m (Created page with "<div align=justify>A prospect calls up and asks you to “do this search engine optimization thing” for their website. After checking their website against identified keywords ...") |
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The best advice you can give these people is to slow down and be prudent. | The best advice you can give these people is to slow down and be prudent. | ||
| − | What is a Link Profile? | + | |
| + | '''What is a Link Profile?''' | ||
It’s important to understand that search engines are trying to rank the best results that they can for their users. In this process, Google – especially – has put quite a bit of emphasis on trying to rank “big brand” websites. There’s a lot of debate on how this is determined, exactly, but one major factor is a website’s link profile. | It’s important to understand that search engines are trying to rank the best results that they can for their users. In this process, Google – especially – has put quite a bit of emphasis on trying to rank “big brand” websites. There’s a lot of debate on how this is determined, exactly, but one major factor is a website’s link profile. | ||
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A link profile is made up of: | A link profile is made up of: | ||
| − | + | * The types of links to your website (sources such as directories, forums, news articles, press releases, social, etc.). | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | * How these links were acquired (all at once, or slowly/steadily over time). | |
| + | |||
| + | * The anchor text (words used) in those links (perhaps the most important piece). | ||
| − | Building a Link Foundation: Getting Started | + | '''Building a Link Foundation: Getting Started''' |
For any website just beginning to build its link profile – sites with no/few backlinks – it’s important to establish a sound foundation of links. | For any website just beginning to build its link profile – sites with no/few backlinks – it’s important to establish a sound foundation of links. | ||
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Above all, especially for a new website, it’s important to create great content that is link worthy, says link building specialist David McBee. | Above all, especially for a new website, it’s important to create great content that is link worthy, says link building specialist David McBee. | ||
| − | Avoid Aggressive Link Building | + | |
| + | '''Avoid Aggressive Link Building''' | ||
Too often, companies simply don’t have the patience to wait things out and let things “naturally” build. For example, this Warrior Forum post is from someone who was nailed for “unnatural” link building because he built links a bit too quickly. | Too often, companies simply don’t have the patience to wait things out and let things “naturally” build. For example, this Warrior Forum post is from someone who was nailed for “unnatural” link building because he built links a bit too quickly. | ||
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“All the ‘standard’ link building advice applies: diversity in anchor text, lots of branded anchor text, diversity in the kinds of links you acquire (not all directories, people!), get lots of low PageRank to balance any high PageRank you happen to get and watch out for site-wide links. Oh, and get some no follows and image links too.” | “All the ‘standard’ link building advice applies: diversity in anchor text, lots of branded anchor text, diversity in the kinds of links you acquire (not all directories, people!), get lots of low PageRank to balance any high PageRank you happen to get and watch out for site-wide links. Oh, and get some no follows and image links too.” | ||
| − | Natural vs. Paid | + | |
| + | '''Natural vs. Paid''' | ||
What’s interesting is that you could, conceivably, do this through “natural” or “paid” means (however one might define “paid”, but that’s a subject for another column). But, while we’re on the topic of “paid”… | What’s interesting is that you could, conceivably, do this through “natural” or “paid” means (however one might define “paid”, but that’s a subject for another column). But, while we’re on the topic of “paid”… | ||
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For example, one top retailer ranks very highly on Google for search queries such as “microwaves”, “refrigerator”, “washer and dryer”, “video camera”, “printers”, “digital cameras”, and “laptop computers’. Truth told, they are a decent result (they do sell all of these products) but without a little SEO/link building help, they wouldn’t be in these positions. They earned it by building a big brand, and taking advantage of that big brand to sprinkle in just enough keyword-rich links to earn these positions. | For example, one top retailer ranks very highly on Google for search queries such as “microwaves”, “refrigerator”, “washer and dryer”, “video camera”, “printers”, “digital cameras”, and “laptop computers’. Truth told, they are a decent result (they do sell all of these products) but without a little SEO/link building help, they wouldn’t be in these positions. They earned it by building a big brand, and taking advantage of that big brand to sprinkle in just enough keyword-rich links to earn these positions. | ||
| − | Home Depot: More Linking, More Ranking | + | |
| + | '''Home Depot: More Linking, More Ranking''' | ||
See this blog post, below? Anyone gonna tell me that this isn’t a paid post? (and note the date…this was done recently). This points to the home page of the same retailer mentioned above. | See this blog post, below? Anyone gonna tell me that this isn’t a paid post? (and note the date…this was done recently). This points to the home page of the same retailer mentioned above. | ||
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My point in sharing this is that even those authoritative websites are working on anchor-text-rich, deep linking, because they have earned the authority that allows them to do this, more than most. Don’t know why they focused specifically on this page…Home Depot ranks No. 1 for this already on Google, for me. You too? | My point in sharing this is that even those authoritative websites are working on anchor-text-rich, deep linking, because they have earned the authority that allows them to do this, more than most. Don’t know why they focused specifically on this page…Home Depot ranks No. 1 for this already on Google, for me. You too? | ||
| − | Bottom Line | + | |
| + | '''Bottom Line''' | ||
Everyone’s link building plan should be unique to a website’s individual situation. For example, a website may already have the authority needed, so perhaps internal linking would be a bigger priority. For a website starting from scratch (just bought the domain last week), it’s important to lay a sound foundation (branded links from quality sources, spread out over time). | Everyone’s link building plan should be unique to a website’s individual situation. For example, a website may already have the authority needed, so perhaps internal linking would be a bigger priority. For a website starting from scratch (just bought the domain last week), it’s important to lay a sound foundation (branded links from quality sources, spread out over time). | ||
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