Once you know how Google measures or evaluates your links then you will be in a better position to conduct a more effective link campaign. Before I explain the current pattern of link evaluation let’s take a stroll down memory lane to see how far things have come. (more…)
When it comes to Search Engine Optimization also known as SEO almost all website technicians have heard of it and wish that they could do it as well. Well guess what, SEO is possible to do to your website, you just have to keep in mind that SEO isn’t all the website is made up of. You will also have to keep up with the website in general and not focus too much on the SEO where the web page gets outdated. (more…)
Each of the major search engines Google, Yahoo and MSN have quality webmaster guidelines in place to prevent the unfair manipulation of search engine rankings by unscrupulous website owners. These webmaster guidelines change frequently to ‘weed’ out any new deceptive practices and those websites found engaging in these illicit practices are consequently dropped from the search engine rankings of the major search engine they have offended. (more…)
by: Stephen Brennan
I have been using the services of a wonderful facility, which has taken almost all of the work out of my ‘Linking Program’ (if you have a website that relies on Search Engine traffic, I really do hope you have one!). The facility is named Linkmarket.com. Don’t worry, I am not affiliated in any way and I don’t get any type of reward for referrals, but I do refer people because it is really such a wonderful facility and it’s free, unless you choose to ‘upgrade’ to paid membership, which I am seriously considering doing, in light of the behavior I have observed recently.
I know there have been a fair number of articles on the Internet and on this particular website regarding ‘linking’, it’s importance, how to do it and what not to do. This article is kind of a plea. I’m pleading with people who don’t realize that linking to every single website that’s willing to link back, can be a DISADVANTAGE rather than do them any good at all.
Firstly, the way Linkmarket.com works is simple but, as I said, wonderful. You join (free at first, with some minor limitations). You supply your website details, including your category, site name and description and you are listed in their directory. You then have the ability to peruse their directory and select websites with which you would like to arrange a reciprocal link (if you’re a paid member, the Google PR and Alexa ranking are displayed – very handy!). It works like this:
1. Your ‘request’ is popped off to them and they can respond with a YES or a NO (again, if they’re paid members, your PR and Alexa ranking are displayed in the request – very handy!). If it’s NO, nothing more occurs.
2. If it’s YES, you get a reply asking you to place their link on your website (all supplied in a neat little box to copy & paste) and supply the URL location of the link. Linkmarket.com software confirms the link is in place and…
3. Advises them and they, in turn, are given your link in the same format as you received theirs. They place your link and also advise the URL, which the software confirms.
Easy as one, two, three. In fact, that’s what the process steps are called (1,2 3). No emails, no keeping track of with whom you’ve linked (that’s kept track of for you) and no feeling like a nuisance for sending emails to complete strangers because everyone is there for the same purpose, to exchange links.
What’s not so nifty or wonderful, and it has nothing to do with Linkmarket.com, is the type of websites that you get requests to link with. I really think some of these people need to link with reality before they try linking with other websites.
Of course, one of the features you get as a ‘paid’ member, is you can nominate the types of website that you wish to receive requests from.
In addition to my Home Based Business websites, for which I have separate ‘accounts’, I have a website called ‘R.A.I.S.E’ (Rheumatoid Arthritis Information Support and Education). A non-profit website devoted to all things to do with this particular disease (from which I suffer). I cannot understand why I continually get multiple requests per day from totally unrelated websites, especially those dealing with gaming, travel and satellite dishes. I know that the majority of these websites are ‘affiliate’ type websites, in very competitive areas trying to expand their web presence and obtain a better search engine ranking. However, don’t these people realize that a link from a website dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis will not help them one iota. Nada, Zip, Zilch, Bupcus. In fact, they’ll be very lucky not to be penalized by the SE’s for such a ridiculous practice.
Please people, understand that a link is only of any use to you if it is from a website with related subject matter. I will link with any website that has the same type of content and is in the same category, even those with low or no PR, as I feel that they won’t harm my ranking and I don’t mind helping a new website. But what makes this behavior more perplexing is that I recently changed my domain and have no PR, so these people must be linking to virtually everything in the directory!
We all know that the practice of reciprocal linking has gotten way out of hand, what with people now actually asking for money to link to your lower PR website, but this indicates it has gone beyond the sublime and into the realm of the ridiculous. I’ll say it again - some webmasters really do need a ‘link with reality’ rather than any more websites.
About the Author
Stephen Brennan is the author of ‘The Affiliate Guide Book’ – The Definitive guide to becoming a successful Internet Affiliate (at little or no cost) – available at http://www.online-plus.biz. He is also Webmaster at R.A.I.S.E – http://www.ra.online-plus.biz
By: Karianne
Many SEOs quickly learn why they need a linking strategy. They know now that links from other web sites pointing at theirs are improving their page ranking. Let’s see how links generate traffic.
Inbound links are an important way to increase the page rank, to be known in your field, to generate traffic to the website. This is the most important method to generate traffic, to have more visitors, potential clients or website services’ users.
Without traffic, a website is almost useless. Its role can be only a name on a business card or a place to find a products or services list or email addresses.
To bring clients from the Internet, to be alive, to fulfill its main purpose, a web site must have huge traffic. What can a search engine optimizer do to get this important traffic? The web content including the appropriate keywords, the ease navigation, the most appropriate images, the inspired headlines are improving the traffic.
Do not forget the site’s style, sophisticated and simple at the same time, professional and efficient. But the work isn’t over yet. The inbound links strategy must be used too. It brings spectacular results and realizes the traffic that will attire the clients’ attention. The search engines will note the web site.
Some will think that without traffic, a web site is useless as a marketing and selling tool. The web site will not sell products or services, nor communicate ideas or events, and won’t publish articles about any imaginable subject.
As we have already established, the traffic will be increased in the most spectacular way by getting links from other important websites, and having related topics. You will receive direct traffic from links, but mainly from links that have similar audiences to the main website.
A client visiting a web site similar to the main one, seeing the link to the main one, will visit it immediately. He becomes a potential client, increases the traffic, and improve, finally, the main site’s rank. 21% of the entire traffic is the result of inbound links. This is not a secret, top ranked web sites are using this successful strategy and everyone can see the results.
What is the reason why people are clicking the new links? First of all, this is the human curiosity in action. Maybe the next site can have more products, best prices, most appropriate services.
Maybe the next site is looking better and it is giving to its visitors the look and feel they are waiting for, maybe the next site is more useful, interesting and helpful. The visitors, potential clients at the same time, are hoping to find something to amaze them, to make them purchase without regrets and doubts.
Part of your linking strategy is joining a linking directory. You will need to do a search for these websites with a high PR. In these directories, you will have great success because they are where the strong, relevant websites are. To start linking your websites to higher ranked sites, go to:
o http://www.MyLinkMachine.com
Another part of your linking strategy should be to include your link in articles that you submit to article directories. This will help you out a lot because if a reader is interested in your article, chances are that they will click on your link to learn more. A great site to submit your articles is:
o http://www.MyContentBuilder.com
If you are submitting articles and are looking for a faster and easier way to do this, you might want to consider an automatic article submitter. To watch a video on how to accomplish this, go to:
o http://1trac.com/dt/t/Article_Submitter_Video.php
Article Source: http://www.upublish.info
About the Author:
Karianne Kline is a Graphic Design student currently attaining her Associate’s Degree. She is also learning the other end of the spectrum in Marketing and SEO. You can learn more about what she does by visiting www.LazyLinking.com