Link building is a large part of the search engine optimisation process. Every link pointing to your website is a vote for your website and gives your website a little boost in the search engine results. Better quality links (from better quality websites with content related to yours) are more valuable and give your website a bigger boost. However, you have an advantage over me when it comes to gaining links for your website.

• You probably know all the websites in your industry, have clients and suppliers who would be willing to link to you ... ask them.
• You probably spend some of your spare time browsing websites related to your industry ... look for a links page and submit your website.
• Email requests are often ignored, especially when they come from a 'search engine company'. Your email requests will be far more personal, and knowledgable than mine, and as such, you'll get a much higher response rate.

It takes experience to know what's a good link, what's a bad link, and what's a pointless link. As part of your search engine starter package, you can send me a quick email with the website, or give me a quick call and I'll give you the 'yay' or 'nay'.

How many?

If the links are on high quality websites with decent content and not too many links going to other websites ... as many as possible.

If you're sending out email requests, be prepared to send a LOT. The more personal your approach, the more reponses you'll get. Automated 'link exchange request' type emails usually have a 3% response rate. The best I can manage for clients is 20%, but for my own websites it's nearer 40%.

If you're submitting your website to directories or websites where anyone can submit a link, be very careful. A lot of them are spammy and have no restrictions. If your link ends up next to a link to a viagra website, you'll be associating yourself with the viagra website. Take a look at the links page and think of it as a street. Would you open your shop in the midst of porn, drugs and fake watches?