In Long? http://www.webconfs.com/importance-of-backlinks-article-5.php

Why Do I Need Backlinks?

Think about it like this. What is the best way to get Web Surfers to get to your Web Site? By having them click a link that LEADS to your Web Site! Backlinks are all over the Web. Anytime you are Surfing a Web Page and get lead to a completely different Web Site, then you have just clicked a Backlink for that Web Site.

Why Do Search Engines Want Me To Have Backlinks?

In my opinion, the Search Engines place a lot of importance on Backlinks because they want you to be interactive with other people in your Industry. They don't want business on the Web to be all about competition, instead they want industries to work WITH each other and HELP each other. Think about it. If you were looking up a Workout Routine on a Web Site and you saw an ad that said "Get cheap dietary supplements!", woudln't you want to click it? By working WITH people in your Industry on the Web, you will are helping the consumer AND the business!

How Do I Check My Backlinks?

1 way that you can do this is by Google-ing your URL name with "link:" preceeding it. Eaxmple: Google this "link: www.makeitloud.net". Although I have had a lot of issues getting this to work these days.

The BEST way to check your back links is using an app such as http://www.iwebtool.com/backlink_checker.

This is a really simple tool. That's a good thing, because you don't want to spend too much time on areas that don't need too much time. After you click "Check", the app will give you a list of Web Pages that are currently linking the URL that you just typed.

WOAH! I don't recognize one of these Web Sites!
Click it and check it out. The Search Engines have sent out robots called "spiders" and have already verified that these pages have a link to your URL.

WOAH! I don't see a page that I KNOW has my Web Site linked!!
This is a problem... With many many potential solutions. Let's discuss a few.

Is it a Social Media Site? (Facebook, Twitter) If so, then there is a good chance that your Privacy Settings have disabled non-registered members from viewing parts of your Profile page. Make sure your Web Site URL is viewable to EVERYBODY and not just your friends. A Search Engine Robot is not your friend. It's not even a registered user. So make sure that EVERYBODY can see that URL!

Did you recently create this link?
It takes the spiders some time to find the links. They don't send them out every day, more like every other week.

Are you using a different URL?
I know that most of you with Web Sites have multiple domain names or URLS, but make sure that when backlinking all of your links points to just 1. There are ways around this, but that is for another Blog. :)

On What Web Sites Can I Link My Web Site?
For a Small Business:
Better Business Bureau
Chamber of Commerce
Residential or governmental resources
Your local library
Your manufacturers or retailers, or other business partners that might be willing to link to your site. Develop business relationships with non-competing businesses in the same field.

How Do I Get People To Link To Me?
ASK THEM! It's simple. Just ask them. If they need some incentive, then tell them that you will return the favor by providing a link to their Web Site, as well. This is called a Reciprocal Link.

What If They Don't Have The Ability To Add A Link To Their Web Site?
The only reasons that somebody would not be able to place a link on their Web Site is...
- They can't find their Web Guy
- They can't edit the Web Site theirself

In BOTH of these cases, they need a Web Site that they can Edit themselves! This has SO MUCH VALUE IN THE WEB WORLD!

Tell them to call Steven with Make It Loud Web Design and this will never be a problem for them again!

Where else can I list my Web Site? .... For free...?
Not everything on the Web is free, and when it comes to getting GOOD Backlinks, you usually have to pay. But if paying is not an option, then here are some places to go link your site.

Social Media
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com
StumbleUpon
Del.icio.us/delicious.com
google.com/bookmarks
wirefan.com
simpy.com
folkd.com
blogmarks.net
corank.com
megite.com/discover
dropjack.com
a1-webmarks.com
jumpup.intuit.com
spicypages.com


More than JUST a link...
- Answer Questions
answers.yahoo.com
groups.google.com

- Be an Industry Expert
www.squidoo.com

- Submit A Story
www.digg.com

- Reviews
www.alexa.com
www.amazon.com
www.epinions.com

Now that you are ready to Market your Web Site all over the Web, make sure that your content is useful! If your Web Site has something interesting to say (not just selling) then people are more likely to view your Web Site, Bookmark it, Visit it again, recommend it to friends, and BUY something from it! Thank you for reading and best of luck with your Internet Marketing!