Getting your site shown on link pages of related sites

The first step you need to take is to visit Yahoo.com and search for the keywords that most accurately describe your site. This will give you a listing of categories and sites within the Yahoo! database. What you are doing is looking for the sites that most closely resemble your own site. The best place to start is a category that lists a number of results for your query, and analyze the category itself. If the category seems to match your own site, then this is where you will begin your work. Use a generic text editor to come up with a description of your site and its content, and a sincere thank you at the end; then save your description, but keep it open and minimized.

Now visit each site listed in the Yahoo! category that you are in. Take a few minutes to look around the site. You are looking for specific information, so be thorough. You need to discover the name of the site, if they have a links page on the site, the name of the webmaster if possible, and an email address for the webmaster. Once you have completed these tasks, then open up an email addressed to the webmaster.

In that email, you want the Subject to say: "From the [name of website] website." Then if at all possible, you want to open the message with "Dear [name of webmaster]." Then write an introductory paragraph the mentions the links page [if there is one], and a brief comment about their website. The purpose here is not to flatter them, but to let them know that you have taken the time to view their site. Also, try very hard to address the email towards the webmasters site and site visitors as opposed to yourself. For each website you visit, and each email you create, the first paragraph of that email needs to be written on the spot... no canned presentation can serve you well at this point.

The general concept of the first paragraph is:
"Hi. I was looking for sites with good information on them when I came across your site. It seems that my site may serve your site visitors as well. Would you mind taking a few minutes and looking at my site to see if it meets your approval for addition to your links page?" Remember also, that you are asking someone to do something that they may consider a hassle, so make darn sure you are courteous about it. If you try to tell them to do it, chances are, your email will go to the Trash Can without a second thought.

After the first paragraph is written, then copy and paste your site description from your text editor to the email being constructed. Be sure that you sign off the email with a considerate finish. The key to this being effective is that the sites you have chosen to approach are those similar to your own. The webmaster of that site is already interested in your subject matter, therefore, he will be more likely to consider your link.

Added concepts:

Webmasters should have a text description written for use in submitting new websites to search engines and directories. Some engines or directories will accept only a small amount of text (e.g. under 100 characters), many will limit you to 255 characters, some may allow several sentances. You should write descriptions of the site in each of the three text lengths. Clearly, the shortest must get the keywords and possible search terms in place with no 'fat'. The 255 character description can add more keywords and be more paragraph-like. These text files should be ready on your computer to cut and paste into forms used to submit your site to search engines and directories.