Linking Strategies Explored

Over the past year there has been many changes across the internet regarding linking strategies and how effective they will over the long haul. To me there are three predominate with a few subset strategies being used and it is my goal to hash personal thoughts out as well as analyze some others to determine the most effective linking strategies for the future.

Acquiring mass links: Using the low cost strategy (in business terms) to gain the highest number of links in the shortest period of time using social media sites to set up free profiles. This strategy requires all the social media sites, Digg, MySpace, MSN Spaces, Newsvine and so on, that have no sign up fee where users can setup a profile and provide links to one source, like a website that needs to gain PR and attention. These free links, as they are, have no initial PR and require work just to get the page and the links on that page indexed within Google’ cache.

Benefit: A lot of links in a short period of time from a multitude of sources.
Drawback: There is no way to determine the value or quality of the link and takes a high investment of time.

Quality links in social media: Sites like Digg and Stumbleupon have high PR as well as trust rank with Google and can be used to sumit links to from blog postings as well as key pages in a website. If a marketer selects five sites to continually to submit stories to should increase the overall relevance and potential of the sites being used (that is the theory). The profiles, overtime, should gain the attention of Google and then themselves gain PR and trust.

Benefit: Quality links from a few sources while maximizing time and effort.
Drawback: The reach and disbursement of links is low in the short-term.

Acquiring the highest quality links: Using directories, bloggers and other social media sources to achieve the highest quality links and returns to gain PR and trust for a website. This strategy requires knowledge and connections that stem from basic social media but also go far beyond what one link is worth.

Benefit: The highest residual return from a link that will continue to age and bring in business long into the future.
Drawback: High time invest to seek out quality links as well as a high marketing budget to sustain the cost of the links.

As I am reviewing what was written the choice should seem easy, go with the highest quality to get the highest return. But what if a big budget is not an option for a company, should the just not seek any links? or should the try to hit all areas and build to something greater?

The latter is seems to be the best option and it is what I believe any small company should do to gain presence using continual drive an effort.