TOW July 5: Reciprocal Links

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alley Cat Lane on July 5, 2011 at 1:55pm

How do you do a reciprocal link with The Vintage Village? I'd like to add them to my links page on Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza.

Permalink Reply by Charmed Life on July 5, 2011 at 2:14pm

I put a link to my page on TVV that has a link to my RL shop ... it brings people to my page on The Vintage Village, which will help bring them here!

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on July 5, 2011 at 2:31pm

This is a topic on the Laundry List... I have wanted to get back to it for sometime now, so guess this is the time.

Reciprocal Link, "I Link to You and You Link to Me" and not just any link will do.

To answer your question, do links to and from an RL or RP shop count. Yes, they do but it is the rank of the shop that is important as far as linking goes. 3 or greater is best... but that doesn't mean you can't link to a 0, 1, 2 ... it just means you need more of low ranking sites  to make an impact on a google search. Limiting yourself only to RL and RP shops is not the best course of action. You need 'reciprocal' links to other websites as well,  if you want to influence a search result.

And, they have to be 'true' reciprocal links. Meaning you have to check to make sure they are. You do this by looking at their backlinks. If you check their back links and no links to other sites appear, then they do not have 'reciprocal' links. Lots of pages invite you to add a link to there site, and in exchange they will add your link, but if it it is not a true reciprocal link, which means it is a waste of your time, unless you just happen to like the site for whatever reason and you want to recommend it to others.

The other day I checked a few of the shops here that have reciprocal links and I found several issues.  One, when you add a link to your favorite links page you must add a link to the other sites home page (if you are looking to add a reciprocal link), and then you must add the url of the page where your link can be found (Their page that links back to you). If you put your own shop url in this section, then it does nothing to elevate your ranking with Google. It is the same as not having a link.  Two, if you just put a link to the sites home page, say to an RL shop home page for example, but they do not have you listed in their Favorites Links section with the proper backlink, then that does you any good either.  Three, 'link farms', just pages with links, no real website, these are worthless. Skip them altogether.

This is the information you need to add a link to your Favorite Links page:

• Name of their site: 
• URL of their site:
• Their page that links back to you: 
• Description:

Some people avoid linking like the plague, for whatever reason. Fear of rejection? I don't know why, but it the single most important thing you can do for your shop to get you to the front of the line in a google search.

 

Here is a sample of a note I send to potential link sites.

 

Hi,

I would like to establish a reciprocal link with your website.

 

I have added your link to my Favorite Links section of my shop. You may view it here:

http://www.rubyplaza.com/shop/allthingsbeautiful-rp/mylinks.html

(You  must add the other sites links BEFORE  you send the request for a link. And, add the url of the page you believe your link will be added, you can correct it later, if need be.)

 

Here is my link information:

Shop Name

Shop URL

Description

 

Thank you,

......

 

Then, move on. Most people don't respond to the note, they just add the link. And, they don't usually jump on adding it right away so patience is a must. In 30 days or so, check the links, but don't get frustrated if you don't hear from them or if they don't add your website, but do give them plenty of time to do so.  Anything less than 30 days is not plenty of time. Bugging them won't help your cause.

So, first you have to find a site to link to (quality site with a decent rank and backlinks), and yes, they can be competitors, it really doesn't matter 'who' they are. (They don't even have to be related to what you sell, just make sure they have a good rank and backlinks.) Second, add the links your favorite section. Third, send the note. Four, move on.

Linking takes some time so just do a few or so a week, before you know it you will have a page full.

Why add links? There are 1,000's of sites selling vintage collectibles, etc., they are also competing for rank position in a search return, so you have to do something that says your shop is relevant and worthy of being at the front of the line. Links add value to your site. When other sites link to you they are giving you a 'referral',  this means something in the search engine world.

If you combine links with having appropriate keywords in your titles and descriptions then you will be doing great.

Remember, it takes time for your pages to get indexed, so adding links may not help you today, but it certainly will moving on down the road.

Questions?

 

Carol

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on July 5, 2011 at 2:49pm

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

 

Notes from the Lane and Plaza Note bloggers... link to the blog. All your blog articles have a link to your shop, so put in the url for the main page of the blog, add the name and description, and then in the 'their page that links back to you' put in the url of your blog page. The blog is rank of 4 which is not bad, and with more back links it will move up, which means your articles will appear higher in a google search for relevant keywords.

 

If you add items or your shop url to our Facebook pages, then add our Facebook page to your Favorite Links. The url for both the site and for the page that links back to you is the same: http://www.facebook.com/RubyLane (or RubyPlaza).

 

For the vintage village, make sure you have your link on your home page or somewhere else that you can add the backlink, ie their page that links back to you.

 

To check backlinks, go to google and put in: links:siteurl     example: links:thevintagevillage.com

Permalink Reply by Alley Cat Lane on July 5, 2011 at 3:17pm

I have tried setting up links on Ruby Lane and followed all the above mentioned points. However, when I click on the " You can check Google^TM to see

• how many sites link back to your home page (most important), or
• how many sites link back to this page."

I never find anything linked to my shop. I can go to the linked site and verify I am on the site's link page and everything seems set up appropriately on their end and mine but when I check Google nothing shows up. I have questioned RL about this several times but never gotten a satisfactory answer as to why nothing shows up or what I may be doing wrong. Can you enlighten me?

Also, what is the url for the Vintage Villages's link page? I haven't been abe to find it.

I do have a 3 page rank on Google so I guess I am doing something right.

Ruby Lane said:

This is a topic on the Laundry List... I have wanted to get back to it for sometime now, so guess this is the time.

Reciprocal Link, "I Link to You and You Link to Me" and not just any link will do.

To answer your question, do links to and from an RL or RP shop count. Yes, they do but it is the rank of the shop that is important as far as linking goes. 3 or greater is best... but that doesn't mean you can't link to a 0, 1, 2 ... it just means you need more of low ranking sites  to make an impact on a google search. Limiting yourself only to RL and RP shops is not the best course of action. You need 'reciprocal' links to other websites as well,  if you want to influence a search result.

And, they have to be 'true' reciprocal links. Meaning you have to check to make sure they are. You do this by looking at their backlinks. If you check their back links and no links to other sites appear, then they do not have 'reciprocal' links. Lots of pages invite you to add a link to there site, and in exchange they will add your link, but if it it is not a true reciprocal link, which means it is a waste of your time, unless you just happen to like the site for whatever reason and you want to recommend it to others.

The other day I checked a few of the shops here that have reciprocal links and I found several issues.  One, when you add a link to your favorite links page you must add a link to the other sites home page (if you are looking to add a reciprocal link), and then you must add the url of the page where your link can be found (Their page that links back to you). If you put your own shop url in this section, then it does nothing to elevate your ranking with Google. It is the same as not having a link.  Two, if you just put a link to the sites home page, say to an RL shop home page for example, but they do not have you listed in their Favorites Links section with the proper backlink, then that does you any good either.  Three, 'link farms', just pages with links, no real website, these are worthless. Skip them altogether.

This is the information you need to add a link to your Favorite Links page:

• Name of their site: 
• URL of their site:
• Their page that links back to you: 
• Description:

Some people avoid linking like the plague, for whatever reason. Fear of rejection? I don't know why, but it the single most important thing you can do for your shop to get you to the front of the line in a google search.

 

Here is a sample of a note I send to potential link sites.

 

Hi,

I would like to establish a reciprocal link with your website.

 

I have added your link to my Favorite Links section of my shop. You may view it here:

http://www.rubyplaza.com/shop/allthingsbeautiful-rp/mylinks.html

(You  must add the other sites links BEFORE  you send the request for a link. And, add the url of the page you believe your link will be added, you can correct it later, if need be.)

 

Here is my link information:

Shop Name

Shop URL

Description

 

Thank you,

......

 

Then, move on. Most people don't respond to the note, they just add the link. And, they don't usually jump on adding it right away so patience is a must. In 30 days or so, check the links, but don't get frustrated if you don't hear from them or if they don't add your website, but do give them plenty of time to do so.  Anything less than 30 days is not plenty of time. Bugging them won't help your cause.

So, first you have to find a site to link to (quality site with a decent rank and backlinks), and yes, they can be competitors, it really doesn't matter 'who' they are. (They don't even have to be related to what you sell, just make sure they have a good rank and backlinks.) Second, add the links your favorite section. Third, send the note. Four, move on.

Linking takes some time so just do a few or so a week, before you know it you will have a page full.

Why add links? There are 1,000's of sites selling vintage collectibles, etc., they are also competing for rank position in a search return, so you have to do something that says your shop is relevant and worthy of being at the front of the line. Links add value to your site. When other sites link to you they are giving you a 'referral',  this means something in the search engine world.

If you combine links with having appropriate keywords in your titles and descriptions then you will be doing great.

Remember, it takes time for your pages to get indexed, so adding links may not help you today, but it certainly will moving on down the road.

Questions?

 

Carol

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on July 5, 2011 at 4:35pm

Alley Cat your links are not set up properly.

Ruby Lane Shops

You have to put the url of their Favorites Links page in the "their page that links back to you'. You don't have anything in this field.

But if the shop you are linking to Does Not have you listed on their Favorites links page with a link to your home page and one to your favorites links page, then you have no reciprocal link.

Here is an example:

Under Favorite Links in your shop you have the following shop listed:

Name of their site: Time in a Bottle

URL of their site: http://www.rubylane.com/shop/timeinabottle

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. 

Description: Specializing in Antique & Vintage Perfume Bottles, Compacts, Purses, Inkwells, & French Boxes

One, they do not have you listed on their Favorites Link page and even if they did because you don't have the url of their links pages listed under: Their page that links back to you................. you have no link. Most of your links have the same issue.

 

See the message above: Their page that links back to you:  'You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.'

If all you do is add a link to a shops or sites url page and nothing else, and then list a link to their shop favorites links page then you have not created a reciprocal link.

 

Here is another example:

Name of their site:Crazy Ladies Antiques

URL of their site:http://www.rubylane.com/shop/crazyladiesantiques/mylinks.html

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.

Description: For beautiful glass ware at reasonable prices, visit Crazy Ladies.

Note under 'URL of their site:" You have the link to their Favorites Links page. This section is for the url to their shop home page (site). And under 'Their page that links back to you': You have not entered the url of their favorites links page."

But, it wouldn't matter because they do not have a link back to your shop including a link to your mylinks page. So, you have no link. You have to request a shop link to you and they have to add your link information to their Favorites Links page, otherwise, there is no link.

Another example:

Old South Silver: The site has tons of links listed but none of them show up as a backlink to the sites home page, meaning this site does not have true reciprocal links. They display a link to your shop which is good, but it doesn't help you with respect to rank.

Hope this helps. Carol

Permalink Reply by Alley Cat Lane on July 5, 2011 at 4:43pm

Thanks so much! I thought I had everything in the right place. I'll go try to clean things up.

Ruby Lane said:

Alley Cat your links are not set up properly.

Ruby Lane Shops

You have to put the url of their Favorites Links page in the "their page that links back to you'. You don't have anything in this field.

But if the shop you are linking to Does Not have you listed on their Favorites links page with a link to your home page and one to your favorites links page, then you have no reciprocal link.

Here is an example:

Under Favorite Links in your shop you have the following shop listed:

Name of their site: Time in a Bottle

URL of their site: http://www.rubylane.com/shop/timeinabottle

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. 

Description: Specializing in Antique & Vintage Perfume Bottles, Compacts, Purses, Inkwells, & French Boxes

One, they do not have you listed on their Favorites Link page and even if they did because you don't have the url of their links pages listed under: Their page that links back to you................. you have no link. Most of your links have the same issue.

 

See the message above: Their page that links back to you:  'You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.'

If all you do is add a link to a shops or sites url page and nothing else, and then list a link to their shop favorites links page then you have not created a reciprocal link.

 

Here is another example:

Name of their site:Crazy Ladies Antiques

URL of their site:http://www.rubylane.com/shop/crazyladiesantiques/mylinks.html

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.

Description: For beautiful glass ware at reasonable prices, visit Crazy Ladies.

Note under 'URL of their site:" You have the link to their Favorites Links page. This section is for the url to their shop home page (site). And under 'Their page that links back to you': You have not entered the url of their favorites links page."

But, it wouldn't matter because they do not have a link back to your shop including a link to your mylinks page. So, you have no link. You have to request a shop link to you and they have to add your link information to their Favorites Links page, otherwise, there is no link.

Another example:

Old South Silver: The site has tons of links listed but none of them show up as a backlink to the sites home page, meaning this site does not have true reciprocal links. They display a link to your shop which is good, but it doesn't help you with respect to rank.

Hope this helps. Carol

Permalink Reply by COBAYLEY on July 5, 2011 at 11:45pm

I want to thank Carol and the others that have contributed to this discussion.  But, it is very, very confusing...at least for me.   Linking has been one of my major hurdles.  Unless I have a website that has approached me and specifically asked to link...I'm totally lost.  I'll read this thread through many, many times, and hopefully I'll learn something.

I just think you should know that for the average on line seller, this is one of the mystifying mysteries...

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on July 6, 2011 at 9:35am

Yes, linking can be confusing. Let me break it down to its simplest form.

1) Find a website you would like to link to.

2) Check the ranking of the website from the sites home page. *

3) Check for true reciprocal links from the sites home page. **

4) Add the site information to your Favorites section, which includes Site Name, Site Home Page URL, Description and the Page where the site will link back to you (their links page.)

5) Contact the site and ask them to link to you.

6) Move on to the next site and repeat.

 

* You will need the google tool bar with the tool added. There are many other ranking tools you can use but Google is the simplest.

** Go to Google and enter the following info in the search box.   links:sitepageURL -  example: links:thevintagevillage.com or links:rubylane.com/shop/allthingsbeautiful

 

If anyone wants me to help them individually, let me know. I have set aside some time today to do so, if needed.

 

Or if anyone wants to link with one of my shops, we can do that. Then I can check to see if you have completed the process correctly.

 

Carol

 

 

Permalink Reply by Alley Cat Lane on July 6, 2011 at 9:47am

You are correct that most of my links are not correct, but I did find one that is and I still get the message there is no link to me. Would you look at my link with Hoosier Collectibles, please? What's wrong with this one? Thanks, Carolyn

Ruby Lane said:

Alley Cat your links are not set up properly.

Ruby Lane Shops

You have to put the url of their Favorites Links page in the "their page that links back to you'. You don't have anything in this field.

But if the shop you are linking to Does Not have you listed on their Favorites links page with a link to your home page and one to your favorites links page, then you have no reciprocal link.

Here is an example:

Under Favorite Links in your shop you have the following shop listed:

Name of their site: Time in a Bottle

URL of their site: http://www.rubylane.com/shop/timeinabottle

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. 

Description: Specializing in Antique & Vintage Perfume Bottles, Compacts, Purses, Inkwells, & French Boxes

One, they do not have you listed on their Favorites Link page and even if they did because you don't have the url of their links pages listed under: Their page that links back to you................. you have no link. Most of your links have the same issue.

 

See the message above: Their page that links back to you:  'You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.'

If all you do is add a link to a shops or sites url page and nothing else, and then list a link to their shop favorites links page then you have not created a reciprocal link.

 

Here is another example:

Name of their site:Crazy Ladies Antiques

URL of their site:http://www.rubylane.com/shop/crazyladiesantiques/mylinks.html

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.

Description: For beautiful glass ware at reasonable prices, visit Crazy Ladies.

Note under 'URL of their site:" You have the link to their Favorites Links page. This section is for the url to their shop home page (site). And under 'Their page that links back to you': You have not entered the url of their favorites links page."

But, it wouldn't matter because they do not have a link back to your shop including a link to your mylinks page. So, you have no link. You have to request a shop link to you and they have to add your link information to their Favorites Links page, otherwise, there is no link.

Another example:

Old South Silver: The site has tons of links listed but none of them show up as a backlink to the sites home page, meaning this site does not have true reciprocal links. They display a link to your shop which is good, but it doesn't help you with respect to rank.

Hope this helps. Carol

Permalink Reply by Alley Cat Lane on July 6, 2011 at 9:56am

My links to Bead Euphoria and Retro Junction are also correct but state there is no link.

Alley Cat Lane said:

You are correct that most of my links are not correct, but I did find one that is and I still get the message there is no link to me. Would you look at my link with Hoosier Collectibles, please? What's wrong with this one? Thanks, Carolyn

Ruby Lane said:

Alley Cat your links are not set up properly.

Ruby Lane Shops

You have to put the url of their Favorites Links page in the "their page that links back to you'. You don't have anything in this field.

But if the shop you are linking to Does Not have you listed on their Favorites links page with a link to your home page and one to your favorites links page, then you have no reciprocal link.

Here is an example:

Under Favorite Links in your shop you have the following shop listed:

Name of their site: Time in a Bottle

URL of their site: http://www.rubylane.com/shop/timeinabottle

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. 

Description: Specializing in Antique & Vintage Perfume Bottles, Compacts, Purses, Inkwells, & French Boxes

One, they do not have you listed on their Favorites Link page and even if they did because you don't have the url of their links pages listed under: Their page that links back to you................. you have no link. Most of your links have the same issue.

 

See the message above: Their page that links back to you:  'You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.'

If all you do is add a link to a shops or sites url page and nothing else, and then list a link to their shop favorites links page then you have not created a reciprocal link.

 

Here is another example:

Name of their site:Crazy Ladies Antiques

URL of their site:http://www.rubylane.com/shop/crazyladiesantiques/mylinks.html

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.

Description: For beautiful glass ware at reasonable prices, visit Crazy Ladies.

Note under 'URL of their site:" You have the link to their Favorites Links page. This section is for the url to their shop home page (site). And under 'Their page that links back to you': You have not entered the url of their favorites links page."

But, it wouldn't matter because they do not have a link back to your shop including a link to your mylinks page. So, you have no link. You have to request a shop link to you and they have to add your link information to their Favorites Links page, otherwise, there is no link.

Another example:

Old South Silver: The site has tons of links listed but none of them show up as a backlink to the sites home page, meaning this site does not have true reciprocal links. They display a link to your shop which is good, but it doesn't help you with respect to rank.

Hope this helps. Carol

Permalink Reply by Alley Cat Lane on July 6, 2011 at 10:00am

I take back my previous statement of most of my links being incorrect. As I am going through them and click on the other site's link url on my links page, I easily find my shop listed.  Again, I don't understand what's happening. Help!

Alley Cat Lane said:

My links to Bead Euphoria and Retro Junction are also correct but state there is no link.

Alley Cat Lane said:

You are correct that most of my links are not correct, but I did find one that is and I still get the message there is no link to me. Would you look at my link with Hoosier Collectibles, please? What's wrong with this one? Thanks, Carolyn

Ruby Lane said:

Alley Cat your links are not set up properly.

Ruby Lane Shops

You have to put the url of their Favorites Links page in the "their page that links back to you'. You don't have anything in this field.

But if the shop you are linking to Does Not have you listed on their Favorites links page with a link to your home page and one to your favorites links page, then you have no reciprocal link.

Here is an example:

Under Favorite Links in your shop you have the following shop listed:

Name of their site: Time in a Bottle

URL of their site: http://www.rubylane.com/shop/timeinabottle

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. 

Description: Specializing in Antique & Vintage Perfume Bottles, Compacts, Purses, Inkwells, & French Boxes

One, they do not have you listed on their Favorites Link page and even if they did because you don't have the url of their links pages listed under: Their page that links back to you................. you have no link. Most of your links have the same issue.

 

See the message above: Their page that links back to you:  'You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.'

If all you do is add a link to a shops or sites url page and nothing else, and then list a link to their shop favorites links page then you have not created a reciprocal link.

 

Here is another example:

Name of their site:Crazy Ladies Antiques

URL of their site:http://www.rubylane.com/shop/crazyladiesantiques/mylinks.html

Their page that links back to you: You have not entered this information. If you do, we can check to make sure they have a link to you on their site.

Description: For beautiful glass ware at reasonable prices, visit Crazy Ladies.

Note under 'URL of their site:" You have the link to their Favorites Links page. This section is for the url to their shop home page (site). And under 'Their page that links back to you': You have not entered the url of their favorites links page."

But, it wouldn't matter because they do not have a link back to your shop including a link to your mylinks page. So, you have no link. You have to request a shop link to you and they have to add your link information to their Favorites Links page, otherwise, there is no link.

Another example:

Old South Silver: The site has tons of links listed but none of them show up as a backlink to the sites home page, meaning this site does not have true reciprocal links. They display a link to your shop which is good, but it doesn't help you with respect to rank.

Hope this helps. Carol

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