The sites that link to your business competitors may also be willing to link to you.

So how can you find out who's linking to your competition? Here's a neat trick: Type the following into Yahoo Search, replacing widgetdesigns.com with your competitor's domain name:

linkdomain:widgetdesigns.com

You'll see a list of all of the web pages that link to that domain name. Browse the list for web sites that might also be interested in your business.

Then what? Just ask! If you already have a relationship with a business, ask your contacts if they'd be will to add a link to your site. You just might be surprised at how effective a simple request can be.

If a business is new to you, be sure to research their linking policies first. Some businesses may ask for a link back to their site (called a reciprocal link) or have other requirements. You'll also want to make sure these sites are relevant to your business. Then email or call them to request a link.