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==> TOPIC: Sitemaps Team Comments On Links
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #067
New Discussion

From: SearchReturn <digest@searchreturn.com>

http://sitemaps.blogspot.com/2006/05/live-in-our-hometown.html

Essentials: The Google Sitemaps team posted to their blog in response to a question at SearchEngineWatch Seattle. Interestingly, they note that links from bad neighborhoods do not harm a site's rankings, only links to bad neighborhoods. It has long been theorized that links from bad neighborhoods do cause ranking problems and this goes against conventional thinking.

Link networks often populate quality content sites with paid text links as part of their program. If at all possible, Google obviously wouldn't want to remove quality content from their search engine. One solution is to make outbound links from quality sites that sell links worth nothing towards building rankings for destination sites.

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/text-links-and-pagerank

We've heard this from Matt Cutts before: "Link-selling sites can lose their ability to give reputation (e.g. PageRank and anchortext)." If a link from such a site loses it's ability to transfer PageRank, it can make sense that it doesn't harm a site's PageRank either. But that is not a foregone conclusion. The information comes from the Sitemaps team, and not Matt Cutts' anti-spam force.

In the above entry by Matt, he recommends the use of the "nofollow" link attribute to safely purchase links purely for traffic purposes. This infers links from bad neighborhoods indeed can harm a site's rankings in Google. Perhaps Matt implies this to deter link buying, but the advice is good insofar as links from bad neighborhoods also raises the profile of sites that eventually would come under scrutiny by Google. It can also be assumed that text links from bad neighborhoods can harm a site's rankings in other major search engines than Google.

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #005
"So, what motivates you to link to another site?"

From: Mike Banks Valentine <search@website101.com>

First let me say welcome back to discussion Detlev! I-Search was always my favorite and I missed the great discussion topics. I've missed this type of search engine forum and I wish you continuing success with it!

On to the topic that got my attention:

I get a steady stream of link requests for three of my own sites and a half dozen others that I manage for clients. For about the last year, I've had a standard template reply that I send to all link panhandlers. Basically, I require that the link requester submit articles on the topic they are targeting in order to be given a link from the site they are targeting.

If the topic exists on the site they [are] link-begging for, I will consider an article for inclusion on my own - or for client managed sites. It must be good and it must stand on it's own merits. This creates a new page on our site and means it must gain it's *own* PageRank over time. Since it usually goes in a subdirectory of that particular topic which already ranks well, it usually doesn't take long to rank well itself.

Needless to say, 99% of the link panhandlers don't reply or submit articles. Those that do usually get published and linked. Most of them rank pretty well in a short time, therefore giving the submitter pretty good PR links, and increasing the content and relevancy at my site (or clients) and increasing the value of the links to the article submitters.

This is my strategy to get links for myself and for clients as well. Submit my articles (and sometimes ghost written ones for clients) to those sites we want links from. Many do publish them and if they won't include the article, they very often *do* include the link from their links directory anyway. Win/Win. I've been a long-time advocate for article marketing and use it extensively to rank well for myself and others. Offer something of value in exchange for links instead of panhandling for them - it works wonders.

The thing I don't understand [are] sites that are full of articles and *won't* accept one from a particular client or from me because we are perceived as competitors. That is shortsighted and paranoid. The clear reason is that an article serves as a perfect sales letter of sorts.

They are horrified that anyone who reads it on *their* site will actually click through to my site from the reesource box and hire me instead. What often happens instead is that people read the article and look up at the existing site navigation, then click through to the sales page and hire *them*. I've actually just done a sales job for the competitor by having my article on their site.

Well I'm so busy right now, I say more power to them.

Article marketing works to increase visibility and PageRank for *both* of us, so many are willing to host the articles and link to me (or clients) from those articles. They are the smart ones. You will never be found in a link directory. Humans don't look at them and search engines are devaluing them anyway.

Do I need to tell you that this is on my blog and will be an article soon?

Mike Banks Valentine
http://RealitySEO.com

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #004
"So, what motivates you to link to another site?"

From: Justilien G <justilien@webuildpages.com>

For a commerical site I operate I rarely even open link exchange e-mails (which is sad since I manage the Link Building department at work). Problem with most e-mails are 99% are template driven and no human thought behind the e-mail. The other .5% are of no use to my visitors.

I have no issue linking out. In fact, I probably link out more than I have inbound links (and yes I rank very well). I tend to create city specific pages for my users with useful resource such as transportation, newspapers, parks, etc. If a site is useful to my users I will link out to them from a page they will get traffic from.

Thanks,
Justilien
http://www.Justilien.com

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #004
"So, what motivates you to link to another site?"

From: Esoos Bobnar <esoos@planetocean.com>

Quality. The page being linked to usually needs to say something great or be something great.

One my own sites I can be pretty free with the links, but when someone is paying you to work on their site, you really have a duty not to mess up their customer's experience by linking to junk.

Esoos Bobnar
http://www.searchenginenews.com

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #004
"I think lots of links flow out of people hanging out and chatting at conferences."

From: Jennifer Laycock <jennifer@searchengineguide.com>

I think Aaron hits a key point here...for me, linking is about useful content, but finding that content can be tough. I sort through dozens of emails a day from companies wanting links, and as with most other people, 99% of them get junked. However, I also read dozens of emails a day from people that I've met at conference or events, or that have read an article I've written, or found me in a forum. Many of those have questions, or comments and simply start a discussion.

Somewhere down the line, once some level of personal relationship has been built, they may mention something that's link worthy. In those situations, they almost always get the link. To me, link building is an extension of business networking and relationship building. There's no reason that you can't send an email or two to have a discussion before you suggest/request a link. It takes a bit more work, but it helps people weed out the good content/serious requests from the spam/link trading requests.

-Jennifer Laycock
Search Engine Guide

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #003
"So, what motivates you to link to another site?"

From: Aaron Wall <seobook@gmail.com>

As a blogger, sometimes linking through to another site means they may link back or you may get links from a wide variety of other sites.

Most sites in our industry are 6 page salesletter sites though, and those are hard to link to unless you know and like the person on the other end of the link. I think lots of links flow out of people hanging out and chatting at conferences.

Aaron Wall

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #003
"So, what motivates you to link to another site?"

From: Lee Odden <lee@toprankresults.com>

I guess this might be different than a regular web site, but I get several PR firm pitches a day on online/search/interactive products and services on Online Marketing Blog and I link to whatever makes sense and what I have time for. I will absolutely link to a resource based on my perception of it's usefulness. This has everything to do with the reader and not so much to do with SEO though.

Otherwise, I link out to authority sites as part of a strategy and ignore 99% of unsolicited link requests. Once in a while, someone sends a useful resource link request and I have linked out, but that's an exception and not the norm. Successful link requests are very much like a successful pitch from a PR person. Relevant, concise, thought out and personalized is all good. For one way IBL, content syndication with releases and articles plus social book marking are a fun alternative.

Lee Odden

TopRank Online Marketing
http://www.toprankresults.com
Online Marketing Blog
http://toprank.blogspot.com

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #003
"So, what motivates you to link to another site?"

From: Chris Nielsen <christian@nielsentech.com>

These days, mostly money. Or if I want to be nice to someone, who maybe has a new site and needs some exposure. And ok, if I really think the site is a good resource for my visitors I will also link to it.

But that's it and I don't have "links" pages and don't practice "link building" for clients, other than submitting their site to about 180 places. I guess that could be seen as link building, but the point is not so much to get links to increase PR and maybe get traffic, but get traffic directly from the sites that link to you.

I'm glad you also appreciate content, because it's really all I focus on for the most part. It works, and it's something you have complete control over. I prefer [not to depend] on others for links, or the changing effects of having those links.

Thank you,
Chris Nielsen
www.Sknil-Links.com

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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==> TOPIC: LINK BUILDING
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #002
New Discussion

From: Debra Mastaler <debra@alliance-link.com>

What's your link motivation?

It's getting hard to build links these days without paying for them, links carry value and people want to be compensated for placing them on their sites. And while I believe content is king and will motivate some to link, I find it has to be really *great* content to inspire a one-way link.

So, what motivates you to link to another site?

Are you motivated by financial gain or reputation enhancement? Do you only link with friends or will you validate a good resource solely because you're impressed?

Debra Mastaler
Alliance-Link

Comment? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links

 

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