What sort of stuff on other sites do people link to from their site?

1. Exceptional Content
2. Content that mentions them
3. Interesting/Fun Content

The first one is actually going to be the easiest - content that mentions them., I like to call this Ego Bait or Link Bait (I'll use them interchangeably in this training).

I've experimented with three types so far:

1. Host Blogging (Let them guest post on your site)
2. Expert Roundup Posts ("Ask the experts" about a particular topic)
3. "Best Of" Posts (Just list the best bloggers in your niche!)

They'll also be more likely to link to you from one of their own posts, or ask YOU to be included in one of their roundup posts.

Host Blogging

This is simple enough. You offer them the opportunity to guest blog on your site. Chances are there'll be a topic that they are really familiar with and you aren't, so you just ask them if they'd be interested in writing about it for your audience.

They'll get a link and more exposure out of it, and you'll get free content and exposure to their social network.

Asking them to do it:

This depends on how well you've done the previous stage, but I would basically just flatter them:

Something like:

Hey {name},

I think you just changed my blogging life.

I was reading your content here (link) and I love it!

I've been trying to come across a resource like this for a while, because I wanted to write something similar for my blog (link). I don't think I'll ever write something as well as you though.

I was wondering...would you be willing to guest post something similar for my blog? I'll of course let you include a couple of links to your site as a thankyou, and will love you forever. (It's cheesy but it works).

Because you probably don't want to write the exact same thing, I was thinking you could write on one of the following topics, or you could suggest your own:

Suggestion 1

Suggestion 2

etc etc

I recommend you write it in your own words, but something like that might work. It's worth a try.

What to do if your blog is new?

Well if your site is new then they might not be so willing to do it, after all, there's less in it for them. You might want to wait until your site has at least 20-30 posts before trying this.

You could also just say to them something like "My blog is still new and I really want to get it more authoritative. The only way I can think of doing that is by hosting some content from the best people in the niche, so I'm reaching out to you" <-- remember to appear on their radar first so that they know that you really do follow them and are a fan. This is why you sign up to their list; so you can reply to one of THEIR OWN emails.

Expert Roundup Posts

In some niches these are done to death. The Internet Marketing niche probably has one or two published a day. This means that people are at least familiar with the concept and some of them are more than willing to join in.

...but what about in the niches where expert roundup posts are not so prevelant?

Well...in walk you, with your roundup post, ready to dominate the niche.

People will line up to appear in a post as an "Expert" and will readily share it on. They will probably even link to it a few times as well.

My own post

I wrote this post about a month ago. I could have outreached to a lot more experts, but I thought 7 would make a good start.

Here are the key points:

- When reaching out, reply to any emails they've sent you. It is more likely to get opened.

- Keep the email short, and make it easy for them to reply.

Something like this:

"Hey _______,

I'm doing an expert roundup post for my blog (link if necessary) on XYZ topic and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'll include a link to your site as a thankyou.

To enter, just reply to this question:

"What do you think about {insert subject here}?"

You can make your answer as long or short as you like.

Cheers man!

Dom"

Some will reply, some won't. That's how it goes.

Coming Up With Ideas

It's really up to you what topic you choose. I would normally suggest a big topic that a lot of people will be wondering about and will have questions about. Remember that you are most likely getting traffic for this post from social networks, so keyword research is optional not mandatory.

I did "safe back-links" for my topic, as I knew people would click it. Read it here for reference purposes: http://www.humanproofdesigns.com/what-7-experts-say-about-advanced-link-building-strategies/

Key points for the post:

- Make it look good, include images and links to the sites at hand.

- Summarize the results.

- Don't big yourself up too much. Big them up instead.

Once that is done, reply to the people who contributed, and tell them the post is live. Ask them to share with their followers and mention your twitter handle. Some will mention you, some will just share. No worries. It's all good.

Here's what happened when I did mine:

Potential here is massive, because as well as an influx of new people, and some good social signals for your site, you'll also have the potential to get new fans, subscribers and return visitors.

Make sure your post has somewhere for people to realize you've got more to offer. Maybe a CTA to read the rest of your posts, or a sign up box, or something similar.

Remember to give thanks to the people who were involved.

Later on, you might attract a few links as well. My post has been linked to from at least two different high authority sites since it went live. One was from somebody involved, who used it as a reference, and the other was from somebody I never met before, who deemed it worth of linking to from one of his posts. Result.

"Best Of" Posts

This is easy and just pure "Ego-Bait". Stroke their ego and they'll share your content and link to it.

1. Come up with a title, something like "Best Internet Marketing Blogs of 2014" (Don't use that one though, it's mine).

2. Include 10-50 blogs (depends how many good ones are out there).

3. Write abit about the blog, link to it, then sign off with a summary. Don't forget to mention that your own blog is worth reading too ;)

4. Email everyone included, tell them they made the list, and ask them to share it around. They will.

5. Make sure these are individual emails and not a big mailing list. It takes more time, but it's worth it. Use their contact form if you don't have their email list. Use twitter if they don't have a contact form. Don't include them if you can't contact them.

Here's mine again for reference: http://www.humanproofdesigns.com/17-internet-marketing-websites-i-recommend/

You can also split them into categories as well.

"Just For Fun" Posts

You can also try a post just for the fun of it. For example, a couple of people did an Internet Marketing Fantasy XI where they made a soccer team and filled it with 11 top marketers, and played a pretend match. It was a laugh, and got some good shares.

Here's an example that was made as an example (ooh): http://nichehacks.com/linkbait-brazil-world-cup-2014/