Hi all,

Looked for the best place on this forum to post this thread. Hope it's okay here.

Please don't take offence to anything you may read in this post. It is not my intention to step on anyones toes.

The organization I founded almost two years ago has grown to over 500 members. It's called the Wedding Photojournalist Association:

http://www.WPJA.org

The site SEO has all been done by me (a novice). By the end of the year the site redesign will be complete and we'll have a much more attractive (photo driven) site. During this transition, we plan to switch to .com from .org. I'm afraid to lose any strength we currently have on the search engines.

HERE IS THE POSITION:

We could pay about $1,000 (USD) per month for SEO efforts in the 'One-Way', 'Text Link' area from relevant sites...there are a ton out there in the wedding industry.

I have another 'wedding link' site that could be used as a 3rd site for exchanges:

http://www.Wedding-Clicks.com

It's not a great site right now, but it could be a regionally organized (link exchange site) for wedding vendor sites embracing the WPJA.

I posted a similar position on eLance some time ago. The guy who won the job has not provided one link in about a couple of months now.

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE SERIOUS THAT IS MOTIVATED!

We'll need to negotiate the rate. I'm not paying someone hourly that is not in my office and I don't plan to pay $1k per link either

Honest only please!

Thank you to all,

David Roberts

david@WPJA.org

p.s. Suggestions always welcome, I just don't have the time to do the work myself.

David, thank you for posting. I moved it to the general chat forum, I have a few questions, why are you only soliciting one way links? Relevant reciprocal links work 2 thirds as well and are 10 times easier to procure, do the math you will see that your yield would be higher on a reciprocal program.

I dont think there are many people who work on a per link basis because it is really up to your industry and your site as to whether you get decent link volumes, I mean we build links for TONS of verticals and some yield very high return (Highly affiliated markets come to mind such as credit and pharmacy) and some markets we might mail 20 hours per week and only get 10 link exchanges (industrial tools comes to mind) the point being the time is spent either way.

I do understand your concern however, I stopped hiring freelancers for jobs for exactly the same reason. A fellow in india approached me to build links on my education portals for me a few months ago, he said he wanted $200 per month for 50 "relevant" reciprocal links. Now I certainly dont mind paying that because in my mind that is a steal, but he wanted $ upfront and I was like screw that I dont even know you, you could take my $ and run. In the end, I said look, you get me my 50 links per month I'll up it to $250 but you get paid after you get me the links not before. For the first 2 weeks he ended up getting about 10 which was cool. But I have never heard from him sinse, I am certainly glad I never paid him first or I would have lost my investment. So I guess I see it from both sides. Per link does really work for the provider unless they get a really responsive industry, but per hour doesnt work for you.

But what about trying something like I tried with my guy from India (Which didnt work for him because he couldnt deliver what he promised) and agree to pay "x" amount per relevant link "After" they get them for you. I mean you will be paying a premium for the links (I would suggest offering at least $5 USD per link) but you are assured you get what you requested before you pay.

I mean do the math, at your $1000 budget, you would get 200 unique relevant websites linking to you, thats well worth it IMO.

I am certainly not bidding on the job here, just trying to work out some advice / thoughts on fly, as I am really in the same boat - If I could find a way to keep outsourced link builders honest. I would be hiring them left right and center myself.

Thoughts?

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Thanks for taking the time for your thoughtful response!

I tried your suggestion earlier on eLance with the " 'x' dollars for 'x' links"...it's not going well. No links in a couple of months now. Not saying it could not work, I just need to find the right person that WANTS TO WORK!

I'll pay $10. (USD) per 'text link' coming one way into the WPJA site.

I read somewhere that Google could soon penalize sites that operate on a 'reciprocal' basis. I'd rather spend the money once and do it right if there is a possiblility that this could be coming down the pike.

Thanks again!

-Dave