For anyone that doesn’t know, link building is the process of creating links that point to your website (also known as inbound links).
To run any successful search engine optimisation campaign, you will need to implement a strong link building strategy. It is thought that link building constitutes around 43% off the overall ranking factors, so is a vital role in achieving first page positions.
Many link builders will obtain external links by commenting on blogs, submitting details to hundreds of directories, purchasing links or are involved in link exchange programs.
However, these kinds of link building tactics are having less effective (if even any) on search engine rankings these days, due to how easy they are to come by.
Now let’s move onto some of the techniques that offer greater rewards.
Viral content
Viral content in basic terms is having some unique content that is worth sharing and talking about. I feel the important part here is to write content for people and not the search engines.
Now that social networking has become so important and allows information to be shared easily, writing unique content will go along way.
As your content is shared and talked about, you will gain many links to the original source (your website), and you will not only have the potential to attract hundreds of new visitors, but this will also have a positive effect on your rankings.
Finding people who will want to share your content can be much simpler if you know how to search quickly through the social networks. E.g. For Twitter [site:twitter.com -inurl:statuses -inurl:status “web design”]
One way links
Persuading other websites to link to your own is an art on its own and can be tough. Finding potential websites that may link to you has become a lot easier though, with certain programmes and the different search techniques available.
Generally, it is much more effective to have 10 links from well known authority websites than to have 100 links from small unrelated websites.
Using websites such as yahoo explorer (https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com), you can find most of the websites that link to your competitors.
Another way to find competitor links is to use this simple search phrase: linkdomain:competitor1.com; linkdomain:competitor2.com; -linkdomain:mysite.com
This will give you websites that are linking to 2 of your competitors but not your site.
When asking for links, I find its best if you already know a name – A simple search in Google will bring up contact details – site:[companywebsite.com] + [name] + email.
External links should have keywords that you want to rank for in the anchor text. However, you should use different variations of the same keyword and you should not just focus on one.
Although I mentioned above about directory submissions having little effect, I always find it effective to have a mix of sources with incoming links. I would suggest submitting your website to numerous related directories (no need for hundreds!).
All you have to do to find related directories, is to type the following into Google:
{keyword} + “add a site” or {keyword} + “submit url”.
And Finally…
The last thing I have to say is to build up the links gradually and naturally. I do not recommend using software that submits your website to thousands of directories or search engines, or again manually obtaining hundreds of links in a day.
Link building is such a timely issue. I am a graphic designer who is willing to admit that print media is a pastime. We designers need to start building up our portfolios with interactive and multimedia artwork. Its time to keep that keen eye in design and understand the way the Internet functions. These two talents will make designers very valuable in any company.
Good point and I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for the knowledge.
I try to link build everyday for about an hour or two. It’s timely, but I think it really works. Thanks for the article man.
Where exactly does this figure come from? By whom is it thought? SEMs? Google employees? Monkeys?
I can’t even tell what the figure means. Is it saying that inbound links (i.e. page rank) constitute 43% of ranking factors (with 57%, presumably, being on-site factors)? Or is it saying that a good link-building campaign can be expected to account for 43% of your final page rank (with the other 57% being “organic” links that you didn’t “build” yourself)?
Sorry to whinge, but I hate bad statistics. If you’re going to quote statistics, then back them up with a source, and make it clear what they actually mean. Don’t just use them for impressive hand-waving.
Otherwise not a bad article, if rather thin.
74% of readers agreed with this comment.
The stats were taken from SEOmoz, when they surveyed over 70 SEOs (The figures are also backed up from other sources).
Rough Stats:
24% domain authoirty and trust
43% Link building
16% on site optimisation
17% Other data (such as traffic and CTR, hosting and more)
I made a quick search on SEOmoz, but I didn’t find it.
If you have a particular survey in mind, then why don’t you provide the link? It’s not that hard to list your sources.
The internet makes lazy writers of us all; but I expect better from an article on TWS. I suppose I should remember that the purpose of most articles is to justify the back-link, and nothing more.
@MikeHopley
Have a look into their advanced ranking factors 2009 I think, it’s all out there, but it’s only statistics. They’re talking about domain authority etc, apart from links, but you can’t get authority without links.
Anyway, very short article, it’s good that you mentioned about a varied incoming link text, but you didn’t say why it should be like that.
You also said “when asking for links”, not many webmasters will link to your website if it’s not an authority site or if it doesn’t offer any quality, really interesting content. Most webmasters are used to reciprocal link exchanges and if you don’t reciprocate they’ll get mad, even if you asked for one way link as they’ll feel cheated.
Good point with the variety of link sources, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”, that’s very true for SEO.
The article is pertinent,and link building is a timely issue.But I adhere to every day.
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Domain trust and authority is the biggest indicator of SEO success (have about 24% weightage in Ranking factors) which is given by the quality incoming links. Links flow towards your website have been considered as indication of people’s trust on website. Therefore, Google trusts that site too.