When building your link popularity do:

- List your site in one or more of the major directories such as Yahoo!, Looksmart, and Open Directory Project. Open Directory is free, so it's a good place to start.
- Search for your competitors. Start visiting the sites that are linked to your competitors, and write to see if they'll consider linking to your site. (try www.linkpopularity.com)
- Create a list of links before you ever contact sites for linking purposes. If the company sees that you've already added their URL to your list of links, they'll be more apt to add your link on their site in return. Again, concentrate on related links only.
- Consider what other fields are related to your particular industry and concentrate on getting links from those areas. You won't want to add competing sites to your link page, but you probably won't mind adding links to sites that aren't direct competitors. For example, if you have a site that sells needlework kits, you won't want to list other sites that sell needlework kits. However, you probably won't mind linking to sites offering related products, such as sewing baskets, books on needlework, or online sewing classes.
- Consider setting up separate theme-oriented domains and link all of your domains together.
- Offer a discount on your goods or services for anyone who agrees to post a small graphic on their site that links back to your site.
- Create a testimonial page, and write a brief testimonial about any Web site that you'd like to get linked to your site. Inform the site of the testimonial, and encourage them to link to the page.