Webmasters understand that quality and relevant inbound links can increase site visibility; your search engine rating; and with any luck increase your traffic and revenue.
While working to locate relevant links for our site, we discovered a disturbing practice apparently being used to increase link popularity and search engine ranking. The following are the sorted details of our journey and discovery.
1) Most webmasters understand the hunt for quality relevant sites is, like most things of value in life, a time consuming and difficult task. Being limited on time, we first tried to hire a leading SEO expert to locate relevant links. When the SEO expert did not return emails, we tried a few link exchange sites. While a few good quality links were unearthed, the link exchange sites simply did not offer a large quantity of good relevant sites. After all, our competitors had hundreds of thousands of inbound links and we had less than 900. While tempting, we skipped over the advertisements for traffic as our desire was for prospective customers not traffic.
2) We finally decided on the DIY approach. First step, check current reciprocal links page to insure all was well. A few sites no longer linked to us, so our webmaster links page required a few updates.
3) Next we chose to use Link Popularity Check to locate links that our competitors have, that we perhaps missed. The first thing we noticed was hundreds of inbound links a competitor had, all coming from a few specific sites. Upon visiting the sites, we noticed that one was a "directory" and several others were normal sites that contained very little content. In short, the directory and other sites were nothing a competent webmaster could not create in a day or two.
4) We found it odd the inbound sites all have the same visual look, color scheme, and navigation. Our competitor's site was also listed in the "Related Resources" area on each and every page. The light bulb suddenly switched on! The inbound sites appeared to have been created for the sole purpose of increasing link popularity and therefore the competitor's search engine ranking!
5) Ping the four sites to locate the IP addresses. Four different addresses, not in consecutive order. Perhaps we were mistaken.
6) A few mouse clicks to see who owned the domain names of the four sites. All the sites are owned by the same company, are housed at the same ISP, and have the same email address listed for the administrative and technical contact names.
7) A few mouse clicks at Alexa.com to review traffic patterns show the sites have very little traffic, yet all have a PageRank score of 6 or higher. Site traffic is increasing for each.
Nope, it does not appear we were mistaken. It appears a competitor actually created web sites for the sole purchase of increasing his/her link popularity and search engine ranking for their primary business site. To recreate such a process:
We were curious to see if this was an isolated incident or a rampant practice. While not rampant, it did not take us long to find others companies utilizing this technique. Is this ethical? I am sure some would argue this is a savvy internet marketing practice, while others will view the practice as repulsive. Ethical or not, this technique is simple, cost effective, and apparently will increase your search engine ranking. One thing is clear, I will never look at directory sites or link exchange pages the same.
Hopefully, the search engine will adjust their algorithms and nullify this practice. In the interim, for those that take a negative PR and/or link exchange hit, remember that honesty builds longevity and lasting relationships. Remember the SEO expert we previously tried to hire? We went back and checked his site, and yes he utilizes the same technique. Odd thing however, his sites no longer enjoys top ratings on the major search engines. Perhaps, the search engines are starting to figure this one out.
lew newlin is CTO of Information Solutions, Inc. that operates lew newlin that specializes in lew newlin and lew newlin for businesses.
shuttle from Midway Glen Ellyn ..Are you trying to sell your product online with little... Read More
Just to recap - Part 1 of this article outlined... Read More
Do you have your own site? Do you have any... Read More
Did you know that web linkage is responsible for a... Read More
What is cross promotion?Cross promoting is when two or more... Read More
You can create more traffic for you and your business... Read More
We all need traffic. It's the life-blood of an online... Read More
In search engine optimization, "off page" factors have become more... Read More
In-bound links from other web sites to yours provide two... Read More
Link popularity is becoming the latest "in-thing" to get your... Read More
One thing you can never have too much of online... Read More
To increase targeted traffic is one of the foremost wish... Read More
For all the seeming "intelligence" displayed by its system, Google... Read More
If you are only looking at Search Engines too send... Read More
If you have any experience of work with your web... Read More
One Way Links from High Page Rank Pages are Your... Read More
If you have a website the chances are you receive... Read More
There is so incredibly MUCH you can do to successfully... Read More
If you're feeling a bit of confusion and frustration about... Read More
There are literally billions of Web sites online now offering... Read More
When adding a link directory to a web site there... Read More
With all the buzz going on about the importance of... Read More
Although the topic of keyword strategy and selection may appear... Read More
You want to start your own online business. You want... Read More
It's a strange world, this place we call the internet.... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare North Chicago ..1. Make all or part of your site into a... Read More
Link Exchanges are a very time consuming project. The time... Read More
But a mere increase in the volume of website traffic... Read More
I don't know about you, but when I built my... Read More
Ever since the time websites became new to the World... Read More
Should link exchanges be used? What are link exchanges? Do... Read More
For many years now, getting traffic from search engines when... Read More
Everything being equal, more traffic to your website translates into... Read More
Let me ask you a question. What is the most... Read More
It is an open internet promotion secret that the more... Read More
I`ve had people come to me and say "Traffic Exchanges... Read More
Traffic. We all know that without it our sites will... Read More
Yesterday, I got stuck in a traffic jam. It wasn't... Read More
In this Article we look at the second competitive advantage... Read More
Links are important to you because of two main reasons:Google's... Read More
Did you know that according to alexa, www.eBay.com is ranked... Read More
Track all sources of traffic generation.John Reese stresses the need... Read More
If you are looking to increase the number of visitors... Read More
Ok so the first way to get traffic is not... Read More
With all the buzz going on about the importance of... Read More
"How do I get more traffic to your site?" That's... Read More
Here are 10 great ways to boost your web traffic:1.... Read More
Nowadays, we have created numerous methods so as to bring... Read More
This is the 3rd day of "Free Traffic Course".This day... Read More
Want to Make Free Money on the Internet?One of the... Read More
Traffic Building |