Eric Ward posted an article on Search Engine Land today on how to write link request emails. Link building is the bane of many an SEO Specialists’s existence. I’m here to offer you some suggestions for your link request emails so you can breathe a little easier and maximize the value of your link building campaign.

1. Subject of the email – Stay away from the “Link Request” subject line, it probably won’t do you any good. Choose a more descriptive line that reflects something you like about their site.

2. State your case – Don’t beat around the bush. Tell them who you are and what you’d like from them. Flatter them and their site – tell them specific things or articles you like on their site. Remember, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. They’re doing you a favor, so put on that smile.

3. Give them an incentive – Why do they need to add your link? If your site has a PageRank, include it in the email. If it doesn’t, talk about the design of your site or the great resources you have on your site. Give them reasons why visitors from their site would ever want to go to yours. A great incentive is offering a free article or blog post for their site.

4. Link Text - What do you want your link to say? Give them the html code and exact text for your link so all they have to do is copy and paste it from the email into their site. People like ease.

5. Reader-friendly – No one wants to read a huge block of text. Break it up into bullet points or numbers. It’ll be easier to read, and they’ll love you for it.

6. No attachments, please - Include an attachment, and your email is going straight to the junk folder!

Link building can be frustrating and difficult, but the payoffs are enormous. Once the replies roll in, you’ll be able to develop a relationship with site owners that can have huge rewards. Treat them well and they will do the same to your link.

- Happy linking!