In the past 3 days, I’ve gotten 3 requests to exchange links from websites I’ve never heard of.  In each case, they’ve found this blog somehow while purusing the Internet.  I’m looking at each example closely and making sure it will work for me.  So far, I think I’ll do 2 of the 3.  The 3rd one just kind of got under my skin because it was written a pretty condescending way.  I’ll take out the link (just in case it’s a reader’s site), but leave the message here for you to decide:

My name is Joe Smith and I am the marketing director for ”A brand new website”.  As of March 30th, 2008 we have launched our 
newly updated forum which is soon to become the internets largest destination 
for help and advice in North America.  

I have personally come across your website and think that exchanging links could 
benefit both of our businesses. By linking to us you will be given priority 
placement on our link partners page and be showcased in front of our thousands of 
daily visitors.

If you are interested in this partnership please add one of the following text links 
or banners to a high traffic area on your website: 

[FOLLOWED BY SOME BANNERS]
You may also visit our link exchange page to choose from several banner images and 
text links. Once you have linked to our website, fill out the link partners form and 
we will add your site to our directory. 

 
As the premier destination for advice and information we also welcome you to 
take part in our discussion forums.  Whether you have questions of your own or 
can contribute to answering some current questions we would really like to see you 
on our forums.  We are also looking for forum moderators and article contributors 
who can help us grow.  If you are interested please feel free to send me an email.  

LINK PROVIDED
I look forward to hearing from you in regards to this email. Please allow up to 24 
hours for a response as we are currently receiving extremely large volumes of email.”

Okay, here’s what I got out of the email.  

(1)  It’s pretty new.  Launched in March, 2008.  They have “thousands” of visitors.  If true, that could be good.  Not great, but good.

My hero for new launches right now is http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/.  Yes, the title and subject matter is racist and stereotypes.  But, I bet you looked.  Over 40,000,000 visitors since its launch in January.  It’s got that Purple Cow mystique that made it go viral.  It doesn’t hurt that the blog’s creator is funny.  I saw him on Conan O’Brien’s late night show and when Conan asked him how it felt to be famous.  He replied, “I’m Internet famous.  That has the shelf-life of a banana.”  

(2)  They are the self-proclaimed premiere site for advice.  Get in line dude!  There are a lot of us who have been doing this for a long time.  Okay, that’s the part that started to get under my skin.

(3) I need to put their link on a heavily trafficked part of my website and then they’ll add me to their standard fare links page.

(4) Oh, and by the way, can you answer questions, write articles and be a moderator, for no cost to us?

Maybe I’m just cranky today.  Would anyone else have taken them up on their deal?

I’ll post another one I liked tomorrow.