Should I buy backlinks or pay an SEO expert?
- Thread starter Baz Watkins
- Start date
You could probably start off the link building process yourself, naturally.
You may already be already doing some things which can help boost your linking credentials.
Consider the following:
Sharing your knowledge by writing articles/publishing documents/sharing content etc
Using social bookmarking to promote the content
Commenting on industry blogs and building relationships with bloggers
Asking your clients/customers/partners etc to link to you
Engaging with people via social media
Promoting your services via online video
Submitting your website to local and/or industry specific directories
Obviously this can be time consuming, so you may wish to outsource to an SEO expert. Whilst buying links can get you a few decent links, I would try and build some up naturally to be honest with you. IMO creating and promoting decent, sharable content is the best bet. So either get writing yourself or commission somebody else to do so!
As for cost, well as they say - "how long is a piece of string?". If you want to outsource it to a foreign country, you'll be paying peanuts. For a UK freelancer, it will probably be a middle ground. SEO companies tend to be slightly more expensive but often have greater resources/more employees to think creatively on your behalf! I'd suggest taking a look around and getting some prices, maybe meet with a few local SEO gurus and see who you a) like/get on with, b) think has decent ideas and c) you can afford!
You may already be already doing some things which can help boost your linking credentials.
Consider the following:
Sharing your knowledge by writing articles/publishing documents/sharing content etc
Using social bookmarking to promote the content
Commenting on industry blogs and building relationships with bloggers
Asking your clients/customers/partners etc to link to you
Engaging with people via social media
Promoting your services via online video
Submitting your website to local and/or industry specific directories
Obviously this can be time consuming, so you may wish to outsource to an SEO expert. Whilst buying links can get you a few decent links, I would try and build some up naturally to be honest with you. IMO creating and promoting decent, sharable content is the best bet. So either get writing yourself or commission somebody else to do so!
As for cost, well as they say - "how long is a piece of string?". If you want to outsource it to a foreign country, you'll be paying peanuts. For a UK freelancer, it will probably be a middle ground. SEO companies tend to be slightly more expensive but often have greater resources/more employees to think creatively on your behalf! I'd suggest taking a look around and getting some prices, maybe meet with a few local SEO gurus and see who you a) like/get on with, b) think has decent ideas and c) you can afford!
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link building is always a good thing, it can become expensive, I have to agree with WebDesignHW, doing it yourself will save you a fortune, as an idea we do this for ours... www.hfe-signs.co.uk/charity.php
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I wouldn't recommend buying backlinks.
Updates to Google's algorithm (i.e. Panda/Farmer update) will make spam and low quality links obsolete.
And I wouldn't recommend sitting back and waiting for the links to come to you.
It comes down to content and strategy.
You need to find out who the big influencers in your market and industry are. Then you need to think of a way you can get them to link to you.
This can be by making content that's useful for them, writing content for them as a guest blogger, writing content that is useful for their customers or clients.
It might be by reviewing their website or blog and getting a link from them to that review, or simply picking up the phone and mentioning that you're not direct competitors but their customers may benefit from your products or services.
Updates to Google's algorithm (i.e. Panda/Farmer update) will make spam and low quality links obsolete.
And I wouldn't recommend sitting back and waiting for the links to come to you.
It comes down to content and strategy.
You need to find out who the big influencers in your market and industry are. Then you need to think of a way you can get them to link to you.
This can be by making content that's useful for them, writing content for them as a guest blogger, writing content that is useful for their customers or clients.
It might be by reviewing their website or blog and getting a link from them to that review, or simply picking up the phone and mentioning that you're not direct competitors but their customers may benefit from your products or services.
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Offer an exchange. SEO does your site in return for some leads? Or possibly exchange SEO for web design work.
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Isn't Panda aimed at sites more than links?
I wouldn't advocate link buying either; but if you're clever and make the links look as natural as possible who's going to know? There is no way that G could detect a truly private and clever link buy.
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It does beg the question, "If you can find out the person is selling links (in order for you to buy them), why can't google figure it out, too?".
Of course, I'm sure there are people who know people etc. - and there may be a friend of a friend - but if there isn't, how do you find the link sellers?
Steve
PS I was recently watching a presentation on link spam detection and Google have some scary smart ways of spotting sites that look like link sellers.
It looks like they're letting it go for now. But at some point, they could flick the switch...
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You have to be kidding most good SEO's have a waitng list till christmas not sure which year.:|
Earl
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I'd also be interested in this
And as to the rest of your post, pretty much yeah. My motto is "If its a bit dodgy Google will find out eventually" also, shady SEO is not sustainable or a long term strategy.
~"You can't build a house on shoddy foundations"
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IF I were to buy a link personally I'd stay away from any site that was advertising any form of Sponsorship or Advertising. I'd be looking for sites that looked as natural as possible with no indication of links being available then try and get one there. It takes work but it's got the be the safest way.
I'd also be interested in this if it's available. Perhaps they'll find the ones I saw the other day for Interflora and Wickes too then!
Edit: I would to just clarify I'm not into buying links as a way to top rankings, but above a certain level is it possible to contend without them?
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Two relevant links from SEO moz on buying links
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/8-ways-to-buy-links-without-buying-links
and
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/whiteboard-friday-we-bought-links-and-it-worked
Second is worth a watch, I do enjoy their whiteboard Fridays
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/8-ways-to-buy-links-without-buying-links
and
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/whiteboard-friday-we-bought-links-and-it-worked
Second is worth a watch, I do enjoy their whiteboard Fridays
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Unfortunately, it's in a very private membership area.
I looked at Interflora's backlinks a few months ago.
It was around the time of the thread about how the courageous and honourable flower company were suing the disgraceful and dastardly M&S for daring to bid on the keyword "interflora".
What did I find in their backlinks?
I can't possibly say... but if I were to say, the words "invisible link text" might come up in the conversation.
Steve
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That's fair enough - and thanks for the snippet that leaves me wanting to know more than anything else ever in the world now!
I looked at Interflora's backlinks a few months ago.
It was around the time of the thread about how the courageous and honourable flower company were suing the disgraceful and dastardly M&S for daring to bid on the keyword "interflora".
What did I find in their backlinks?
I can't possibly say... but if I were to say, the words "invisible link text" might come up in the conversation.
Steve
I just can't believe massive sites like that would risk the G wrath so openly. On a side note - what happens to the sites that sell them links? One assumes they get equally as battered as the buyer?
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Same problem if you pay... but if you find an SEO with a need and you can supply that need, I'm sure they'd find a slotYou have to be kidding most good SEO's have a waitng list till christmas not sure which year.:|
Earl
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M
MASSEY
They arent doing anything openly.... They don't choose who and how other sites link to them.
I imagine it will be pretty easy to tweak an algorithm to pick up blatant link schemes. They will probably devalue all links from sites that contain content that is semantic to links and building links.
But they wont be able to stop some one paying me £100 for a link from one of my sites to theirs. How will they ever know i sold a backlink. They won't....... ever..... ever.... know.....
Ever.
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Agree with that one massey. people seem to think there is a google police force checking sites for paid links and then cross referencing paypal and credit card statements
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Agree with that one massey. people seem to think there is a google police force checking sites for paid links and then cross referencing paypal and credit card statements
I don't think that at all. Why would they need to do that when they have ways of spotting dodgy linking?
Steve
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I am currently using Andy at Weymouth Web Design,they have been superb,if you need more information or contact details please ask.
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Going back top the OPs question.
What are you hoping to achieve? If it's to rank well for your chosen keywords might it not be better to see if they are any good. Suppose you do rank well for 'website design'. Is it going to bring in any new clients or are you just going to get a load of untargeted traffic?
Why not do a bit of marketing, pay for some advertising and see what happens. £50 on some PPC may reveal all a poor selection of keywords or a non-converting website. You can adjust and refocus and once the site is working effectivly to bring in lots of business then focus on your off-site SEO activities. But you might find the ROI is better using advertising and not even need to consider link building...
What are you hoping to achieve? If it's to rank well for your chosen keywords might it not be better to see if they are any good. Suppose you do rank well for 'website design'. Is it going to bring in any new clients or are you just going to get a load of untargeted traffic?
Why not do a bit of marketing, pay for some advertising and see what happens. £50 on some PPC may reveal all a poor selection of keywords or a non-converting website. You can adjust and refocus and once the site is working effectivly to bring in lots of business then focus on your off-site SEO activities. But you might find the ROI is better using advertising and not even need to consider link building...
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Hi, first of all define your purposes
Than read a little bit more about SEO and check if you will be able to do it yourself, if not look for a professional. I would not recommend buying links, because in most cases you`ll get low-quality links, which will not work the way you want.
Regards
buying seo or purchasing links is like just about anything - you pay a few pounds and you get low quality, you pay more you get a better service. Like most things in life you pay for quality
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