In search engine optimization, "off page" factors have become more and more important as they relate to rankings. In particular, solid link popularity can literally make or break a site with the search engines.
Before we go any further, what is "link popularity"? In very simplistic terms, link popularity refers to the number and quality of the incoming links that are pointing to your site. These other sites consider your site important enough to link to. So, in the engine's view, your site is considered important as well. What is meant by "link popularity" can get much more complex, which is discussed further in this article.
However, one of the most difficult areas of SEO is building link popularity. Why? Because the engines don't want "artificially created" (or useless) links, so there are no easy ways to build link popularity. The days of link farms and huge link exchange programs are over. Try those strategies now and you can easily find yourself booted out of an engine.
Rather, the engines want links from authoritative sites, or links from sites that share the same focus as your site.
But besides the link popularity you gain by getting an authoritative site to link to you, you also gain additional visibility for your Web site. So, when working on building link popularity, don't forget those two basic reasons for requesting links.
The Purpose of this Article
Because building link popularity is one of the most difficult and time consuming aspects of search engine marketing, we decided to join forces with each other and with other search engine optimizers to create a list of legitimate ways you can build link popularity for your site.
When looking through this list, you may find strategies that are subject to abuse. If you use them as recommended in this article, you will have no problems. Abuse them, and you're treading in potentially dangerous waters.
Stephen Baker with Fast said one of the most memorable statements I've heard as it relates to what the engines like or don't like to see. He said:
"Our position is pretty straight forward...it's not the technique that we are concerned about, it's the intention."
So, always keep that statement in mind when you consider linking or any other strategies for your Web site. Analyze your intentions, and if you wouldn't mind an engine knowing what you're doing, your intentions are okay.
Now that we've gotten the preliminaries out of the way, let's get down to business: learning ways to increase the link popularity of our sites. To write this article, we went to professional search engine optimizers for their ideas. After each strategy, we briefly attributed it to the SEO who sent it to us, and then we provided a list of all contributors along with their companies and URL's at the end of the article.
Keep in mind that these strategies aren't in any particular order. Also, keep in mind that though it isn't always stated explicitly, we're always referring to "related" and "important" or "authoritative" sites as our targets.
Start with the Basics:
Before you begin link seeking, you might want to read the article, "A Linking-Campaign Primer": http://www.ericward.com/articles/primer.html (Eric Ward, President, NetPOST and URLwire) (http://www.ericward.com)
This is by far the oldest and best-known method of improving link popularity. Basically you e-mail or contact the Webmaster of a site that is complementary but generally not competitive to your own. You ask them to link to your site while outlining the benefits of doing so. You would generally offer to link back to them in exchange for this courtesy. Be sure you have developed genuine content on your Web site of interest to the trading partner. Explain the advantages to them and to their visitors by providing a link to your content. Tell them where the link on your site will be or set the link up in advance with the stipulation that you'll be glad to leave it there if they'll add a link to you in kind. Take the time to look over their site and then suggest where a link to you might be appropriate. Most importantly, personalize your e-mails! You must distinguish yourself from all the spam they receive daily. If the link is particularly important to you, call them personally or write them a letter or send a fax to show them you're serious. (Brent Winters with First Place Software)(http://www.webposition.com)
(To view the rest of the article, which is over 12,000 words long, visit: http://www.searchengineworkshops.com/articles/leglinkpop.html If you'd like to download the article in an ebook format, visit: http://www.searchengineworkshops.com/131LinkPop.html The article is also available in text format as an attachment to email by writing to RobinN@acws.com.
This article was compiled by Robin Nobles, Eric Ward, and John Alexander. The following people contributed tips to the article, and we greatly thank them for their contributions and help. Their companies and URL's are listed in the HTML, text, and ebook versions of the article.
Mike Adams, John Alexander, Michael Campbell, Chris Churchill, Terry Dean, Elbert Flores, Chris Genge, Bill Gentry, Ron Gotcher, Don Hammond, Detlev Johnson, Dixon Jones, Jon Keel, Barbara Coll, Stephen Mahaney, Nancy Nelson, Robin Nobles, David Notestine, Susan O'Neil, Debra Paynter, Terry Plank, Rocky Rawstern, Gil Sery, Chris Sherman, Judith Silver, Marshall Simmonds, Scott Smith, Danny Sullivan, Becky Thompson, Eric Ward, Carl Watney, Steve Wilson, Brent Winters, and Gary Woods.
A special thanks to Butch Pujol and Heather Colman of Digital Page Author Software and Service (http://www.digital-page-author- software.com) for creating the wonderful e-book for us.
About The Author
Robin Nobles, Director of Training, Academy of Web Specialists, has trained several thousand people in her online search engine marketing (http://www.academywebspecialists.com) training programs. Visit the Academy's training site to learn more (http://www.onlinewebtraining.com). She also teaches 3-day hands- on search engine marketing workshops in locations across the globe with Search Engine Workshops (http://www.searchengineworkshops.com).
Copyright 2002 Robin Nobles. All rights reserved.
limousine chicago serviceI try to use as many free traffic programs as... Read More
A websites profitability depends solely on directing visitors to that... Read More
Ok so the first way to get traffic is not... Read More
There are 1001 ways to drive traffic to your websites.I... Read More
There are two types of tools I sometime use to... Read More
What is cross promotion?Cross promoting is when two or more... Read More
We all need traffic. It's the life-blood of an online... Read More
So, you've spent hundreds of thousands on a state-of-the-art website.... Read More
The blog explosion created a great opportunity for savvy marketers--they... Read More
There are a number ways you can go about marketing... Read More
Recently I came across a web site with the heading... Read More
Their is an old Saying it goes something like this... Read More
The debate rages on forums all over the internet-should one... Read More
The longer your website visitors stay, the more they will... Read More
The more traffics you get at your website, the more... Read More
Every webmaster who has personally tried promoting his or her... Read More
Every website needs a link exchange program. Every week, set... Read More
Quality traffic, website promotion and product and service advertisement is... Read More
Trying to get traffic to your new website or to... Read More
Our Story A few years ago, we were struggling... Read More
The number one problem new website owners have is, "How... Read More
It appears that most webmasters have come from the world... Read More
When you have a website online it is important for... Read More
All we webmasters know the importance and procedure to exchange... Read More
You have a website, beautiful in design and unique in... Read More
used street lights led light bulb replacement Pete's produce ..So we gather in all the relevant information we can... Read More
A lot of website owners work tirelessly at increasing their... Read More
A classic way of getting seen and noticed on the... Read More
The longer your website visitors stay, the more they will... Read More
Are you trying to sell your product online with little... Read More
You get a flash of inspiration and an interesting topic... Read More
When you are trying to promote your website, you want... Read More
As a result of search engine changes, linking with other... Read More
In this Article we look at the second competitive advantage... Read More
Web site traffic promotion is crucial in today's Internet world.... Read More
Online traffic, or the number of users who view your... Read More
Online marketing is an area where you can find a... Read More
Would you like to get unlimited viral traffic to your... Read More
Every website needs a link exchange program. Every week, set... Read More
With all the buzz going on about the importance of... Read More
Here's what your website must have to get lots of... Read More
Here are 10 great ways to boost your web traffic:1.... Read More
1__MESSAGE BOARDSIntroduce yourself smoothly, by posting informations and be available... Read More
So, you've spent hundreds of thousands on a state-of-the-art website.... Read More
1. Make all or part of your site into a... Read More
Recently I came across a web site with the heading... Read More
Isn't online a magical invention? Surely it is, just imagine... Read More
It is worth looking at some values and strengths of... Read More
While most webmasters agree that reciprocal linking is a very... Read More
You may be shocked to hear this.You DON'T need a... Read More
Traffic Building Traffic Building |