Inbound links refer to other Web sites that have links to a specific page. Inbound links are always the most difficult to get because it says “This Webpage is so valuable to my readers that we had to include a link to it.” That’s a tough sell unless you have a truly excellent Web site.

Here are some tips on how to make your Web site a link magnet.

• Provide a complementary product or service. If your Web site is primarily sales-based, try seeking out sites with related but non-competing offers. Let them know why your product or service is the perfect complement to what they’re selling.
• Fill up your Web site with information they can’t live without. The best way to encourage great links is by making your Web site the BEST source of information available on the Web. Become an authority. Fill up your pages with articles, blogs, FAQs, and news people simply can’t live without. Make your link a “must-have” to readers in your field.
• Create a desirable tool. You can attract many links with a simple tool that provides value to visitors. For example, a life insurer could provide a calculator that measures how much coverage is needed. A travel agency could recommend destinations based on hobbies and interests. A non-smoking campaign could calculate how much money can be saved each year by quitting. If your Web site provides a unique and useful tool, many other sites will want to share it with their readers.
• Remember your business partners. Every business has relationships with other service providers, so don’t overlook some of your best resources. Encourage those that you do business with to share your Web site with their customers. If you have a great working relationship, they will be happy to take the opportunity to make a great recommendation.

You can also actively invite other sites to link to you in exchange for linking to them. This is a time-intensive activity, and you should only link to sites that contain information similar or complimentary to your site.

If you're considering hiring a firm to generate in-bound links, get a copy of the free report Six Questions to Ask an SEO Company.