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There are certain "basics" when it comes to your website's popularity and chances of being visited. One of those "basics" is to get as many links pointing from other sites to your site as possible. Getting a lot of links requires some effort. Because they were relatively easy to get, reciprocal links were the rage not so long ago.

Reciprocal links are links that are exchanged between two or more websites. For example, my site will place a link to your site so long as your site places a link to my site. Innovative software programs and scripts have made reciprocal linking an easy, automated process. Unfortunately, reciprocal links are thought to be devalued by search engines because of these automated programs. With automation, sites are exchanging links at the drop of a hat with totally irrelevant sites. By way of example, you might find a automotive site exchanging links with an acne treatment site. If you are reciprocal linking, you might discover that your URL is appearing on link partners' sites that are nothing but a hodgepodge of uncategorized links, with dozens and dozens of links per page. Having your site appear in these reciprocal link page collections does not necessarily add rank or value to your website.

In contrast to reciprocal linking, the benefits of one-way linking are becoming well known. Without question, one-way links are the most powerful method of boosting your topical authority online because these types of links are considered a "vote" of popularity for your site. If you think about it, these types of links are "clean" votes that are not tainted by "bribes" for return links.

Because of their lasting value, one-way links are more difficult to obtain than traditional reciprocal links. It's worth the effort in obtaining them because they pay off in securing solid long-term search engine ranking results.

There are several ways to obtain one-way links. If you're willing to spend some money, you can buy permanent, one-way links from various online brokers and forums. You can build permanent one-way links through the use of pixel ads, banner ads and other forms of paid advertising.

Another great way to get one-way links to your web site is through directory submissions. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of directories which offer free submissions. The problem with directories is that they are becoming so backlogged that it can take months before your link appears. I think that directories are becoming so commonplace that one-way backlinks from them will eventually become devalued, just like reciprocal links.

Another fantastic way to get one-way links is through article submissions. Article writing can be a time-consuming process but one that will reward your site for an indefinite period of time. Best yet, article distributions are generally free. Articles require some effort and work, which is why many online marketers grow weary of using this method after they have submitted a couple of dozen articles.

Blogs offer an opportunity to get one-way links that combines the ease of directory submissions and the long-lasting effect of articles. Blog posts do not take as long to write as articles, yet blog entries (or comments, where allowed) can be more informative and flexible than the brief descriptions you are allowed to give with directory submissions.

For the most part, directories do not permit you to submit links to your interior pages. The beauty of articles and blogs is that you can create one-way links to your interior web pages instead of just the home page.

If you want to create lasting value and traffic for your web site, it is well worth the time and effort to use the various techniques that are briefly discussed in this article to create hundreds of valuable one-way links. One-way links are, in effect, the lifeline for your web page.