How to ask for a backlink?

[DojoGuy]

Everyone knows backlinks ( plus content ) is the key to good rankings.

BUT, how do you ask for a backlink without sounding douchey?

Does anyone have a template or something they could share?

[Doc_Sheldon]

I'd certainly agree with that, Dunamis. I don't ask for links, and I don't respond well when asked for one, unless I have a relationship with the person.

I have even been asked for one by someone I knew, and tried to explain nicely that an OBL from an SEO site to a real estate site didn't really make much sense for either of us.

My advice, Rhys, would be to focus first on establishing a relationship. If the resulting relationship is solid, and both sites are relevant, a simple mention of your need to acquire more natural links may well spawn an offer.

[KeriMorgret]

I'll just say I don't quite adhere to all of the TAGFEE bullet points and make sure that I'm not wearing my SEOmoz tshirt when I reply.

[seanmccauley]

I would suggest that you try and be a little more focussed. Research sites that you might like to obtain a link from and if they have a good Domain Authority then its worth a few hours working on a strategy. Perhaps you have information they might be interested in? If they dont have their own SEO then perhaps running their site through site crawler and giving them a free mini site audit, reporting any broken links, etc. Achieve goodwill and remember the old adage 'Givers Get'

[MarieHaynes]

What I'm finding is that I rarely get success in asking for a link unless I have some kind of relationship with the person.  Sometimes all that it takes in order to have "relationship" is a few back and forth tweets or some facebook comments or for me to have left a few comments on their blog.

I think we all get so many spammy link requests that we tend to shut the door when anyone comes knocking!

[EGOL]

...unless I'm in a bad mood, and then it's not a positive response.

Haha... do you tell them to jump in a lake?

[KeriMorgret]

Hi Ryhs,

Here are a couple of other Q&A threads and posts that may provide some ideas. I don't do a lot of link outreach myself, but I do get a fair amount of spam link requests that are obviously taken from a boilerplate and not customized. Those never get a response from me, unless I'm in a bad mood, and then it's not a positive response.

http://www.seomoz.org/q/when-going-about-asking-a-site-for-a-link-on-their-page-how-do-you-ask
http://www.seobook.com/art-pitching-email
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/dont-ask-sites-for-links-find-people-and-connect