| We all know just how important it is to get as many | | | | 4. Go back to your search engine window and click to |
| incoming links as possible. The top search engines love | | | | page two and capture the URL that is in the top of |
| backlinks; and you don't need to be a rocket scientist | | | | that page (#11 in the overall results). |
| to figure out that link popularity plays an important role | | | | 5. Return to the window and paste the #11 URL into |
| in their ranking algorithms. | | | | one of the additional search comparison boxes. |
| Incoming links aren't just important to the search | | | | 6. Enter your own site's URL in one of the remaining |
| engines. The more links that you have that link directly | | | | boxes and then click the "check" button. |
| to your site, the more opportunities there are for | | | | Now look carefully at the results. You now have two |
| people to click them. Every opportunity to click a link is | | | | targets to aim for. You know how many links you |
| an opportunity to get a visitor to your web site. | | | | need to beat the site that holds the #1 position; and |
| So, if the "arrow" is your targeted visitor, then the | | | | you know how many links to get your site into the top |
| incoming link is your bow. Now, I'm not suggesting for a | | | | ten position on that important first page of the results |
| moment that you take up archery! But I am suggesting | | | | for your keyword. |
| that you get as many bowmen as possible to send | | | | Surprisingly, now you know what you are aiming for, |
| targeted traffic to your site. | | | | you are much more likely to succeed and by using the |
| How do you know when you have enough bowmen? | | | | tool you have an easy way of keeping score. |
| How many incoming links is enough? | | | | In my link building experience, having a clear target and |
| Here's a step by step process to get you the answer... | | | | measuring progress can be a great motivator. |
| 1. Choose your primary keyword and run off to your | | | | However, it's important not to feel overwhelmed when |
| favourite search engine and run a search. | | | | you first start and see that you're going to need |
| 2. Identify the URL at the very top, the number one | | | | thousands of backlinks. Just set yourself a realistic |
| position, and copy the URL to your clipboard. | | | | target to aim for within your first week, or month, and |
| 3. Now open another browser window and get to this | | | | get started. |
| page: and paste the #1 URL from the search engine | | | | Building link popularity isn't a one-off project, it's an |
| window into the search box. Don't click the "check" | | | | ongoing and important part of building long term traffic. |
| button just yet. | | | | |