Off-page search engine optimization (SEO) is primarily concerned with link building, or the acquisition of links to your website or blog from relevant websites that will send you traffic.  Thus, one way to improve your search engine ranking is through link exchanges. 

A link exchange is simply a link swap: you trade links with another website.  On a limited basis, this will help you build links to your site, and it will ultimately help you increase your Google pagerank.

How Link Exchanges Improve Your Search Engine Ranking

The key to link exchanges is to find RELEVANT link exchange partners.  Don’t simply obtain links from a website that lists hundreds of irrelevant websites or blogs.  Instead, find a website that is related to the content of your site.

Another no-no is using those link-trading hubs or networks.  Stay away from that stuff.  The effort won’t be worth the results. 

Acquire links from sites that you would want to get links from even if you didn’t care about SEO.  Think of it as a natural business connection.  Find sites that will help your site gain traffic.  If the sites you find are well-established and relevant to the content of your site or blog, they will likely send visitors your way.  Links from those sites will improve your search engine ranking.

How Do You Engage In A Link Exchange

Entering into link exchanges is easy, but it requires some effort.  Rest assured, it will help you out tremendously.

Here are the steps you need to take:

1) Do a search on Google for your target keywords.  If your site is focused on passive income, and your main keyword for SEO purposes is “passive income,” then do a search for “passive income.”

2) Browse the search results, and find websites that have content that is related to your site.

3) Make sure those related websites are not direct competitors of your site.  (You don’t want to insult someone by asking them to link to your site when you site directly competes with theirs.)

4) Visit each site, and find the contact information.  Send an e-mail to the webmaster or administrator using the following template:

Dear Sir/Madam:

Hi, my name is [INSERT YOUR NAME].  I am an entrepreneur in [CITY, STATE].  I am writing to you about your website, [INSERT WEBSITE NAME].  It is a fine website and a great resource. 

I recently started a website that [EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR WEBSITE OR BLOG OFFERS OR SELLS, AND LINK TO YOUR SITE].

I am interested in exchanging links with your site.  I think such an exchange will benefit us both and, additionally, maximize the resources available to individuals interested in [INSERT RELEVANT SUBJECT MATTER]. 

If you link to my site [PROVIDE YOUR SITE'S URL] in your [SPECIFY SECTION OF WEBSITE] with the anchor text [INSERT DESIRED ANCHOR TEXT], I will happily return the favor by linking to your site in my [SPECIFY WHERE ON YOUR SITE YOU WILL LINK TO THEIR SITE].

Let me know if you agree to the exchange.

Best regards,

-[YOUR NAME]

This is a simple template I have used for all my e-mails requesting link exchanges.  The majority of the time, I succeed in obtaining the desired link swap. 

I recommend including link swapping/exchanging as a one of many approaches for off-page optimization.  Doing so will, in part, help you improve your search engine ranking.

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