OBJECTIVE: TO INCREASE INBOUND LINKS WITHIN IMPORTANT MEDIA
The contest is super simple. First, we’re going to choose 4 articles at random from across the network (with a random number generator). If the article has linked to another, related (that part is key) article within the same site, the author gets a $10 bonus. If the author has linked to another, related article within the IM network (i.e., not on the same site, but within the network), then we send the author an additional $40.
Here’s how to ensure you get the biggest possible bonus.
- Include at least one link to another article on the site you’re writing on. Use the search box on the site you’re writing for that says, “Search this site” to find something relevant.
Please include the main keyword of your article topic in the hyperlink itself. If you’re writing on wind power, hyperlink the words “wind power” or “clean energy” when you link to other articles. Bonus: $10. - Include at least one link to another article within the Important Media network, beyond the site you’re writing for. On all of our sites, you’ll find a search box entitled “Search the Important Media Network” (usually in the bottom right sidebar area). It looks like this:
If you can’t find it on the site you’re writing on, it’s on Inspired Economist, so you can always go there and see it at bottom right. Punch in your keyword from your article there, and you’ll see a whole list of results. Skip over the sponsored results at the top, and scroll down to see all the articles across the Important Media network that cover that keyword. Find one that’s relevant, and link to it (remembering to include the keyword in the link, if possible). Bonus: $40!
Just for example, and to give props to our man at Sustainablog, Jeff McIntire-Strasburg is really good at this. Check out this article about food waste…you’ll see in the first paragraph an internal link to another Sustainablog article about sustainable seafood, and in the second paragraph, a link to an article on Eat Drink Better about wild salmon. Super simple!
Four articles will be chosen at random each month for consideration. The author of each will get a cash bonus of up to $50!
Who’s eligible? Anyone who has a login and writes for Important Media is eligible. Except me. 
If the article is just a reposting, then another number will be drawn from the random number generator and we’ll go on to the next one!
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!
About Scott Cooney
[...] you a link and ask for comments in the field below–make this kind of a conversation about our policy for incentivizing writers to link within the IM network. You can read the full post there, but here’s the [...]