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SearchReturn Discussion List
"Understanding Internet Search Technology"
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Moderator: Published by:
Disa Johnson SearchReturn
http://www.searchreturn.com
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October 11, 2007 SearchReturn Issue #132
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.....IN THIS DIGEST.....
// -- SEARCHRETURN INTERVIEW -- //
"Eric Ward Answers Your Questions"
~ SearchReturn
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// -- SEARCHRETURN ERIC WARD Q&A -- //
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==> Questions
SearchReturn: Eric Ward has always had so much great insight
with his vast experience link building since forever. In a
distant last issue, we had asked readers for questions for Eric
which he has now supplied. Enjoy Eric's answers to some
interesting questions from our readers that include Bruce Clay.
Since Eric has written substantial content in response to each
question, we'll start with questions in order of appearance with
this issue and you can expect to read the remaining responses in
future issues until we move to the next topic (our second part
of the interview with Heather Lloyd-Martin).
You can keep the thread alive with adding questions to appear in
the series. These questions will be posed to the group, and we
will ensure any published question will get a response either by
Eric following the thread himself, or a member posts a response.
If all else fails, we plan to respond ourselves until the end of
the thread. Link Building is so important, don't neglect to get
your thoughts to the list, whether they take the form of a
question or a valid response to someone else's question.
Stay tuned.
Questions? mailto:digest@searchreturn.com?subject=Links
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// -- SEARCHRETURN / ERIC WARD LINK BUILDING Q&A -- //
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From: Joel Lesser
Here are some questions for Eric...
A webmaster guideline specifically mentioning link exchange has
been published over at Google:
http://www.searchreturn.com/digest/refs132.shtml
It states (in part):
"... Examples of link schemes can include: Link exchange and
reciprocal links schemes ("Link to me and I'll link to you.")
... "
How do you think this will affect those webmasters who obtain
links sometimes through relevant link exchange in low to natural
volume while maintaining editorial control? Will this guideline
affect how webmasters link with other sites? Do you think this
guideline is fair? Is Google dictating how webmasters will
obtain relevant traffic apart from search returns?
Best Regards,
Joel Lesser
Creative NetVentures, Inc. - http://cnvi.com
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ERIC'S ANSWERS
Joel: How do you think this will affect those webmasters who
obtain links sometimes through relevant link exchange in low to
natural volume while maintaining editorial control?
For me the key word in Google's explanation is "Excessive",
the above page states:
*Excessive reciprocal links or excessive link exchanging ("Link
to me and I'll link to you.")
The word 'excessive' is one of those words that can mean
different things to different people, and I think Google's use of
such a word was by design and warranted, in order to give them
the latitude to decide what is in fact excessive on a site by
site and topic by topic basis.
What would be excessive linking between sites about grasshopper
mating habits? My guess is their are only a few sites about that
topic, therefore excessive linking would be a far different
number or percentage than for sites about NFL fantasy football.
If someone has a site about grasshopper mating habits and that
site has a links page with 3,678 reciprocal links, then something
is really askew :)
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Joel: Is this Google webmaster guideline over-reaching?
In my opinion no, it is not far reaching enough.
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Joel: Will this guideline affect how webmasters link with other
sites?
I certainly hope so. The overwhelming number of web sites I look
at with links pages are operating those links pages so as to try
and improve rank, rather than to try to improve user experience
on the site. That's a mistake.
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Joel: Do you think this guideline is fair?
Yes.
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Joel: Is Google dictating how webmasters will obtain relevant
traffic apart from search returns?
The word relevant is just as crucial as the word excessive, and
both have shades of gray. I agree it sounds a bit overbearing,
but if you parse the guidelines, there is plenty of wiggle room
for both you as a webmaster and Google as a provider of accurate
search results.
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