Having an AHA moment
This has been an interesting week for me.
I started out really struggling to build the hub site, which will be the lynchpin of my linking strategy, to create backlinks and raise my profile with the search engines. I did A LOT of research (maybe too much), downloaded a number of free directory scripts and played around with them.
I started with Link Management Assistant, a free program by Duncan Carver. It was recommended by a number of marketers and I found plenty of sites using the script. It uploaded fairly easy but there was a minor bug in the directory setting. Nevertheless, a quick search in the forum and I found an easy workaround.
The big problem was in configuring the pages the script created to match my site and unfortunately, the forum and support wasn’t very helpful. It was free so I couldn’t really expect anything. I actually used this 2 weeks ago and just couldn’t figure it out.
So I did the next best thing… I downloaded another script.
And another, and another.
I ended up uploading a second directory script called php link directory and that installed fairly easy as well. I chose this because it was template driven and I hoped it was easier to configure. No it was not.
Here I was, dazed and confused. After working on it for 2 weeks, I was convinced that I won’t be able to make the damn thing work. Then suddenly…BAM! It was like an epiphany. Suddenly, I knew how to make the changes to the template to make the linking directory fit the design of my site.
The thing was, it was the 1st script I had a revelation on. And I hadn’t touched it since the beginning of last week.
So back I go to where I started, and now I find the 1st script inexplicably easier to set up. Like all the jumbled pieces in my head just aligned itself. The linking directory is now operational, albeit with a few pages left to configure.
Funny how the mind works. I guess it means that all the secrets of the world is probably in your head. you just have to figure how to get it out.
BTW, the LMA script is very useful and I do recommend it to implement a linking strategy for your site. And if you have a basic understanding of HTML and templates, it should be fairly easy to configure.
But you may have to wait for an AHA moment too.