Why Good Link Builders Fail: Reason Seven
by Angela Moore, SEO Speedwagon
Repost

Table of Contents
Ten Reasons Why Good Link Builders Fail (Introduction)
Reason One: Self-Doubt
Reason Two: Not Learning Best Practices
Reason Three: Not Expanding Education
Reason Four: Moving Too Fast
Reason Five: Poor Writing Skills
Reason Six: Lack of Creativity

In my experience, many link builders have Type A personalities. We’re driven, self-motivated, highly analytical and like the details of the work. But there’s also the downside of having that kind of personality. And the biggest issue is the inability to ask for help.

The reasons that people don’t ask for help generally stem from fear or arrogance. We’ve talked about how fear can inhibit you and fill you with self-doubt. The flip side is that you assume you know everything and push forward in full force only to realize that you missed a key technical element because you misunderstood how it operated.

I have key people in my arsenal that help with all sorts of things when it comes to link building. Who do you have in yours? And if you’re not asking for help, why not? No one is perfect, not even the “experts.”

Ask for help with things like the following:
- Technical elements that you don’t fully understand
- Brainstorming sessions
- Proofing email requests or articles
- Gut checks before you request a link
- Analytical assistance
- Industry expert advice
- Setting up a thorough process for a campaign

Most likely you’re afraid to ask for feedback because you don’t want to be told you’re doing something wrong. Constructive criticism is especially helpful when you consider the source. Is this someone who is relatively familiar with the industry and/or best practices for link building? If you’re undecided about some feedback, act like a patient and get a second opinion. But if more than one person is telling you the same thing, really look at the issue.

Every link builder has a style and a campaign can quickly become your “baby” that you don’t want anyone to touch because you’re afraid of them giving your “kid” some unknown germs. Moms out there know exactly what I’m talking about. But don’t cling to your style when some solid feedback can help you truly improve.

Don’t just wait for constructive feedback. Seek it out. And if you’re managing a team of link builders, schedule regular discussions with your team and have a list of areas for improvement for each member of your team. You can’t improve unless you get some outside perspective and assistance.

And, finally, don’t assume someone can’t help you because they’re not a link builder. Ask people who are passionate about the industry you’re building links for. Ask the data junkies around you what they can get out of a site’s analytics that show growth or retraction during a campaign. Talk to some writers and bloggers about what they’re most popular content has been that is relevant to your project. You might be surprised in what you hear.