Link Building strategy???

[G. Lasagne]

Hey folks

Over recent weeks ive dived in head first in to the world of link building, and its a bit of a mine field and i have a few questions.

My strategy at the moment consists of using analysing software to look at the links that the big players in my industry have, im not talking about billy's plumbing around the corner, im talking about big london and national plumbing companies.

Im then bookmarking all the links that are obtainable, such as sites that require recipricols, blog posts, directories etc etc. Because some of these companies have 5000+ links im just comncentrating on the pr4+ ones.

Using my google analytics for the last 3 years ive compiled a list of keywords worth ranking for, the ones that im not top 10 for, im doing link building using the bookmarked sites, once they are all top 10 i will do the same for keywords outside the top 5.

I have a blog, so im planning on making more posts, and was wondering what people thought of "bookmarking demon" software, which submits your web pages/articles/blog posts to 100+ social bookmarking sites? Is Bookmarking sites a worthy link building tactic? another one ive used in teh past is www.socialmarker.com

Another thing that ive noticed is that a lot of comapnies have profiles on different networking sites (not facebook,twitter,linkedin etc) ones that ive never heard of, in the profiles their are links (with anchor text) to their sites, seems unrelated to me, but if the big boys do it??

Also, what woudl you class as spam, i.e would using software to post to 100 articles sites once a fortnight be classed as spam and therefore get you penalised, this seems to be a real grey area.

One thing to point out is that my keywords are all relatively uncompetitive, some are very uncompetitive, so i guess the big question is what do people think of my strategy and is there anything else i should consider, or am i doing it wrong.

Any feedback appreciated,cheers

 

[terryuk]

Just because the 'big boys' doing something doesn't mean you should, but in some cases it may be a good idea.

You should look at building authority links to your homepage, get some juice and the uncompetitive phrases should rank themselves if everything else is in place.

I would class SPAM being posted on millions of websites, 100 article submission sites asking for you to submit your article unique or not they are still wanting your visit.

Social bookmarking still effective.

One thing which hit hard is keyword diversity. Not spamming your site with thousands of 'plumber' anchors. Get as many anchors in as possible.

 

[manosonia20]

We’ve seen that the real secret to
SEO Copywriting 2.0 is creating compelling content that naturally attracts links, rather than begging for links to our keyword-stuffed “optimized” web page. In other words, SEO copywriting is now all about response-oriented copy—concepts and words that ultimately result in a favorable action from the reader. Since the popularity of our content depends on the reaction to it off-page, it makes sense that we might also need to step outside the confines of the page itself to get the word out. Luckily, the same copywriting skills you use to conceive and create your content apply to promoting it as well.
The way to create compelling content is to focus on “what’s in it for the reader.” Likewise, no one is going to link to you unless doing so gives them a benefit as well.
The key is the same—understand who you’re talking to and then figure out what will catch their attention and convince them to take action. Here are 5 ways to go about it.

 

[terryuk]

We’ve seen that the real secret to
SEO Copywriting 2.0 is creating compelling content that naturally attracts links, rather than begging for links to our keyword-stuffed “optimized” web page. In other words, SEO copywriting is now all about response-oriented copy—concepts and words that ultimately result in a favorable action from the reader. Since the popularity of our content depends on the reaction to it off-page, it makes sense that we might also need to step outside the confines of the page itself to get the word out. Luckily, the same copywriting skills you use to conceive and create your content apply to promoting it as well.
The way to create compelling content is to focus on “what’s in it for the reader.” Likewise, no one is going to link to you unless doing so gives them a benefit as well.
The key is the same—understand who you’re talking to and then figure out what will catch their attention and convince them to take action. Here are 5 ways to go about it.

Bots which copy & paste articles with a homepage link like this could be classed as spam :redface:

 

[G. Lasagne]

We’ve seen that the real secret to
SEO Copywriting 2.0 is creating compelling content that naturally attracts links, rather than begging for links to our keyword-stuffed “optimized” web page. In other words, SEO copywriting is now all about response-oriented copy—concepts and words that ultimately result in a favorable action from the reader. Since the popularity of our content depends on the reaction to it off-page, it makes sense that we might also need to step outside the confines of the page itself to get the word out. Luckily, the same copywriting skills you use to conceive and create your content apply to promoting it as well.
The way to create compelling content is to focus on “what’s in it for the reader.” Likewise, no one is going to link to you unless doing so gives them a benefit as well.
The key is the same—understand who you’re talking to and then figure out what will catch their attention and convince them to take action. Here are 5 ways to go about it.

What are the 5 ways ha

 

[G. Lasagne]

Just because the 'big boys' doing something doesn't mean you should, but in some cases it may be a good idea.

You should look at building authority links to your homepage, get some juice and the uncompetitive phrases should rank themselves if everything else is in place.

I would class SPAM being posted on millions of websites, 100 article submission sites asking for you to submit your article unique or not they are still wanting your visit.

Social bookmarking still effective.

One thing which hit hard is keyword diversity. Not spamming your site with thousands of 'plumber' anchors. Get as many anchors in as possible.

Thanks Terry

Have you heard of "bookmarking demon" ?

 

[MASSEY]

You'll have people coming along soon saying "you don't need to do link building" bla bla.

If you take pimlico plumbers as an example they buy web links from some related sites and some off topic sites with a decent PR.

I emailed one of the sites that pimlico had bought a link from and they said 40$ a year that was a page rank 3 link.

 

[MASSEY]

We’ve seen that the real secret to
SEO Copywriting 2.0 is creating compelling content that naturally attracts links, rather than begging for links to our keyword-stuffed “optimized” web page. In other words, SEO copywriting is now all about response-oriented copy—concepts and words that ultimately result in a favorable action from the reader. Since the popularity of our content depends on the reaction to it off-page, it makes sense that we might also need to step outside the confines of the page itself to get the word out. Luckily, the same copywriting skills you use to conceive and create your content apply to promoting it as well.
The way to create compelling content is to focus on “what’s in it for the reader.” Likewise, no one is going to link to you unless doing so gives them a benefit as well.
The key is the same—understand who you’re talking to and then figure out what will catch their attention and convince them to take action. Here are 5 ways to go about it.

You know, in all my time analysing backlinks of other tradesmens websites i dont think i have ever come across one link that looks natural.

All this write compelling copy talk is b0llocks. And very boring to read over and over again.

 

[terryuk]

Thanks Terry

Have you heard of "bookmarking demon" ?

Yeah I've got a copy but don't use it much... most softwares are too generic so you get 1000s of people doing the same technique. Very easy to catch onto.

 

[Curious]

Do you do residential and commercial work? If you work for businesses how about asking them, for a % off the bill, for a link? Would be a strong related link, would be even better if they had a blog and you could get them to write about what you did for them and give you an in copy link.

And if as you say your terms are as noncompetitive as they are, at terry said above, a few authoritative links and then you'd only need some clever internal linking?

If you don't ask, you don't get.

 

[Colin Parker]

I've bought and tested a link building package called Rank Warrior which costs $67 - rankwarrior.com - which I saw on the Warrior Forum. I've had keywords go to first page on Google in two weeks and stay there.

 

[mountrecruitment]

An approach that has worked for me has been to run a competition with entrants having to send me evidence of a link to my site with specific anchor text.....it is working well!

 

[terryuk]

An approach that has worked for me has been to run a competition with entrants having to send me evidence of a link to my site with specific anchor text.....it is working well!

What happens when the competition closes and all the links disappear. Or is that not going to happen..

Seems a good idea if you can make it stick, but likely hood of people thinking DAMN I never won, take the link off and put it to your competitor

 

[Abueesa]

An approach that has worked for me has been to run a competition with entrants having to send me evidence of a link to my site with specific anchor text.....it is working well!

Genius, and it looks like it has been working really well. Has it just been your customers who have placing links or any tom dick and harry? You say in the blog post that you've submitted it to some competition sites - how's that working out?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

competitions are one of the oldest ways to link bait. Jon Scott had the original and biggest one, and it gained him masses of links V7ndotcom Elursrebmem (Elursrebmem is membersrule backwards)

 

[mountrecruitment]

I plan to keep those links by offering other comps. As OWG says it's not a new idea and is proven. I may lose some after the fisrt draw but may gain others with next one!

It is a real mix of people entering - many i have never spoken to or met in my life. It's difficult to know if the competition sites have done much....i just registered the comp on 2 free sites but find most seem to find it through twitter or the actual competition page.

 

[Chunkford]

I can't help thinking there's an associated risk involved when doing something like this, as you're clearly trying to manually influence page rank and you're stating this on your site giving proof to Google if competitors report you.

 

[mountrecruitment]

Really?

I am just saying that people who feel like linking to me will be entered into a draw. They dont all get a prize so it's not like they are being paid. There are plenty of sites doing similar things, but i am not saying you are wrong - maybe i will ask an expert to look into where i stand with it.

 

[RedEvo]

It's not a merit based link, it's by coercion, so strictly speaking it's manipulating PageRank. Will you get 'caught'? Probably not.

d

 

[Chunkford]

With all link building there's a risk involved.
But entering a competition for a link maybe to high for some

 

[mountrecruitment]

It's not a merit based link, it's by coercion, so strictly speaking it's manipulating PageRank. Will you get 'caught'? Probably not.

d

But surely if people have any pride in their sites then they will only link to a site they feel happy to link to?
Is it wrong to say that once my site reaches an important milestone in web terms then i will run a draw to thank those that have helped get me there?

 

[RedEvo]

You are offering an iPad2 as a prize in return for a very specific keyword rich link. Honestly, Google would frown on this. That said I'm not suggesting you'll get caught and I'm not judging you, I'm simply stating the facts of the matter

d

 

[mountrecruitment]

I really do appreciate the feedback - i have seen such things so many times i thought it was within "the rules".

 

[G. Lasagne]

Thanks guys, i dont do commercial work but thanks it was a good idea.
I think the competition thing is great, i cant see google penalising you for it, im no expert but its only a robot, guided by a set of parimeters. What will flag it up? Maybe the sudden influx of links but then again they are all from different ip addresses. And its not like hes getting the links from well known loink farms or from sites that charge for links.

I think people need to realise that although google is a clever bit of technology it is only that, its not a man sitting checking every site, if the site running the comp falls within the guidelines which it does then it cant be penalised, hes not submitting the links, third party sites are.

Only thing i would question is whether the links are worth the £600 ipad and the time/effort involved, have you seen an increase in rankings?

 

[G. Lasagne]

I've bought and tested a link building package called Rank Warrior which costs $67 - rankwarrior.com - which I saw on the Warrior Forum. I've had keywords go to first page on Google in two weeks and stay there.

Had a look at this and it looks good, only thing i will say is that it is for 3 keywords only, so once those keywords are number 1 is the package then useless?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Asking for links as part of tyhe deal is dangerous, because if your competition reports you to google you stand the possibility of being penalised for buying links.

Link buying is one of the things that Google take manual action on.

 

[Chunkford]

I think the competition thing is great, i cant see google penalising you for it, im no expert but its only a robot, guided by a set of parimeters. What will flag it up?

The robots wont, it's if Google manually review the site (like they did with jcpenny and overstock - even tho I feel G were making a statement and they were the escape goats, but that's a different story), then you are advertising the fact on your own site that no one else has access to apart from you and your business, meaning 100% that you are manipulating page rank.
What triggers it? probably competitors reporting it, how many? who knows?

 

[makeusvisible]

Link buying is one of the things that Google take manual action on.

This is an interesting comment.

Do you have any sources for this info?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

They are everywhere? JC penny being one such case recently.

From personal experience I have seen it. When you report sites for keyword stuffing iframes etc, little or no action is seen, they just feed it back to the webspam team who will deal with it within the algorithm.

When you report sites for link buying though, you often see them and their link sellers all getting nailed at the same time.

many SEO/SEM/IM's now see reporting paid links as part of theior job. If the competition are breaching the guidelines, then taking them out is acceptable. After all why should those that breach the T&C of gooogle be allowed to profit from doing so?,

 

[mountrecruitment]

Asking for links as part of tyhe deal is dangerous, because if your competition reports you to google you stand the possibility of being penalised for buying links.

Link buying is one of the things that Google take manual action on.

Is it really buying a link though?

I would only link to sites i felt deserved it. If they then saw fit to run a draw and only include those people who had added to their success then why is that wrong?

I see how it could be interpreted....i will change the page to reflect the spirit in which it is meant.

As an afterthought, if a company sponsors an event and part of the "sponsors package" is a link to the sponsors site...is that not buying / selling links?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

We are looking at terminology again here and that is dangerous. The actual term is 'don't become involved in schemes inteded to manipulate pagerank' http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=66356 The trick with competitions is to have a decent lead time, so that the buzz can get out.

The whole issue is 'add a link as part of the deal' there is nothing wrong with providing code on the page to encourage people to link to you, after all, this is linkworthy content. Add all the coacial buttons to the page so people can tweet, FB, it etc. encourage, but don't ask for it as part of the deal.

Oh and meant to say, put a google alert on the competition name, then contact any pages mentioning but not linking to you

 

[MASSEY]

You people give me a headache

I have actually been considering how useful it would be maybe to run a competition for say "free house rewire" or something and maybe try get a bit of press in the Birmingham mail or similar. A link from an article in a newspaper would be good. You may also pick up links from other sites too.

But you have to work out the return on the investment. The rewire materials will be about £450 plus 50 hours work .

And then there is the legal side to running competitions that is probably time consuming.

This isn't link buying, you can't control who links to you. If papers or other sites happen to cover your competition because they find it interesting that's the same as writing "great content" to attract links. Except with the competion you are guaranteed to get links

 

[makeusvisible]

When you report sites for link buying though, you often see them and their link sellers all getting nailed at the same time.

but not all paid links are bad. Some directories charge for links, and are known to be good for serps. Yahoo Dircetory for example. Let's not forget Google's very own AdWords, which is the biggest link buying system of them all.

There is a difference between a "paid for link" and a "paid for spammy link".

 

[mountrecruitment]

Page has been changed - hopefully i dont break the rules now!

Oh and someone asked is it worth the £600 to get to 3rd position. Yes is the answer.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

but not all paid links are bad. Some directories charge for links, and are known to be good for serps. Yahoo Dircetory for example. Let's not forget Google's very own AdWords, which is the biggest link buying system of them all.

There is a difference between a "paid for link" and a "paid for spammy link".

Cmon be serious here we are talking about completely different things.

Are you serious in this post? is it a wind up or lack of technical knowledge? Adwords can't provide backlinks in Google as google don't spider the links.

Yahoo directory is acceptable, but it is pay for review, not pay for links. We are talking about completely different scenarios here, so the whole points scoring thing is liekly to confuse the issue.

@Massey, the issue wasn't with people linking, it was making links conditional, and openly telling people to link to you using specific anchor text. On a manual review, that would see a site dead in the water, it is as good as 'its a fair cop guvnor, I will come quietly. Guilty as charged'

 

[Chunkford]

You people give me a headache

........

This isn't link buying, you can't control who links to you. If papers or other sites happen to cover your competition because they find it interesting that's the same as writing "great content" to attract links. Except with the competion you are guaranteed to get links

LOL, it gives me one too.
But (i think) the competition was if you placed a link to the site then you get entered into the draw. Where normal a competition would get natural level of exposure and a certain level of natural links. This way is forcing people to link unnaturally.

but not all paid links are bad. Some directories charge for links, and are known to be good for serps. Yahoo Dircetory for example. Let's not forget Google's very own AdWords, which is the biggest link buying system of them all.

There is a difference between a "paid for link" and a "paid for spammy link".

A paid link is a paid link, which ever way you look at it and is against Google's TOS.
Adwords is exempt because it can, and directory links are different and you can't 100% trace it back to you if they were dodgy, so the worse they can do is devalue the entire directory/links (if they haven't already), and not penalise your site.

[EDIT] OWG beat me too it

 

[MASSEY]

@Massey, the issue wasn't with people linking, it was making links conditional, and openly telling people to link to you using specific anchor text. On a manual review, that would see a site dead in the water, it is as good as 'its a fair cop guvnor, I will come quietly. Guilty as charged'

Yes thats definitely stupid.

You obviously don't say link to me using this word etc. The newspaper will probably just link your domain name with no anchor but it's not all about the anchor is it, especially from authority sites.

 

[mountrecruitment]

I can see this is now turning into one of those SEO debates but just to clarify - i am glad the issue was raised and it has now been addressed.

Linking is optional, people need only email contact details to enter.

Thanks!

 

[makeusvisible]

A paid link is a paid link, which ever way you look at it and is against Google's TOS.

Thats not what Google say. Google's official line is that a paid links isnt simply a paid link.....they say that there are two types of paid links. Those for genuine business commerce, and thos designed to manipulate search results.

"Not all paid links violate our guidelines. Buying and selling links is a normal part of the economy of the web when done for advertising purposes and not for manipulation of search results."

 

[sammy.sammy]

I think that link building strategy is something which is very subjective, you cant make your strategy with influence of the others. Your website would be entirely different from the rest once, along with the rankings, and link building is influenced with the current rankings.