12 replies to this topic

[searching]

I have been going through some different articles about link building. Besides buying links, seos tend to advise with posting on press release sites, ezine sites, directories and the like. This seems to work with many search engines, but when it comes to Google, these techniques don't seem to work. When I look at two of my websites which I did these types of things for, I see that the links come up only in a regular Google search. However, when I use a "link popularity checker", Google only recognizes certain links; ezines, press release sites and directories don't seem to be mentioned.

What should we do to get recognized on Google, as most hits do come from Google?

[Ahmed]

If I understand correctly you or the link checker is using the "link: domain.com" search. Google doesn't show all the links that it recognizes when you use that so there's nothing you can do as far as I know. I wouldn't personally look at how many back links you have - there are better measures of success. Look at how many visitors you're getting from google and how many are converting. If your ROI is high who cares about what google shows as links!

If indeed after many many months or even a year or so you're not getting much traffic from google you might want to revisit your campaign and see whats wrong. But I would just keep at it - get quality links and produce compelling content

[searching]

Thanks Ahmed,

I've been using the link popularity check at Submit Express (I think its the same system as what you've mentioned - site: linkdomain). So what you're saying is that these links that the Submit Express link popularity checker are showing are not the only links that Google is recognizing. In other words, if the Submit Express checker says that Yahoo is recognizing 900 links and Google only 7, in actuality, Google might be recognizing a lot more than those 7 listed. Am I understanding you correctly?

At any rate, what are some strategies we can use to concentrate on Google recognized links? Frankly speaking, I don't care much about the other search engines.

[Ahmed]

site:www.domain.com shows you "Indexed pages in your site"
link:www.domain.com shows you "Pages that link to your site's front page"

I took the above from Google's webmaster tools so I assume its correct. The "link:www.domain.com" from my personal experience doesn't show all the links that are pointing to you (sometimes a very very low amount) and to be honest I wouldn't worry about it. Going around and trying franticly to get links wont get you anywhere to be honest Take a deep breath and think about your website first - what are your goals for the website, who are your audience etc. Then decide what content to build to satisfy your audience and compel others to link to you. There are tons of ways to get links that are legitimate and trust me its gets much easier if you have a great website. Every marketing initiative will help you directly or indirectly build links so get creative i guess.

[MaryKrysia]

Google knows all the links you have. Google chooses not to report or display all of the links. The more value the links have, the more likely Google is to report those links.

[Randy]

seos tend to advise with posting on press release sites, ezine sites, directories and the like.

Only the dumb SEOs would recommend you start and stop with that list. Of course there are plenty of those out there.

The likelihood of one of those places actually giving you a high value, high quality link is about the same chance a snowball has of rolling its way around Hades for a couple of months, during summertime. In other words, it ain't gonna happen.

About the most those will do is get the spidering process started. But if you want to compete in any sector that's even remotely competitive you're going to need to hunt out and obtain some higher value backlinks from higher quality sites. Preferrably sites where your target audience is already hanging out so that you get the dual benefit of targeted traffic and link popularity.

[searching]

About the most those will do is get the spidering process started. But if you want to compete in any sector that's even remotely competitive you're going to need to hunt out and obtain some higher value backlinks from higher quality sites. Preferrably sites where your target audience is already hanging out so that you get the dual benefit of targeted traffic and link popularity.

I guess that your suggestion would limit us to (a) natural links back to the site through good content, and (b ) reciprocal links with high ranking, relevant sites. Anything else you might suggest?

[Randy]

Those are good starts.

But the most important linking arrangements to target are with those sites that are already attracting your target audience. Seriously. It can make a huge difference in both your short- and long-term sales numbers.

Of course this means you first need to know what types of people make up your target audience. But that's a necessary step anyway.

[searching]

Randy,

I need honest advice. Here is a list of things that I have read in different articles regarding link gathering strategies. Please let me know which ones you think I should do and which ones you think I should not waste my time with, as my free time is quite limited:

1.) ezines

2.) information sites

3.) directories

4.) media sites (press release-distribution services)

5.) article banks

6.) posting on forums (webmaster forums were suggested)

Thanks

[Jill]

What should we do to get recognized on Google, as most hits do come from Google?

You need to stop and step back.

Not one of these:

1.) ezines

2.) information sites

3.) directories

4.) media sites (press release-distribution services)

5.) article banks

6.) posting on forums (webmaster forums were suggested)

Will be useful to you unless you have a site worth linking to.

What's awesome about your site? Why is it better than the 10 million others in your space?

I you don't have the answer, you need to go back to the drawing board and think long and hard about how you can make yours the best out of those 10 million. It's certainly not going to be easy, so I hope you have a lot of time on your hands!

[searching]

Thanks Jill,

I will try to see what I can do to make my site better than the millions of others.

Are you sure I shouldn't bother doing any of these things listed in these articles I'm reading?

[Randy]

As I stated above, all of those things you've been reading are at best going to get the ball rolling. That's it, that's all.

They're not going to get your site ranking well in any marketing space that is remotely competitive. It's not so much that they're bad places to get some links. It's just that you need to go well beyond those types of places if you want to really compete.

[torka]

Are you sure I shouldn't bother doing any of these things listed in these articles I'm reading?

Do them all.

As Randy says, though, just don't stop there. Those tactics aren't the end of what you need to do, but the beginning.

--Torka