Factsheet: Links and Link Exchanges
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A key way to improve your own search engine rankings is to contain links to and from other websites on related subjects. Preferably, to have a site so useful that other sites want to link to it.
Links and linking are big business nowadays. This is largely because Google and other search engines use links to your site to determine how useful a site you have. If 100 other sites all want to link to your site, you must be highly recommended, right? And if those links are from sites that are themselves well ranked, so much the better.
Well, yes, except...a consequence of this is that (a) people sell links and (b) people organise massive link-exchange programmes - for example, a list of 1000 sites, that each link to each other, although they are not really 'recommending' the site, just trying to trick the search engines.
Funny thing is, it works to some extent, although the search engines are getting better at spotting these tricks. But you do still want others to link to your site, if you are to do well in the search results. But you don't necessarily want everyone who finds your own site to immediately see a link to another rental property, that may be one of your competitors. For this reason 'links' pages are usually kept separately from other pages, and frequently not mentioned prominently elsewhere.
There are several sites on the internet that can help you with this process of obtaining links. Simply search under 'exchange links' or 'directory links travel' and you will find a whole list of link exchange sites and directories. However, current advice is that exchanging links with hundreds of other sites will not help too much, and that as time goes by and the search engines improve their 'site rating algorithms' they will eliminate more and more of these artificial links from their calculations.
It is much better to focus on getting links with other sites that are directly relevant to your own site. This process will be more rewarded as time goes by, so is better for the long term also.
Ideally also your links to other websites will be scattered throughout your own site, rather than all on one 'link' page. Which is of course where they will be most use to your site visitors.
If you can get 5 - 10 good links into your site that will be as efficient as 500 irrelevant links. Good links are from reputable sites, that are themselves well ranked, and are on a similar subject matter to your own site. Try exchanging links with other rental properties in the area, for example.
Another possibility is to to submit your website to 'directories'. These are listings of sites, sometimes focussed on a particular area, such as travel, or France, and sometimes accepting more or less all sites. Search for 'travel directories' or 'submit site to directory' etc and you should find plenty. The site will have a 'submit site' or 'Add URL' option, for you to use to add your site. Many directories are free, some ask for a link in return from your own site, and some ask for payment. This depends on how well loved the directory is with search engines.
As a start, try the directory at France Directory, currently a PR4 directory (a google measure of a sites importance). After adding your site, look in the 'travel directory' and 'other directory' sections where you will find further directories listed.