Can you guess how many words they took to tell me in en email that this is what they wanted to do?
270! That's right - 270 words explaining the ins and outs of exchanging links with them. They even told me why their geographic position had no bearing on whether I should swap links with them or not!
As if this wasn't bad enough - every one of my sites has an in-built links directory where people can add their link automatically so the very fact I received an email like this means they've not even taken the trouble to look at my site properly!
Lessons Learned
If you are approaching another website owner to ask them to trade links with you, treat it like you're the postman delivering to a house where a rabid dog lives - GET IN, DROP THE MAIL, GET OUT. Don't mess around with lengthy explanations or massive paragraphs. Just tell them where you've placed their link and that you want one back - simple.
And before you even get to this stage - be sure to check out their website first otherwise you might find them writing a blog about YOUR email..
Always be aware of genuine emails and spam. You will know the difference as soon as you start to follow where these emails are going too.
The whole moral of all this is to be ready for links exchanges when they start to come through but also be on your guard.
