Link building is the bane of my existence. I don't hate it, but I'm not like Jim Boykin who seems to love link building. Nor am I Rand Fishkin who can produce link bait with every sneeze. I don't even have the social networking skills that appear to come so easily for Aaron Wall. When it comes to link building I wish I was any one of these guys.

Recently Aaron posted an article about using emails to generate links and it got me thinking about flattery. Bear with me here a minute while I take a round about way to my point.

Emails are simply a way to communicate. How you choose to use email to communicate will determine how successful you are with it. There is nothing wrong with requesting links via email (though many might consider it spam), but its all in the usage.

Not long ago I had written a review of a business book by author Bill George. Recently I was contacted by a publicist (via email) because they had read my review of his first book. The publicist asked if they could send me a manuscript of his next book due out later this year. Obviously they are looking to generate some buzz about the new book before it goes to print.

Well, let me tell you something. I was flattered to be asked and even more so when I got the manuscript in hand. So here I am with a manuscript to a book that won't be published until March of this year and guess what? I'm reading it. And when I'm done reading it I'll post a review of it in my blog. I'll be one of the first. And in my blog I'll post a link to their website as well as to the Amazon page where the book can be purchased.

The problem with most link emails is that there is never any real effort involved in getting the links. Just some generic crap about how they "really liked your site!" Wow. That's awesome! When I was contacted about getting the manuscript I was flattered that somebody wanted me to read their book and blog about it. Flattery is effective.

So when you're going out finding links, how can you flatter the person you're trying to get the link from? What can you tell them, what can you offer, how can you build them up? Essentially, what can you do that will make them want to link to you. A little flattery can go a very long way!