How to increase the value of naturally created low value links

[menachemp]

My site is starting to generate natural links (hooray!).  Basically, as part of my client sign-up process, I encourage my clients (home improvement contractors, plumbers, roofers, electricians) to link back to their own profile page on my site from their own site, either manually or using a badge I've created and made available.  I have 2 questions about this.

First of all, the vast majority of these links are from seriously low quality sites with basically no backlink profile whatsoever.  Many of these sites aren't even indexed.  So I'm starting to feel like I'm doing all this hard work for nothing.  Is there anything I can do to increase the value of these incoming links, without spending too much time or money?  I'm thinking directory submission and/or link wheel gigs on fiverr (really crappy SEO, I know, but just to get these sites bumped up a notch, and hopefully not do any damage to my site, as they're a step removed.)

Second question, the profile pages that my clients can create on my site includes a nofollowed link to their site.  Does the nofollow save me from having all of my incoming links tagged as reciprocal?  Is there anything else I should be doing?

[menachemp]

Well then, I guess my question should be what easy SEO steps for a non-SEO person should go on that PDF?

[A_Q]

Hello,

Perhaps try and create a brief resource list of easy ways that they can make their websites better then send an email with a link to this resource. This maybe as a PDF download or a webpage.

Give them good tips on adding good content to their websites etc. This will make their sites better and increase the value of their links to you in turn. They'll probably also be grateful for the free advice/tips!

I'm sure it wouldn't take more than a couple of hours to put a list of resources together and email it out to all the websites.

Hope this helps!

Elias