Below is live coverage of the Real World Low-Risk High-Reward Link Building panel from the PubCon 2011 conference.
Disclaimer: The coverage is brought to you in real time, using a custom live blogging tool. Feel free to ask questions or leave comments for inclusion into the live coverage. During the live event, live notes will auto-scroll with newest entries at top. After the session is complete the archive version will have the oldest entries at the top. We ask you to please excuse any typos, as these are live notes.
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Barry Schwartz:
11:25:57 am
We will likely start a bit late since the session in this room ends at the same time the session starts.
Barry Schwartz:
11:26:14 am
Technically we start in 4 minutes
Barry Schwartz:
11:36:57 am
Aaron Shear is up first
Barry Schwartz:
11:37:26 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:37:46 am
E-Commerce linking ideas, e-commerce links are hard to get.
Barry Schwartz:
11:38:25 am
Do an affiliate program
Barry Schwartz:
11:39:49 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:41:38 am
Figure out irresistible link bait: widgets that add real value or as simple as a sizing chart for shoes (like Zappos)
Barry Schwartz:
11:42:31 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:42:32 am
Here is another example
Barry Schwartz:
11:43:12 am
Reach out to bloggers but don't send them a blanket stupid email, give them something they want. Send them a gift card or somethig.
Barry Schwartz:
11:44:18 am
Use social - social signals are important for link building for e-commerce
Barry Schwartz:
11:44:57 am
Google looks at social signals, +1 does help. Facebook likes seem to count
Barry Schwartz:
11:45:39 am
Don't push these social signals to pages with high bounce rate
Barry Schwartz:
11:46:52 am
Are you selling something special?
Barry Schwartz:
11:47:21 am
Can you get on the vendors list on manufacturer's web site?
Barry Schwartz:
11:48:35 am
#1 linked to page on Zappos, shows things being sold in real time around the world
Barry Schwartz:
11:48:39 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:48:57 am
Dixon Jones next up
Barry Schwartz:
11:49:29 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:49:43 am
He just got electrocuted by the computer but he is okay
Barry Schwartz:
11:50:32 am
He is going to focus on the risk thing and come up with low risk ideas
Barry Schwartz:
11:51:02 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:51:08 am
Here is a bad example
Barry Schwartz:
11:51:24 am
They are in online dating market so they tried some link bait idea
Barry Schwartz:
11:51:47 am
They did a press release saying they will kick out all the "fat" people on their site.
Barry Schwartz:
11:52:01 am
it worked well
Barry Schwartz:
11:52:12 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:52:13 am
BBC link
Barry Schwartz:
11:52:33 am
That is link bait!
Barry Schwartz:
11:52:53 am
This is what happened
Barry Schwartz:
11:53:01 am
Barry Schwartz:
11:53:19 am
It got them traffic but the traffic died down
Barry Schwartz:
11:53:31 am
It did not have a long term affect
Barry Schwartz:
11:54:12 am
They missed the real secret of link building, they broke the trust with their customers and got the relationship wrong.
Barry Schwartz:
11:54:19 am
Link building is about relationship building
Barry Schwartz:
11:54:40 am
(1) Offer Testimonials
Barry Schwartz:
11:55:31 am
(2) Organize Blogger Meetups for your industry sector
Barry Schwartz:
11:56:24 am
(3) Send samples - give them a demo, let them try it, etc.
Barry Schwartz:
11:57:03 am
(4) Speak at conferences
Barry Schwartz:
11:58:09 am
(5) Run a good cause web site
Barry Schwartz:
11:58:37 am
(6) Set up honor badges (we love your site, etc)
Barry Schwartz:
12:00:40 pm
They also have an ongoing ranking of the top million web sites and shows up and downs
Barry Schwartz:
12:05:10 pm
Next up is Ross Jones
Barry Schwartz:
12:05:23 pm
Barry Schwartz:
12:06:45 pm
Lot of People who do not buy links b/c they are afraid of the risk
Barry Schwartz:
12:07:22 pm
There are shades of gray, like giving gift cards
Barry Schwartz:
12:07:42 pm
Barry Schwartz:
12:12:33 pm
Barry Schwartz:
12:14:03 pm
Barry Schwartz:
12:15:45 pm
Barry Schwartz:
12:17:33 pm
Barry Schwartz:
12:18:51 pm
Barry Schwartz:
12:19:14 pm
Got to run, be back in an hour or so for the next session