To gain rankings in natural listings, no one would argue that one of the biggest contributors to increasing ranking is link popularity. However convincing others to link to your is an enormous undertaking. One approach is contacting them directly and asking for a link. While I definitely l encourage the direct approach, it is a time consuming effort.

The best way to get links from other sites is, as the saying goes, is to “Earn it”. Quality content leads to quality links. Give someone a reason to link to your site. Let’s face it, links do not happen because you have the best prices, links happen because you have a story to tell.

The new buzz word in the search engine marketing world is “Link Bait”. It’s a hip word that says the same thing as most experts have been saying for many years: “Good Content”. I am sure in 6 months we will have another word for the same thing, but whatever you call it all means the same. Quality content leads to quality links. (And yes, I am repeating myself)

Before going on a vast search for sites to link to you, ask you yourself the all important but very simple question: “Why would someone link to me?”
It seems like such a simple question. But if you can’t answer that, then your content needs work. Create the content and then ask that question again.

Keep in mind the quest to make your site linkable has vary little to do to with the ecommerce side of your product. “What? But I sell a product?” you ask. Let’s look at an example.

Company: ABC Watches
Problem: ABC Watches wants links. However, ABC watches is an e-commerce store with nothing to offer, but a place to buy watches.
TheGreatWatchBlog.com (a fictional blog, however once others see that domain is available it may exist soon). This blog discusses watches, the best watches, the bad watches, problems with watches, compare watches etc. ABC Watches wants a link.
However, from TheGreatWatchBlog.com prospective ABC Watches has nothing to contribute. But ABC Watches has the best prices on watches, shouldn’t that be enough. Having the best prices, does not contribute to the discussion of good and bad watches.
Solution: ABC Watches improves content, but especially non-commerce content. Possible content that would interest readers on TheGreatWatchBlog.com may be “How to take care of your watch”, “Measuring quality watches”, “Top 10 problems with discount watches”. This is content users want.
Quality content leads to quality links. Where have I heard that before?

I tried to think of a scenario or industry where having good non e-commerce content would not be necessary, but I could not. Help me if you have one. All sites need LinkBait, and unfortunately most do not. Of course, that’s also an advantage to those who are looking to gain some ground in the search engine rankings