Link Exchange Programs that Run on Your Web Server - Part 8

CREATING A SUCCESSFUL LINK PROGRAM, Part 8

LINK EXCHANGE PROGRAMS THAT RUN ON YOUR WEB SERVER

by Rick Hendershot
Linknet Publishing Network - http://www.sbo-linknet.com

Once you get serious about exchanging links you will realize that
categorizing and constantly updating your links is an
ongoing job. You will be tempted to create large directories of
hundreds of link exchange partners. And for that you really need a
"script" placed directly on your web server. Here is what these
programs can do for you:

Follow up:

1. They will organize your link partners into categories and
subcategories.

2. They will dynamically generate attractive link pages by category
and subcategory.

3. They provide a web-based interface for entering new link partners
(no need to constantly edit html).

4. Link partners can enter their own link information (which you can
either accept automatically or hold for approval.)

5. The system will automatically send out an email message
requesting reciprocal links from chosen sites.

6. The system will (usually) automatically "spider" your selected
sites to verify that your link is in place on their site.

7. The system will automatically send out reminders if it can't
find a reciprocal link.

Auto Links Pro, and Automate Link Exchange are two (php) scripts
that give you these capabilities. They focus exclusively on helping
you create your link directory without having to edit html every
time you want to add a new link.

They generally do this by creating "dynamic" link pages that draw
on information stored in a database. This means you can enter any
number of categories and subcategories, and you can add an
unlimited number of links by using a web form that posts the
information directly to the database.

In other words, no html is required. All the relevant information
is stored in the database and then "dynamically" arranged into
pages when requested by a site visitor. Usually you have quite a
bit of control over the look of your pages as well.

Another program of this sort is LinkMachine -
http://www.linkmachine.com

I have used this program on several sites, and for a while at
least, found it quite powerful and useful**. The interface is easy
to use and understand. Configuration and installation are the
easiest I have found. And you do not have to create a special MySQL
database as with most programs of this sort. If you are using Front
Page you can (usually) just upload the program and have it running
in a few minutes. Or if you normally upload your pages using ftp,
you can just upload the LinkMachine files as you normally would.

Another program worth considering is Link Management Assistant.
http://www.onlinemarketingtoday.com
This program is free, easy to install, fully customizable, fast
and easy to use, and has an added feature that allows to create
directory pages based on listings found in specific categories
of DMOZ. This has two advantages. First, it creates pages that
contain meaningful (outbound) links. This will probably give you
a head start on getting your pages ranked higher. And second, it
gives you a lot of fruitful possibilities for link partners. Just
use your newly created, cateogorized list as your primary prospect
list.

*A comment about databases*

If you have had any experience building websites, you will know
that database-oriented systems are wonderful when they work, but
are often a challenge to get running properly. You usually have to
create a special database, and then upload the pages that serve as
the interface with the database. This can be quite a challenge if
you are not familiar with how websites work.

In some cases you can buy "professional installation" along with
the script. Where a special MySQL database is required I highly
recommend you spend the extra $20 or $30 dollars. That way the
person who actually wrote the script (and has seen all the
installation problems) will get it running for you.

**Note on my own use of LinkMachine**

I have recently stopped using LinkMachine for a number of
important reasons. As you may have seen from comments in previous
lessons, I have concluded that exchanging links is a relatively
inefficient way to get the most valuable kinds of links required to
generate traffic. LinkMachine was partially responsible for my
change in attitude.

The biggest issue with LinkMachine was that I found it wide open to
submissions by garbage sites, and that sorting through the link
requests took more time than it was worth. Of course this program
(and others like it) has settings that let you filter out specific
kinds of submissions. But even then, the sorting and sifting process
is just too time consuming for the low quality of links you end up
with.

My biggest objection, however, is to the principle of exchanging
links in the first place. As I have said elsewhere, link exchange is
"poor man's linking" and tends to become an excuse for keeping you
from doing other kinds of promotional activity that is more useful.
For more comments on LinkMachine and link exchange, see my blog post
here:

http://marketingbs.blogspot.com/2005/03/finding-good-link-exchange-software.html

Rick Hendershot publishes the Linknet Network of websites:
http://www.sbo-linknet.com

Get 25 free links to your website here:
http://www.sbo-linknet.com/free-advertising.shtml