The secret of great backlinks!

[I, Brian]

Lots of people still posting here, asking about how to get free directory links, mass article links, and link exchange links etc - old methods best considered devalued for mainstream purposes.

Here's the really big secret on how to get great backlinks:

Imagine there are no search engines, no PPC, no banner ads. How would you then be able to get targeted traffic to your website?

It sounds like a vague proposition, but if you can dare to stop to try and address it, and look around the web for opportunities based on this proposition, you will find great link opportunities.

You see (as I've spoken about at SES and SMX), the reason Google originally placed a high value on links is because links were the founding method of communication on the internet. You want to talk about something, you link to it.

That's what Google is looking for - not links, but methods of communication that will invariably involve links as a practical consequence.

Google has tried to faithfully keep to following that remit - PageRank, authority, semantic relationships - these are all different ways in which to determine core natural communications online.

If you therefore pursue a communications strategy online, with an awareness of how links may be valued, then you will inevitably find a range of opportunities.

Link building has always been a creative process - opportunities do not arise from free directory subs, article writing, social media profiles, etc - these are simply attempts to force opportunities against a range of potential filters.

Instead think carefully about how you would run a communications strategy, using links to illustrate the very products and services or information you are trying to convey - and see where this route takes you.

There should be no easy answers - the method that works best should be individual to your business.

And it demands time and patience and some creative thinking.

But if you can dare to try it, you will force your competitors to follow in your footsteps.

The way people think about links is invariably wrong - the biggest tip I can give is to try and challenge the mindset that causes this.

Hope that helps.

 

[loredan]

That's not a secret...it's just common sense

Thanks for the nice read though

 

[Annoying Donkey]

One of the most sensible posts I've seen on here

 

[G. Lasagne]

Yeah good stuff, its a good logical way to think about it

 

[MASSEY]

Time and patience

I have neither.

 

[RedEvo]

The kind of post you'd expect from I,Brian, superb. The problem is many (most?) people don't create something link worthy. If you've got some thirty bob website selling some tat you can buy on a thousand other sites using standard content copied from the product catalogue you really are on a hiding to nothing and link spam - which ultimately is a waste of time - is perhaps your only option.

d

 

[BusinessIdeas]

So google are using 'natural communications' when they sell ppc and adwords
If they practiced what they preach they would not endorse any kind of payed links - hypocracy in the extreme!

 

So google are using 'natural communications' when they sell ppc and adwords
If they practiced what they preach they would not endorse any kind of payed links - hypocracy in the extreme!

Funny that cause I was always told that buying links from the right sites was the best way to get worthwhile backlinks.

Not that I would ever do that as I am way to poor and as pointed out its against googles T&C's.:|

Earl

 

[MASSEY]

So google are using 'natural communications' when they sell ppc and adwords
If they practiced what they preach they would not endorse any kind of payed links - hypocracy in the extreme!

Well the first i can think of is the yahoo paid link that google approve , so they are not really being hypocrytical,

Also the ppc are seperate to the organic listings so again i dont think it can be classed as hypocracy.

 

[RedEvo]

If they practiced what they preach they would not endorse any kind of payed links - hypocracy in the extreme!

PPC are adverts and clearly marked as such and the revenue they generate make Google rich (not a crime) allowing them to develop and give my business a shed load of free tools. Fine with me. It's so 'UK' to see successful businesses as the bad guys. If you want to know where Google came from and how PPC came about read Search, it's a good read.

d

 

[CaterTrade]

Erm, if directories are worthless and you recommend content based SE promotion, why then do you say "Get listed!: Internet Business Directory" underneath? Perhaps this is your 'Communications strategy'? I'm not being sarcy, just wondering.

 

[MASSEY]

Because directories are not only made for seo,

There is a small chance some one will use a directory find your number and call you,

its hard to believe i know

 

[BusinessIdeas]

Whichever way you cut it, google are still selling links.

 

[Webtistic]

Whichever way you cut it, google are still selling links.

Well, yes, and no.

Yes, they sell links in terms of allowing customers to appear in the dedicated sponsored listings spaces, but the reason they don't allow (dofollow) link buying between websites is because they see it as a direct attempt to manipulate the search engine algorithm, possibly resulting in higher rankings.

Google talks about 'relevancy' and 'user experiences' and needs its search engine to provide the closest, and most valuable search results to its users.

This would not be the case if the person with the most links (from having the deepest pockets) would always appear in the top rankings.

I should also add that Google does not have an objection to buying links for advertising purposes (like Adwords), providing the link purchased has the 'nofollow' attribute and subsequently does not pass on link equity ('link juice') to the target site.

I hope this helps.

 

[BusinessIdeas]

The internet is full of directories selling links, and they are still high in the serps.
If google is really against people buying links, why wouldnt they devalue these sites, refuse them for ppc, or rufuse to list them in organics?

 

[RedEvo]

The internet is full of directories selling links, and they are still high in the serps.
If google is really against people buying links, why wouldnt they devalue these sites, refuse them for ppc, or rufuse to list them in organics?

Google outlaws selling links for the purpose of passing Pagerank, that's all. Google doesn't disapprove of buying or selling links that don't pass Pagerank.

d

 

[BusinessIdeas]

So all the paid links on directories do not count towards ranking? Is that what you are telling me?

 

[I, Brian]

Erm, if directories are worthless and you recommend content based SE promotion, why then do you say "Get listed!: Internet Business Directory" underneath? Perhaps this is your 'Communications strategy'? I'm not being sarcy, just wondering.

I'm not saying they are worthless - I am suggesting that a few will provide some value (especially where the pages target longtail and local search as oposed to big generic keywords), but most (especially free directories) are usually best considered irrelevant.

The internet is full of directories selling links, and they are still high in the serps.
If google is really against people buying links, why wouldnt they devalue these sites, refuse them for ppc, or rufuse to list them in organics?

Oh, Google have - quite a few years ago Google even PR0'ed the "Directories" page at DMOZ to stop it passing juice to any. Google have to be careful to be seen to be fair and even handed - Google demands a website give values to users, rather than exist solely to exploit their algo. Therefore the better directories tend to be built into larger information portals, rather than exist by themselves.

And if you are seeing any directory pages listed in the search results, take a note that it may be one worth considering being listed on - even if the directory page itself passes any juice or not won't matter so much if it demonstrably offers traffic potential.

Here's a another tip before this thread meanders into a pointless paid link debate - never underestimate the value of local press targeting.

Try and construct a useful story around your business - anything that may be unusual, involves community building, or working with major local employers, is potentially news worthy.

Or if you suddenly notice something no one else has about your local area, write a story around it and try and get your company mentioned - if that makes it too commercial, make sure you have a personal blog (linking to your business website) to use as an additional reference/link in the event a news editor may be more restrictive with commercial websites.

Get a press release written and sent to local press editors - remembering that it's not just local newspapers which publish local news with links on the web - the BBC website actively solicits and publishes as well.

The result is the potential for links which deliver traffic as a natural part of the communications process - always of value, whether Google is just weighting domain authority, or adding user tracking information for weighting purposes as well.

 

[Simply Clicks]

This all represents good ideas on SEO. The core science behind SEO existed before the Internet. There was no paid link building. A comprehensive approach, with a mix of methods, works best.

 

[seo123india]

Back links can be created by posting articles in article directories, blog posting, forum posting etc. All these help to draw huge traffic for the websites.

 

[eventdomain]

The internet is full of directories selling links, and they are still high in the serps.
If google is really against people buying links, why wouldnt they devalue these sites, refuse them for ppc, or rufuse to list them in organics?

Because the directories are probably well-established, respected and support entire industries. In other words - they have power!

 

[MASSEY]

The secret to great backlinks!!!

For this you will require the following;

• Your hand
• Mobile phone
• A wallet
• Bank account

stage 2 of how to get great backlinks

Log on to google and look for a site thats content is really really close to that of your own site (make sure its high in the serps).

Pick up your phone, call the site owner, explain to the site owner that you have a really crappy low ranking site and you need to get it higher in the serps, and because it is crappy no one wants to link to you.

Proceed with " hey i have a good idea maybe you link to me and i will give you some money".

site owner says "hey i like that idea give me some money"

Pull out your bank card from your wallet and give him some cash $$$.

Repeat this process until you are number 1 on google.

 

[eventdomain]

That's what Google is looking for - not links, but methods of communication

Google may like communication, but people want information and the only way to find it is via links, so to index all this info, I hope Google IS looking for links.

So in the end, links are the only option for travel on this web, and you need a mountain of em to stand out. The fight to gain advantage is a pointless one, and free stuff is usually naff.

If money is tight, the last thing you want is to build websites, as they eat up money in an attempt to stand out that tiny bit extra, unless you know what you're doing or own special link-building technology that is.

I know the hoards of average biz websites do not... and although websites are damn important from a sales point of view, I swear many think they can do this on a shoe-string budget, and you can't. What's a product website cost, maybe £1000 upto £20k? and that's without promoting the thing, or PR or anything extra.

 

[bdw]

IBrian, this is an excellent post that I just noticed so please accept my belated thanks.

For eventdomain...

So in the end, links are the only option for travel on this web, and you need a mountain of em to stand out.

Not true and I can prove it.

If money is tight, the last thing you want is to build websites

Once again this is wrong.

A website is today's cheapest form of advertising. I was speaking to a client on Wednesday evening who made this very point. He is a photographer and a year or two after launching his website he has dropped all other forms of advertising saving him much more than the £500 he paid me.

 

[Simply Clicks]

There are several SEO businesses out there that claim you need a mountain of links. Perhaps it's because their business models are built around building and selling cheap links.

My experience suggests that it is better to have a few, well targeted links, than a mountain of cheap ones.

 

[omnivore]

great post Brian, really good advice

but what would you reccomend in the following scenario:-

- niche product of very little interest outside it's very small niche
- already linked to the very small number of relevant sites available
- competitors have a large number of high value paid-for links on less relevant sites

basically what can you do if out-gunned by competitors paid-for links in a category of very little interest outside of it's small niche and therefore tough to build free in-bound links for...

??????

 

[eventdomain]

IBrian, this is an excellent post that I just noticed so please accept my belated thanks.

For eventdomain...Not true and I can prove it.

Once again this is wrong.

Sorry bdw, although your correct that some websites can be a cheap option eg: £500 for a 10 page site, websites (as I'm sure you know) can cost huge amounts of money, and therefore aren't cheap, as it depends what the site does, design, capability, offers, performs, whether its database driven, does it need to sing and dance etc etc etc.

And seeing as I paid for websites over the years, I cannot be wrong

he has dropped all other forms of advertising saving him much more than the £500 he paid me.

Actually, thats a dumb move, he pulled the very thing that was probably giving him decent presence, traffic and profit and the very thing was selling his product

A website is today's cheapest form of advertising

No its not, you forgot one obvious thing.

 

[Matt1959]

Actually, thats a dumb move, he pulled the very thing that was probably giving him decent presence, traffic and profit and the very thing was selling his product




.

which was what??

 

[I, Brian]

great post Brian, really good advice

but what would you reccomend in the following scenario:-

- niche product of very little interest outside it's very small niche
- already linked to the very small number of relevant sites available
- competitors have a large number of high value paid-for links on less relevant sites

basically what can you do if out-gunned by competitors paid-for links in a category of very little interest outside of it's small niche and therefore tough to build free in-bound links for...

??????

I'm sure there must be a way to write it up for a larger audience - it's just about finding a way to spin things up. Remember, a lot of the local press is happy to consider niche stories so long as relevant to them, and the more you spin the mainstream interest, in theory the more you can widen that audience.

 

[omnivore]

I'm sure there must be a way to write it up for a larger audience - it's just about finding a way to spin things up. Remember, a lot of the local press is happy to consider niche stories so long as relevant to them, and the more you spin the mainstream interest, in theory the more you can widen that audience.

yes but there are only so many times you can re-hash a simple story

my point is, i guess, that if you compete with folks who buy links

(we don't as i happens as our niche competition are luckily very `mom & pop` amateur sites)

then sooner or later you will have to bite the bullit surely!

 

[bdw]

Actually, thats a dumb move, he pulled the very thing that was probably giving him decent presence, traffic and profit and the very thing was selling his product

Sorry, you'll need to explain this to me. I am quite slow. :|

What is dumb about stopping payments for additional advertising when he gets all the enquiries he can handle from the website I built and optimised for him?

You have a very strange trait. At times you seem to disregard or dismiss the facts that people are reporting to you in favour of preaching your own gospel. :|:|:|

.

 

[bdw]

Regarding small niches, these are often quite easy to optimise. The problem is often that no one is searching for them. I would recommend finding appropriate specialist directories and forums as a start.

 

[Annoying Donkey]

great post Brian, really good advice

but what would you reccomend in the following scenario:-

- niche product of very little interest outside it's very small niche
- already linked to the very small number of relevant sites available
- competitors have a large number of high value paid-for links on less relevant sites

basically what can you do if out-gunned by competitors paid-for links in a category of very little interest outside of it's small niche and therefore tough to build free in-bound links for...

??????

But relevance is important...

 

[jonsay]

The very first thing I did to get backlinks was submit to dmoz.org. It took a long time but eventually they listed my website, and then through all the other websites that use dmoz data, I started to get more and more visitors. Currently running at around 1300 a day. No paid advertising, just a few more reciprocal links, and links from other people that I never requested. Okay, I have a full time job so this was a hobby, and 6 years ago, but time is the key on the net if you really want a presence. If you want quick links you have to pay, if you intend to be around for years, then you need to think long term.

 

[omnivore]

Regarding small niches, these are often quite easy to optimise. The problem is often that no one is searching for them. I would recommend finding appropriate specialist directories and forums as a start.

well actually we have done ok and are no.1 for our main terms, so no worries

just wondered if
hard to get free links
can EVER compete with
easy to get paid links

 

[Probafix]

i appreciate you sharing your secret for backlinks. These are some i had not heard. i m going to give them a try..

 

[eventdomain]

well actually we have done ok and are no.1 for our main terms, so no worries

just wondered if
hard to get free links
can EVER compete with
easy to get paid links

Ok, these how to get links threads are pointless. Everyone knows that good, decent, authority, related websites will NOT give their link space to you unless you pay - Fact!

These are the 2 points people must learn:

1. There's not much for free on the web these days. Anything that is, will be low quality and crap ROI.

Whatever is free, is used to give advantage to the link seller's visitors - not you, and wilth all things free, nothing is guaranteed and will take forever to see anything from it.


2. Paid links mean one thing - you ARE guaranteed to:

A) get a link

B) you'll be listed fast

C) you'll get a superior placement than any free link


so people use articles to spam, they swap links, they do social bookmarking, so what - that's not going to increase visitors, it wont bring in sales either. But you'll never, ever, in a million years get homepage or authority or high traffic links for free.

The businesses that pay are way, way ahead of anybody else on the web. Why? bcos the free options take months to take effect - their not instant.

 

[bdw]

Everyone knows that good, decent, authority, related websites will NOT give their link space to you unless you pay - Fact!

Paid links are not a good idea I am afraid.
http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/021742.html

 

[RedEvo]

Paid links are not a good idea I am afraid.
http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/021742.html

I think you'll find many high ranking sites do so because of paid links. It's sad but true but if done correctly pretty much impossible for Google to discover.

d

 

[bdw]

It's sad but true but if done correctly pretty much impossible for Google to discover.

Not when your competitors use this.
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/paidlinks?hl=en&pli=1

.