GarethSketty.com

Getting links on TV Channel websites

A link from a TV website like Channel 4 or ITV is a pretty good link on many levels and certainly one worth making an effort for.

1. It is likely to get visitors and deliver some traffic over time

2. Secondly associating with a high profile TV show is generally good for company image

3. Thirdly the link is likely to fall into the category of being quite a trusted/ authority link which may have a positive impact on search engines. (You can argue whether TV or newspaper sites are whitelisted or not - but as a general rule of thumb they are more likely to be trusted than most websites).

Now you may notice that alot of sites that rank well can appear on TV/ shows site.

This is not to say that the association with a TV show is the be all and end all of high rankings - but it could help.

For some industries this is particularly true, and a popular target is to sponsor XXXX XXXX.

Now you may find many sponsors.

So if you think your site could have the right products / services to interest a TV show for sponsorship the place to start would be creating a shortlist to target 4 or 5 shows you care about [or think your customers care about].

When thinking of sponsoring a TV show ideally try and select ones that run for a series or a few months if you can - that is why shows like XXX XXXXXXX can be great. It is high profile, watched by millions and goes on for months. If you sponsor a show that is only on once then that's it - you just get less value from your 'sponsorship' but you still may get a decent link.

Find the shows your interested in and then check for their suppliers page online.

How to find shows suppliers pages when searching for TV channel links

So for example you can find the pages for supplier and examples of Channel shows by typing this in Google tool bar:

suppliers site:www.channel4.com

suppliers site:www.itv.com

suppliers site:www.five.tv

etc etc

Get results for the shows then search the site.

Each channel varies on link quality - but at the time of writing channel 5 and 4 give hard links for some shows if you get in fast enough.

Warning: Before you part with any product or cash Channel 5 are using using frames on some pages which sucks [but hey I guess that's channel 5 for you] - actually thats unfair they have some cool shows these days :-)

The BBC do not appear as good for this type of sponsorship arrangement as they are technically non-commercial. Also the BBC do not seem to make third party links live - so maybe give BBC a miss for now.

You need to make sure the supplier page is being read and cached by search engines if the link back to your site is going to matter.

To check this you can type cache:the page www.thesuppliers-link.co.uk/link-goes-here.html and put that into the Google search bar

So type cache:

Then paste the supplier page URL after it

Then click Search.

So for example what you enter into the Google tool bar will look at bit like this:

cache:www.theTVsite.com/thepageyouarechecking.html

Can you see the page returned as cached?

you need to consider what date Google gives it as last cached? If it's in the last month or so fine - your probably looking at a potentially good link.

Once you have your shows and have checked their suppliers pages are good t's a case of spending some time making contact via letter/fax/ email to contact the show's producers.

Do this as early as possible and you will soon find out if there is an angle for you 'donating' or loaning a product to qualify as a supplier and to get your credit on the suppliers pages.

I have have worked with clients where the loan value for the show is not hug - lesss than £500.00 so it's potentially a good deal - and sometime syou get your laoned item back anyway.

Ok that's it - a few tips on getting started on TV sponsorship and getting great links on TV channel websites.

G