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 graphics 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 value or rank to your website.

In contrast to reciprocal linking, the benefits of one-way linking are becoming well known. One-way links are a powerful way to establish your site as an authority because these types of backlinks are considered a "vote" of popularity for your site. In a way, this vote of popularity is untainted because it is not obtained with the "bribe" of a return link.

Since they have lasting value and in the case of free links, since the site giving you a one-way link gets nothing in return, one-way links can be more difficult to get than reciprocal links. It's worth the effort in obtaining them because they pay off in securing solid long-term search engine ranking results.

You can get one-way links in a variety of ways. You can buy permanent, one-way links that are announced in various forums or available through online brokers. Of course, you can also buy one-way links in the form of advertisements, whether they are pixel ads, banner ads or other forms of paid ads.

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. Since writing and submitting articles can become time-consuming, many online marketers grow weary of their article marketing efforts 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.

It will take some work and effort, but if you want to give your site long lasting value, use the various techniques that are briefly discussed in this article to build an arsenal of valuable one-way links. One-way links are, in effect, the lifeline for your web page.

Looking for free one-way links? Turn your site from an "Unknown Resource" into an authority site. Visit http://www.unknownresources.com for a sample of a quality blog that offers free publicity services.