| |
POOR |
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT |
TYPICAL |
BEST PRACTICE |
| Linkbait |
Linkbait is not attempted |
Linkbait is "me too" quality |
Linkbait attracts > 100,000 views and is very popular among your niche audience |
Linkbait attracts > 1,000,000 views and captures widespread public attention beyond traditional advocates |
| Targeting the "Linkerati" |
Linkbait is not attempted |
Linkbait is limited in variety |
A wide variety of linkbait is offered, ranging from whimsical to comprehensive |
Targeted linkbait is customized based on a review of the individual preferences of your cause's bloggers, content creators, resource editors, social taggers, and news writers |
Keyphrase-Rich
Text Links |
Links are not requested |
Links are requested, but not specified |
Keyphrase-rich links are requested, based on the content of the destination page |
Keyphrase-rich links are requested, based on the content of the departure and destination pages |
Link Request
Research |
Link targets are not researched |
High-priority link targets consist of webpages among the top 200 at Google for relevant keyphrases |
High-priority link targets consist of webpages among the top 200 at Google for relevant keyphrases plus additional webpages that link to your allies |
High-priority link targets consist of webpages among the top 200 at Google and Yahoo for relevant keyphrases plus additional webpages that link to your allies and opponents |
Link Request
Effort |
Link targets are not prioritized |
Special effort is expended on seeking links from webpages that are highly relevant to your cause |
Special effort is expended on seeking links from webpages that are highly relevant to your cause and have high PageRank (or Page Strength) |
Special effort is expended on seeking links from webpages that are highly relevant to your cause, have high PageRank (or Page Strength), and fewer than 1 other link for every 100 words |
Link Request
Campaign Management |
Link requests are uncoordinated |
Link requests are organized and tracked using Microsoft Word, Excel, or Access |
Link requests are organized and tracked using a general contact management system |
Link requests are organized, tracked and partially automated by specialized link request software |
| Link Request Personalization |
No personalization |
Limited personalization is not convincingly personal. Or, high priority link requests are sent only to readily-accessible email addresses |
Link request emails use "mail merge" fields and copywriting deftly enough to appear convincingly personal. High priority link requests are directed to the manager or executive most likely to say, "Yes" |
Link request emails use "mail merge" fields and copywriting deftly enough to appear convincingly personal. High priority link requests are directed to the manager or executive most likely to say, "Yes." Link requests specify preferred link text and location |
| Editorially Reviewed Directories |
Not listed in dmoz.org or dir.yahoo.com |
Listed in all relevant Tier 1 directories |
Listed in all relevant Tier 1 and major niche directories |
Listed in all relevant Tier 1, Tier 2, and major niche directories in the most appropriate categories |
| Web Guides |
Not listed at Wikipedia or About.com |
Occasional, but not routine, attempts to influence relevant Wikipedia entries |
Ongoing attempts to influence relevant Wikipedia entries. Guest articles offered to relevant About.com guide sites |
Full saturation of your perspective on all relevant Wikipedia entries, posted by multiple contributors, and monitored frequently. Guest articles, embedded with keyphrase-rich text links, successfully placed at the traditional Web Guides (e.g., About.com) relevant to your cause |
| Website Reviews |
Your website is not submitted for consideration by website reviewers |
One staff member suggests your website for consideration by Tier 1 and niche reviewers, via their online forms |
Using staggered timing, a coordinated group of volunteers suggests your website for consideration by Tier 1 and niche reviewers, via their online forms |
An "insider" with direct access to key reviewers recommends your website for their consideration |
| Social Media |
Social Media posts are not coordinated |
Occasional front page successes at a few of: Digg.com, Reddit, ShoutWire, Newsvine, Del.icio.us, Furl, Slashdot, and Care2 |
Front page success rate for your linkbait is among the top 10% at a few of: Digg.com, Reddit, ShoutWire, Newsvine, Del.icio.us, Furl, Slashdot, and Care2 |
Front page success rate for your linkbait is among the top 5% at most of: Digg.com, Reddit, ShoutWire, Newsvine, Del.icio.us, Furl, Slashdot, and Care2 |
| .gov and .edu Links |
few .gov links; most .edu links are from student pages |
,gov and .edu websites link to you less than they link to well-known allies and opponents |
,gov and .edu websites link to you as much as they link to well-known allies and opponents |
.gov and .edu websites convey greater PageRank to you than to any other ally or opponent |
| Press Releases and Syndicated Articles |
Press releases link only to your home page. |
Press releases include raw URLs only. Syndicated articles are not offered |
Press releases are embedded with keyphrase-rich text links, with no more than 1 link for every 100 words. Syndicated articles are not offered. |
Press releases and syndicated articles are embedded with keyphrase-rich text links, with 1 link for every 100 words, and a keyphrase density of 3-7% |
| "Link to Us" |
A "Link to Us" button is not displayed, or appears only on a few webpages |
A "Link to Us" button is displayed on every webpage |
A "Link to Us" button is displayed on every webpage. A wide variety of text links and web banners are offered |
A "Link to Us" button is displayed on every webpage. A wide variety of text links and web banners are offered, supported by a quasi "Affiliate Program" to manage and motivate participating webmasters |
| Link Popularity Reporting |
Link popularity is not reported |
Link popularity is regularly reported for your own website |
Reports regularly compare your link popularity with allies and opponents |
Link popularity is included as part of your overall measurement of internet Share of Influence |
