OK. Now folks know who you are, and like you. They’ve just posted something really relevant, or you’ve just written a post that replies to something they wrote.
Don’t send them an e-mail like this:
Dear,
Loved that post you just wrote! I wrote one on the same subject. Please link to me.
Or this:
Dear webmaster,
On http://www.site.com/blah/foo.html you mention our company, Foobar Inc, but you don't link to us. Please add a link...
These types of e-mails read like you’re sitting in Nigeria, sending out 5000 e-mails a day as part of an outsourced link building company. You’ll go straight into the trash can.
Instead, write something that makes them feel like you actually look at their site:
link request example 2
Everything about this e-mail says “I like your stuff. I want to help.” Note how the author started by saying “I have been a Flavorwire follower for quite some time and constantly on the lookout for something witty, wry and generally hip enough to make it on the feed.” That’s marketing 101: Make sure they know you’re on their side.
And, the author isn’t lying or deceiving. She said “One of my clients”. So Flavorpill knows we do have a bias here. And that’s OK.
Finally, look at the tone and style. It’s chatty, friendly and easy to read. It’s like the author is chatting with the reader at a party: “Oh, you’re looking for good content? I might have something…”
This e-mail worked, by the way.
I know what you’re about to say: “Oh, that’s Mel Gibson. Everyone wants stuff making fun of him, now.” OK, how about the 100th anniversary of the Recreational Vehicle (RV)?
link request example 3
Bingo. This one worked, too. Again, it’s chatty, it makes a connection and it doesn’t ram anything down the reader’s throat.
Write a great subject line!
This is, in a way, e-mail marketing. So you need to write a subject line that’ll get your message opened. If you put ‘link request’ in your subject line, chances are the e-mail will end up in the spam folder, never to be read.
Instead, target the subject. Examples might include:
“The 9 Circles of Mel: A new post you might like”
“New article: The 100th birthday of the RV”
“Response to your post about PageRank”
Get the idea? These all give the reader a reason to open them.
The checklist for an e-mail link request
Any request you send out should:
- Make a connection with the reader.
- Be addressed to a person, not ‘info’ or ‘webmaster’. Or use the examples above to avoid any specific address.
- Be brief.
- Be honest.
- Demonstrate you know their work.
Things you never do
Never, ever:
- Ask for specific link text, unless the writer responds and requests it.
- Send multiple e-mails requesting a link to the same post.
- Address an e-mail to ‘webmaster’.
- Use a subject line like ‘link request’.
Once the e-mail is sent
Make sure you record the date and the message sent under the contact. If you use a tool like Highrise, you can actually bcc a special address Highrise generates for you. That forwards a copy of the e-mail to Highrise, which stores it under that contact:
Logging a message using Highrise
The tool doesn’t matter. Make sure you keep a running history of your interaction with each person. If you’re on a team, it helps prevent duplicate e-mails from different team members to the same blogger. If you’re working alone, it helps you continue a conversation without sounding awkward: “Oh, I forgot you said you were going on vacation. Sorry!”