22 replies to this topic

[dhirubhai]

... I'm not planning on doing that here!!

I have been posting topics in various fourms with a link to our site in it. I have only posted a link where it's been relevant ie website review forums etc.

Do the search engines count these in the rankings?

I have searched the forums on this but I can't seem to get the search function to return anything even slightly related to my keywords!!

[Randy]

They may or may not be seen. And may or may not count Jon.

I certainly wouldn't count on forum links as being some sort of strategy for link building. It's been going on for years and you can safely assume the engines are well aware of the potential pitfalls.

Setting the whole SEO concept of links in forums aside for a moment, it can however be a very effective Marketing tool if you go about it right. And at the end of the day that's what really matters. I mean who really cares if some link gets a PR/Link Pop advantage if it brings you 2 or 20 or 200 new customers who wouldn't have known about you except for your post?

Edited by Randy, 07 March 2007 - 09:26 AM.
dammed typos!

[OldWelshGuy]

Yep, what randy said. Different signatures in different forums as well. Forums are for fun, teaching and learning IMO

[Jill]

Do the search engines count these in the rankings?

Almost all links count if the search engine can see them. However, most forum links would not be all that valuable as the pages they are on wouldn't be all that valuable. PageRank and link popularity are based on the importance/popularity of the page that the link is on and the average forum page is not going to be deemed very important as it will be buried within the website within a few weeks or a month.

[dhirubhai]

Thanks for the info, I'll concentrate mainly on directories for now, then. I will be starting a more active link-building campaign in the near future. There's just not enough hours in the day sometimes!!

[Jill]

I wouldn't expect much from the directory listings either.

[Michael Martinez]

Jon you should seek links from sites that are hard to get links from. Those usually work the best and you don't need to build up huge quantities of links.

[dhirubhai]

Looks like somebodies going to have to put some effort into this link building shananigans.

Basically, if I've got this right, links in forums count for next to nothing and directory submission is not the key to top spot?

Is there any other avenue for "easy" link building? Anything less than picking up the phone or sending begging letters? Maybe if I get a whole bunch of MySpace users to link to us or something?

[linux_lover]

I doubt the My Space thing would do much either if anything.

There is no quick fix solution to link building (that I know of).

I usually email/phone people who would be good partners... ie. people would actually click on the link because our site has something they want rather than just added links because its a link.

Would you take out an advert in a magazine that has nothing to do with what you are selling?

[Digimon]

Looks like somebodies going to have to put some effort into this link building shananigans.

Basically, if I've got this right, links in forums count for next to nothing and directory submission is not the key to top spot?

Is there any other avenue for "easy" link building? Anything less than picking up the phone or sending begging letters? Maybe if I get a whole bunch of MySpace users to link to us or something?

I have to disagree with Jill. If well done, Directory submission does help to get good links. You only need to find the right directories to submit to and make sure that the category is not buried in the site structure. I personally use a list of around 45 directories. 35 of those are free and 10 are paid ones. For brand new domains is an excellent way to start building reputation. How couldn't be helpful having your site listed in a page that will likely have one of you main keywords in the title and frequently repeated in the body, sharing listing with a few other quality sites that are in the same topic area? Obvioiusly submitting to Link Farms or low quality directories is a waste of time but spend a couple of days researching and you will find quite a few that are interesting. It certainly cannot be considered the only support to your link building campaign but it definitely helps...

[Randy]

For brand new domains is an excellent way to start building reputation.

I wouldn't disagree with the above sentiment Digimon. I rather doubt Jill would either.

But when push comes to shove it's going to take more than just getting a bunch of directory links for sites to rank well these days. Which is something I'd be willing to bet you'd agree with also.

[susanward]

Jill, is it okay for Digimon to make public the 45 directories (especially the 35 free ones!) to us on this forum or a link to that information.

Thanks,
susie

[torka]

Jill, is it okay for Digimon to make public the 45 directories (especially the 35 free ones!) to us on this forum or a link to that information.

We actually already have a significant directories thread pinned at the top of our directory submission discussion forum. Perhaps you will find some useful information there.

HTH!

--Torka

[dhirubhai]

I've got a copy of ARELIS, so I shall start there, unless DIgimon wants to share his list!!

Will look through that forum post Jill. Ta.

All the same, though, I have added probably 6 or 7 forum and directory links this week and I have noticed a surge of traffic. Although I would imagine that it's a blip, as the forum posts will get buried. None of the traffic was from the directories. Apart from 1, from Cool Homepages, just before we were rejected!!