Link Building and Link Bait: Using Google " Related"

One way way to find potential sites to link from is to use "related:YOURSITE.com" function. Sometimes I am just stuck for ideas and exhausted every conceivable place to establish a connection. I pretty much never use automated software for link building and avoid links for links sake type trades. Most of the links I garner are from relationship building. Sites offering the same service or product are usually reluctant to offer you up a link from their site going to their competition. I have much more success going after a related site. For example, working with an online florist, I can write content related to wedding flowers or planning a wedding publish on the site and and then go to any of the thousands and thousands of wedding related sites, blogs and forums.

This strategy is particularly effective when use some kind of link bait. To me link bait is a fancy way of saying you are giving sites a reason to link back to you. Offer a tool, information, contest, etc that work with related sites. Not only will sites organically link back to you but with a bit of a nudge they will promote you. It also give you a REASON to ask for a link other than I'll link to you if you;ll link to me. You offering something valuable to their customers or site visitors.

By using the Google relate function you can find what types of sites are potential links for you. Try using the relate function with sites that are your competition to broaden your range. Any strategy that gets you thinking in a fresh way it a valuable one.