their link and provided the required details. Those clever people have a chance of getting a link and get this (whispers and draws you in closer); it isnt always necessary for it to be reciprocal. There, Ive said it. I dont always need a link back! If it fits with the site, I sometimes give (gasp) a one-way link!
Yes, really. I sometimes link to another site without requiring they link back to me. Makes a person feel all dirty, doesnt it Like some sort of link-slut.
However, I loathe the requests to link that go along the lines of Link to us as we have linked to you because if you dont, well take the link down! (omg! No. pfft!) or Linking is important because ...
Usually, these types of emails immediately get added to the junk mail list and thats that. Any further link requests get as far as my junk folder and will never get read.
The following is the type of nonsense that guarantees you get added to my junk mail and not my link pages:
Dear webmaster,
A few days ago we had sent across an email with a request that we wish to be your link partner. Our request to you was to exchange link with our web site hhtp://wwww.nositehere.com. We had also sent at least two reminder emails with our request for becoming link partners. However, since we have not received any response from your side we are assuming that you do not wish to be our link partner at this stage.
We were very hopeful of receiving a positive response from your side but we have received no contact from you till date. Although, we are a little disappointed but we understand that you must have your reasons for choosing to ignore our request to become link partners at this stage and we respect your decision. After waiting for your response for a considerable period (er, couple of days wasnt it), we have now removed your link from our web site.
Please do let us know if in near future you become interested in exchanging link with our web site. We will be glad to have you as our link partner.
Although you may as a webmaster seeking links, be tempted into the shotgun approach for emailing prospective link partners by spraying emails left and right, you would be better served taking a little time and trouble actually visiting the website you hope will link to your site and being specific about the page you hope to get a link from. Remember, one quality link from a decent site is worth at least twenty low-quality ones.
J Fox is a webmaster running a number of websites including the subject of .
Breaking The Liquid Crystal Barrier
The Web is an emotionally remote hinterland delivered to us through an impenetrable liquid crystal barrier. How then, can you as a business owner, entrepreneur, or marketing executive connect to a target audience that requires emotional reassurance in order to do business
Willy Loman is Dead
Gone are the days when we sent out phalanxes of sales representatives pounding the pavement, beating the bushes, and generally getting in the face of prospects. Too expensive, way too expensive, have you seen the price of gas Enough said.
Hot Shots Are Us
So you hire some hot shot Web designer who isnt as old as the shoes youre wearing. If you spent some money on your site, and you didnt fall into the trap of having your brother-in-laws cousin design the thing, you probably got a technically proficient website. Unfortunately, when they teach these wunderkind the ways of the Web at the local community college, they dont teach them anything about business, especially anything about marketing.
Now if youre one of those people who think websites are IT projects then good luck, have a nice life, stop reading, because the rest of what I have to say will mean nothing to you. On the other hand, if you believe websites are about marketing, lets talk.
A Manifesto for the Web
A bunch of guys a whole lot smarter than me wrote a neat little screed called the The Cluetrain Manifesto - very clever stuff. What they said was markets are conversations consisting of human beings, and the Internet enables these conversations. Now heres the critical part, conversations among human beings sound human. They are conducted in a human voice. Now does that sound like the Web you know Does your website speak with a human voice Does your website connect in a human way to your customers I think not.
So what does this really mean, this so called conversation Well we are all aware of Email, Blogs, RSS, and the Instant Messenger technologies that have enabled this conversation to take place. But with these informal conversations comes a danger - sloppy thinking and misunderstood intent.
Someone sends you an email, and you quickly respond dashing off an email reply without carefully thinking about how, or what, you are saying. Even if the basic intent and content is what you wanted to say, have you really said it in a way that your conversation partner will understand, or will they misconstrue your meaning
How many one line, short-form emails have you received in response to a complex initial correspondence, and if youre anything like me, you looked at it and thought to yourself, what the hell is this suppose to mean. Weve got a conversation going all right, but have we really attained communication.
The Meaning of Life or At Least Web Conversation
Now heres the interesting thing. I never actually read The Cluetrain Manifesto, but I did hear it. Knowing that I would be laid-up for a few days, bored to death, with nothing to do, but too comatose to really concentrate on reading a book, I purchased one of those audiocassette books at the local mall. I had no idea what I was buying, but it sounded interesting, after all the cover said the end of business as usual which really appealed to my unconventional, contrary nature.
So I bought it, and it was a revelation, an epiphany. Not that I agreed with everything Rick Levine, Christopher Locke, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger had to say, but still their voices stayed with me, and are still locked away somewhere in my head.
Breaking the Liquid Crystal Barrier
And that my friend is the message, the sound of the human voice is powerful, and it connects to the listener on a whole different level. It speaks the truth and connects emotionally to the listener on a very human plane. It breaks through that liquid crystal barrier, and says, listen to me, Im here, Im human, and I have something real to talk to you about. Wow, this is good stuff. So tell me why dont you have that human connection imbedded in your website, delivering your message, your story.
Forget about all the crap youve heard and read about bandwidth and search engine optimization. When someone takes the trouble to visit your website, dont waste the opportunity. Dont screw it up. Dont be afraid to say what needs to be said, in a way that will be heard. If you do it right, your website visitors will remember what you have to say, and that liquid crystal barrier will be broken.
Jerry Bader, is a partner in MRPwebmedia, a website design firm that specializes in creating multimedia websites that enhance their clients business opportunities by delivering their marketing messages using the latest audio, video, Flash, and interactive techniques.
MRPwebmedia developed the Sonic Personalities concept that effectively conveys your brand, image and message on websites and DVD/CD presentations using custom-crafted voice-overs.
For more information and sample sites visit or contact Jerry Bader at (905) 764-1246.