"Having links from other websites pointing to your site is a major factor in the strength your site will have in the search engine listings."
Other sites pointing to your website is the internet version of what your business does everyday at the rotary clubs, chamber of commerce meetings or conventions- networking!
A high level of link popularity is a large factor in how well your website will rank in the search engines. Search engines, like Google, factor link popularity heavily when calculating how each site will rank. Not having sufficient link popularity can prohibit a high search engine listing!
In many ways the search engines are like a democracy. If two website's are identical, the website which has more relevant external links pointing at it will rank higher in the search engines. The site with higher link popularity ranks higher!
Search engines view links as a vote of confidence in your site by other sites. Search engines think that if another site is willing to direct traffic to your site (by linking to it) they in affect are saying that your site has valid content, worth a visitors review.
