but what if nothing is relevant

[abbynormal]

I've posted a thread asking for relevant links, per the rules, but now this question. My industry is niche...I'm not going to get a single response. What about a forum category for irrelevant link exchanges? I admit, relevant links must be better, but there are some sites where the relevant links don't exist i.e. mine.

[starbug]

I think this would become an open invitation to the spammers to let rip.

[wlh]

lol

Maybe just texas sites in general. I say if you have a common word throughout both your sites such as "Texas" then why would these not be relevant?

[seokid]

Abby there are tons of things that are relevant to you. For one you are a consultant from what I can see, if we're talking about the site in your sig? Anyway some sites I would approach are consulting directories just as a start. Any site that has anything to do with electricity will be great for you. Try electrical supply sites for wires/wiring, or battery selling sites, or hell, how many sites do you get when you type in LED into Google as in the little lights they use in toys. How about electrical software or techincal/electrical books.

Electrical supply has over 5 million results in Google, start going through their backlinks and their links pages to get even more ideas, all the above was off the first electrical links page I found. Use other people's ideas to get started. ;)

Good luck with it and I really like your site! Very Clean.

[Jenny Barclay]

Great site Abby

Links ? There are 1000's out there

Check the DMOZ, G, and Y directories.
Also don't forget to link out to these with your keywords as anchor

Type in G every search term that you can think of in your biz and check out the sites listed.

Go for it !

[jocelyn]

There is no 'Irrelevant links exchange' section because there is always relevant sites. Niche or not, you are certainly not getting "Results 1 of 1" in a google search, and that one site is yours (unless you precisely search your site or a phrase found only on your site). Mods here would also be busy smashing threads and posts from spammers, instead of having fun helping members.

So do a little brainstorm like seokid just did, you'll see...

[abbynormal]

Thank you all for the constructive criticism. It's nice to hear compliments from people who do this for a living. We're just trying to widen our target market by being visible on the web.

I always though that "relevant" meant my exact niche industry -- "Texas electricity consultants". Now I know to look for links from energy/electricity/consulting etc.

I have been submitting to directories like crazy. Jenny, you mentioned linking OUT to DMOZ, G, Y. Really? I should link to a different site with my keyword? This seems to be counterproductive. Please explain.

[Jenny Barclay]

'Tis now standard to link to authority sites.

To do so using your search term as anchor text is a wise move.

[Alan Murray]

Linking to off-topic sites is Spam??? I sorry but that is ludicrous. I can point to several top ranking sites for very competitive keywords that link to irrelevant sites.

Many SEO's have different methods, you choose the one that you think is the best for you, but off topic links still count a ton in Google.

[Jenny Barclay]

The only outgoing to avoid are e.g. link farms, FFA's, banned sites, same IP
You cannot possibly do any harm by linking to a non theme that does not come into these categories