Let's talk about linking and getting linked ...

One of the things that helps you get traffic to your blog or Web site is to rank high in search engine results like Google.

(This strategy or term is called 'Search Engine Optimization.' There are a ton of blogs writing about it. Just type in "SEO" and see what Google turns up.)

The idea is to be ranked as high as possible in these results. (And, in particular, the topics you write about).

For example, when someone types in a keyword or phrase into a search engine like "church communications director" (I'm happy this post ranks pretty high in that keyword), Google gives you a list of sites that match that key phrase.

One of the ways Google figures out who should rank the highest is the quality of content on the site, but also how many different sites link to you.

Thus, getting linked is like a voting system of sorts for who gets ranked highest. [See Google's info on this.]

So ... getting linked by other sites is extremely important to those search rankings, especially for your topic's buzzwords. You want to be linked by a lot of different sites.

Here's a couple of ways to "get linked:"

• Write great content -- This is the best way to get linked. Post information that people enjoy and find value in ... see "Why the Best Blog Posts Are Often Lists"


• Publish posts that people will link to -- I'll just reiterate that because it's the first and best step ... see also 10 Killer Post Ideas, 10 Remarkably Effective Ways to Drive Traffic (I did No. 8 to kick off this blog in July, see the post that started it all here)
  


• Ask your congregation to link to you on their sites --obviously, you need to use your discernment here
  


• Ask other blogging pastors or believers with similar topics to link to you -- and do the same for them, see how Mark Batterson does it
  


• Ask top-rated Christian bloggers to link to you -- use good etiquette here ... read their blog first for a couple of weeks, make comments, before abruptly asking for a reciprocal link)

• Links to your blog from your church's Web site


• Comment on other people's blogs on other people's blogs -- participate in the blogging community, make your presence known. Again, use good etiquette here, don't comment on a post just to announce your blog. Actually participate in the discussion and let the links come as a natural result of your participation.

Speaking of getting linked ... have you linked to me at ChurchCommunicationsPro.com on your blog yet?

Trading links with others is like trading business cards ... only these kinds of connections aren't hidden in someone's wallet, but displayed for the world to see and usually result in traffic and readers.

The story goes like this ... someone will be reading another blog, see your link on their sidebar, then click on it to see what your site is all about, what you have to offer. And vice versa, for those you link to ...

As a pastor, you want to be cautious and discerning with who you link to from your blog. But as Mark Batterson puts it, linking and trading links creates "synergy."

Here's why trading links with other bloggers is good:

• Links help your search engine rankings -- the more people link to you the higher you are in Google or Yahoo! search results and Technorati, the blog search engine.)
  
• They help you (and others) build a readership, and
  
• Links help build and bolster the evangelical blogging community as a whole.
  

Linking can obviously be as simple as a text link that says Church Communications Pro.

But another great way to help get links to you is to offer "badges." A badge is just a small graphic that another blogger can put on their blog to represent your site. (See also Theology Prof's one here.)

You don't have to have Adobe Photoshop or even a graphic program to design a badge. All you need is Buttonator!

Check out the badges below I created with Buttonator in less than two minutes:









Here's how to do it:

1. Generate your free badge here
2. Upload the badge to your blog like a photo
   
3. Make a "trade link" post with a past date
4. Then link to that post prominently on your sidebar

Hey, by the way ... have you linked to this site yet?

1. Upload the badge to your blog like a photo
Write a post like this talking about your badge, or put it on your sidebar
Then link to that post prominently on your sidebar, or mention it in the bottom of your posts (i.e. "If you like this blog, consider linking to it with this fancy smancy button.)

Hey, by the way ... have you linked to this site yet? How about the Blogging 101 for Pastors Series?

If you've enjoyed this series, grab this graphic and link away. :-)

Here's some other GREAT reading on Linking and Getting Links (aka "Linkbaiting"):

• How to Attract Links and Increase Web Traffic -- the Ultimate Guide -- Compiled by Brian Clark of CopyBlogger (BTW, his one answer is here), an outstanding site, this is the best resource on the Web for the topic of "links"


• Linkbaiting Series -- ProBlogger Darren Rowse (His 5 answers are here.)


• 101 Ways to Build Link Popularity


• Build Link Popularity in 7 Days
  

[ Read all the previous posts in the "I Help Pastors Blog" seres here. ]

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