Using keywords in off-site SEO links

[Scott-CopyandDesign]

Hi Folks.

Here's a quick question. Say I have a great opportunity for a link on a website for SEO purposes. Now, should I take every opportunity like this to make the links' anchortext my main keyword, or should I attempt to make the linking more realistic by using other anchortext words, or just using the plain URL on occasions?

It seems like I'll get more relevant link juice by using keyword anchortext, but I'm afraid Google might see the backlinks to my site as unrealistic and devalue them, especially if they're all using the same one-word anchortext.

Cheers.

[Fenland]

I'm just an average Joe, so dont take my advice on it, but I would say vary your anchor text link to suit all the keywords/phrases you are targetting as I assume there will be more than one that is relevant.

Howvere, if its one link from one site I would say go for your main keyword as your anchior text...

Also try not to get all your keywords from one site as this will probably look quite spammy.

Always ready to be corrected on this stuff

[webpromoterservice]

i have found using anchor text will bring the best results.My best backlinks are from sites were i have used my anchor text.
Remember the google algorithm is a computer,and follows instructions it is programmed to do

[fisicx]

Write the source copy for people ('cos that what you do) but incorporate descriptive anchor text that includes you keyword(s):

Some people find that nose and ear hair less attrative than a moustache or beard but in the right circimstances it can be a source of erotic pleasure. A study by Dr Strange into the subtlties of follicle frottage reavealed a sub-culture dedicated to hisute persuits.

[eukhost]

Hi Folks.

Here's a quick question. Say I have a great opportunity for a link on a website for SEO purposes. Now, should I take every opportunity like this to make the links' anchortext my main keyword, or should I attempt to make the linking more realistic by using other anchortext words, or just using the plain URL on occasions?

It seems like I'll get more relevant link juice by using keyword anchortext, but I'm afraid Google might see the backlinks to my site as unrealistic and devalue them, especially if they're all using the same one-word anchortext.

Cheers.

Keyword/anchor text Variation plays an important role if you are looking for long term good rankings in Google. If you wish to build a strong link profile , keyword variation and links to your deeper pages will play a big role in long run.

[SEO Positive]

Eukhost is right,

Linkbuilding should be done to your homepage for your main keywords, but it is important to link to your inner pages too, this will help your whole SEO campaign, as your website as a whole is seen more of an authority, rather than just 100 pages, and only your homepage has 10,000 links and the rest have 6 between them.


Keyword/anchor text Variation plays an important role if you are looking for long term good rankings in Google. If you wish to build a strong link profile , keyword variation and links to your deeper pages will play a big role in long run.

[david64]

Here's a quick question. Say I have a great opportunity for a link on a website for SEO purposes. Now, should I take every opportunity like this to make the links' anchor text my main keyword, or should I attempt to make the linking more realistic by using other anchor text words, or just using the plain URL on occasions?

What's the context?
How much do you care about being seen as an SEO spammer? - dropping your keyword rich links all over the place.
Can you legitimately work in a keyword?

Personally, I go for trying to get links that include a keyword in a way that is natural. Since I have a keyword in the name of my site, this is pretty easy.

If you are doing a guest post, you could do something like:

[Scott Chapman] is an expert copywriter providing [conversion sales copy] for small businesses.

It's quite common to do have a keyword rich link to a sub-page.

Alternatively, you could do:

Scott Chapman is an [expert copywriter] providing sales copy for small-large businesses.

- I would argue that the above example is too SEO-centric and a bit spammy because the term [expert copywriter] is not specific to you. The natural link text would be 'Scott Chapman'.

You could also do:

Scott Chapman is owner of [Chapman Copy & Design] providing [sales copy] for small-large businesses.

- I'd say this is the best.

IMO, if you are dropping links somewhere where people are going to see your links, like guest posts, journals, comments, client footers etc., that you want to make the links as natural as possible, while still getting your keywords in. If you want more specific link text, you can always use places where people are never going to see your links like article sites and for-links-directories.

It seems like I'll get more relevant link juice by using keyword anchortext, but I'm afraid Google might see the backlinks to my site as unrealistic and devalue them, especially if they're all using the same one-word anchortext.


I don't think Google can really tell if you are using unrealistic link text. Take a look at the links poining to these high flyers:

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q=car+insurance

You will find paid link after paid link all saying thing like [life insurance] and [life insurance quote]. You will even find the links blocked together like that from multiple companies. If Google could tell the links were SEO, those companies wouldn't still be doing it.