I receive a lot of requests each week to link to other blogs.

Smaller bloggers are constantly asking larger, more established bloggers for links to build their direct traffic, their search engine listings and their online exposure.  Most smaller bloggers mistakenly believe that if they can just win the lottery and score one or two big links that their site will be set and they can roll in the cash and traffic that will result.

Links, Luck & Lasting Success…

And far too often when the link is not given, the smaller blogger becomes upset and they start expressing that the larger blogger is stuck up, selfish or that they don’t care about the little guy.  The fact is, however, that this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

In the world of websites links are as powerful as dynamite.  If used right they can clear a path for our users to find amazing resources but if used wrong they can explode in our faces leaving a trail of carnage and casualties.

The Potential Damage of an Outbound Link

Often times we overlook a huge part of the equation when we randomly ask someone for a link.  When we’re denied the link we feel that the webmaster is unkind but in reality we are failing to realize that if they link to our sites then it could be potentially fatal for their website.  Let’s discuss a few of the reasons why links can be dangerous to a webmaster.

• Quality: A link to a low quality website will cause readers to no longer value the recommendations of the linking website.
• Relevance: A link to a site that has little to do with the linking site will confuse readers and encourage them not to return.
• Value: A link to a site that doesn’t present an absolutely amazing level of value to its visitors will make readers skeptical about clicking on any links on a website.
• Search Engines: Many people believe that Google weighs the value of our sites as much on the sites that we link to as by the sites that link to us.  This means that if your site becomes full of links to websites that Google considers as spam then Google will assume that your site is spam.
• Credibility: In essence, each of the first three points either build or destroy a website’s credibility and authority.  If they selectively present their readers with only the most high-quality links available then people will value and respect that blogger and his or her recommendations.

Work Hard… Provide Value… Make Your Own Luck

Let me be honest.  If your plan at making it big is praying that you get lucky and strike up an awesome link from a professional blogger then you probably aren’t going to find much luck on the internet.  You’ll probably get discouraged and feel like everyone is mean and unkind.

That’s the wrong attitude to have.  Here’s the right attitude to have.  Determine to develop your blog into something amazing.  Motivate yourself into developing something that attracts users all by itself.  Develop your content, your design, and your online presence.

Word hard and make your own luck.

Group Reflection

This is the philosophy that fuels Site Sketch 101.  I don’t beg for links.  I work incredibly hard to produce top rated articles that provide value, instruction and entertainment.  In return, people are constantly linking to Site Sketch 101.

I determined a long time ago that I was going to be the master of my own destiny.  If others could figure out what it takes to become successful then so can I.  And as I’ve learned, I’ve determined to share and help you learn with me.

So how about it? Have you ever had sites request links from you that you felt uncomfortable linking from your blog?  Have you requested a link from another blogger and been shot down?

What can we do to make our sites so amazing that people want to link to us without us having to ask for it?  What are you doing?