very basic SEO (backlinks) question

[CharlotteNiven]

This might come across as a silly question if the answer is obvious to you, but I'm a SEO newbie...

Are Pinterest pins backlinks?

Thanks in advance.

 

[-Neon-]

Yes, but be aware they include the rel="nofollow" attribute (which is a good thing imo).
No link value will be passed directly from Pinterest to your site.
Pinterest is pretty good for referral traffic, if you know how to use it.

 

[CharlotteNiven]

Thanks. Um, I thought the whole idea of backlinks is that they don't use the rel="nofollow" attribute, and they are followed by seach engines.

Would somebody be kind enough to direct me to a good definition of a backlink, so that I can get a grip on what I'm talking about? I'm feeling pretty confused right know.

But thanks, knowing about the nofollow thing is very useful, and it does answer my question.

 

[-Neon-]

A backlink is just an inbound link (A link on another site, pointing to your site for example), as opposed to an outbound link (a link on your website, pointing to another website).

rel="nofollow" can be appended to either type.

All other things being equal, a nofollow link that gets clicked can often be worth a lot more than a non-nofollow link that never gets clicked.

 

[lynxus]

A backlink is just an inbound link (A link on another site, pointing to your site for example), as opposed to an outbound link (a link on your website, pointing to another website).

rel="nofollow" can be appended to either type.

All other things being equal, a nofollow link that gets clicked can often be worth a lot more than a non-nofollow link that never gets clicked.

Agreed, Not just this, but nofollow doesn't always mean zero juice. No follows form useless sites can be just as bad.

But yeah,
Id rather have 100 links across the internet that give me 5 clicks a day each than 10000 links and zero clicks.

 

[CharlotteNiven]

Oh, OK. Thanks.

And I can definitely see your points about about the value of all inbound links, even if they are nofollow.

 

[Ste Hughes]

Hi Charlotte,

A backlink can be defined by the code it is written with. A "follow" link will look something like this in the code:

<a href="http://www.this-is-the-url.com">This is the achor text</a>

Now as for a pin, yes! they are links.

Now this is where it gets a little difficult, because not all links are created equal.

Social links, blog comments and other links that are easy to aquire mean very little to google.

The best links you can hope for are in content on high authority site. 1 link from a high authority blog will be worth more than 50 pins. Maybe even more...

They are still links though and they don't hurt to have.

 

[CharlotteNiven]

Thanks, that makes sense. So I guess my original question would have been better phrased as "Are Pinterest pins nofollow inbound links?", the anwer to that being, yes they are (and therefore, it seems to me, not that useful to have from a pure SEO point of view, even if they may well have plenty of other uses. But I'm still learning.)

Thanks again.

 

[StevePoster]

Many people are just focusing only on do follow links that will surely benefits the website but it will look manipulating obviously your are trying to rank something. No follow links still have value and considered by search engine for other purposes.

 

[CharlotteNiven]

Ah, thanks, that's interesting, can you tell me more about that, or direct me towards resources that do? I'd like to find out more.

 

[Johnny.S]

Excellent explanation from Neon (and others) about back links and difference between follow vs. no follow links.

Charlotte, if you are looking for a basic overview of SEO you might find the "Moz SEO Beginners Guide" helpful. Just type it into Google to find it.

 

[Ste Hughes]

Ah, thanks, that's interesting, can you tell me more about that, or direct me towards resources that do? I'd like to find out more.

It's based on opinion. I've ranked sites with no "no-follow" links, I've also ranked sites where no follow represents 40% of my link profile.

These are facts though:

• bing considers no follow links as links. They do not differentiate between the two.
• Google will spider and crawl nofollow links
• Humans do not care if they are follow or not, they still click. And after all its humans who buy from you

 

[MikePNV]

HI

Make sure that you use only quality backlinks or else you will have problems with google

 

[bhavinsw]

I think no need to put rel=nofollow tag as all the outward link from Pinterest will be automatically no-follow only.

 

[WebMeUp]

Ah, thanks, that's interesting, can you tell me more about that, or direct me towards resources that do? I'd like to find out more.

Completely agree with Ste Hughes.

For more info, check this guide to using nofollow tags: http://searchengineland.com/infographic-nofollow-tag-172157 and this post http://moz.com/blog/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-nofollow.

 

[DrBradley]

Pinterest links are backlinks. Every website should have a good mix of dofoloow and no follow links to appear natural to Google. Get as many Pinterest links as you can!

 

[expmrb]

Though no-follow links does not pass link juice but still you should try to get them, in the ratio 2:1 as of no-follow to do-follow. The reason for this is because of you get too many links which are do-follow then you might get red flagged by Google.

 

[DrBradley]

True enough, but a newbie shouldn't get too hung up about that ratio. After all, SEO can be seen as a very transient enterprise these days with the rise of "negative SEO". A competitor can just blast 100,000 bolg comments and forum profile links at your site from adult and gambling PR 0 blogs and your site will be penalised to the back pages of the Google rankings for eternity. Going for a spread of SEO sites can be a better strategy.

 

[Ste Hughes]

Though no-follow links does not pass link juice but still you should try to get them, in the ratio 2:1 as of no-follow to do-follow. The reason for this is because of you get too many links which are do-follow then you might get red flagged by Google.

Bullsh*t.

You know whats not natural? boosting no follow links to work to a magic ratio that we are just plucking from the air. Do you not think google monitor these links, if suddenly the OP adds 300 no follow links from no where google will know and she will be punished.

There is NO evidence to suggest a good ratio of no follow and follow helps ranking.

Spend 1 hour on google and study the websites that rank well on many search terms, there is absolutely no correlation between ratio and ranking.

I'm not singling you out, I'm talking generally to everyone who is posting here.

I've ranked sites with 0 no follow links for very competitive terms. I've also done the same with sites where 40-50% of the links were no follow social shares.

OP, build your links. If you are getting these links naturally you having nothing to worry about.

 

[leadprop]

Though no-follow links does not pass link juice but still you should try to get them, in the ratio 2:1 as of no-follow to do-follow. The reason for this is because of you get too many links which are do-follow then you might get red flagged by Google.

Most silly post I've seen today!

 

[JohneeMac]

A site will naturally have no follow links, so having a few is fine. Even building a few no follows is not bad practice. As for a ratio.... Well no.

I read not so long ago they (no follow) do have some use in rankings. Can't remember where that was though.

Natural is how you do it... Although struggling a bit with my own rankings at the moment.

 

[aimaxorg]

Wh

This might come across as a silly question if the answer is obvious to you, but I'm a SEO newbie...

Are Pinterest pins backlinks?

Thanks in advance.

while creating profile u will get backlink but by pins you wont. pins get you traffic thats all...