Getting links to your Web site is critical. Links from quality sites direct quality prospects to your business. And there's a second benefit: Search engines reward sites that have great link popularity with higher rankings in search results.

When marketing your Web sites, make it one of your main goals to add reciprocal links to your site. An easy way to find partners is by checking out what business sites your competition is using. Here's a neat little trick you can use to find out this information.

First, go into any Search Engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN, Answers.com etc.), then type in the Search Window:

link:yourcompetion.com
(or whatever your competition's Web site address is)

Click find. The search results will produce a list of every Web site that is linked to your competition's site. It will give you privileged information as to who their link partners are, as well as customers and other valuable information. It is, also, a great way to find out what others are saying about them (whether good or bad). Use this information to your advantage.

As a matter of fact, you can even take this idea one step further, and try it with your own Web site address:

link:yourcompany.com

It's a great way to research what is going on with your own site across the Web. You may find friends that you never knew you had. Investigate these links and if they are suitable, be sure and offer them reciprocal sites to widen your Internet exposure. Then resubmit your Web site to the search engines. Watch your site traffic and Search Engine rankings increase using this quick, easy tip.