Is a Linking Campaign the Only Trend?

An appropriate linking strategy can improve the page rank for Google and the other search engines. But how can a search engine optimizer's inbound links be spidered and indexed by Google and the other search engines?

The important part in a successful linking strategy is that pages linked to highly ranked sites are a higher value than those with fewer links. Links from serious and higher ranked sites are increasing the value of their destination, improving its position, giving a higher placement in the results list.

Similar results can be obtained using any of the search engines with the same keywords or phrases. To improve the search engine position, the most often recommended solution is to make a linking campaign.

An inbound links method is a proven solution in the high ranking attempt of almost every search engine optimizer. Some inbound links may come from the sites that had added interesting articles about the main site's topics. If the keywords are used with a moderate frequency, keeping the article’s content pleasant, attractive, and interesting; this kind of linking strategy can bring spectacular results.

But what about the reciprocal links? Are they really useful for this strategy? If a long list of reciprocal links exists, does the website have spectacular improved position on the results pages? After a few important experiments, it looks like the result is not as spectacular as the premises are.

Only a small part of the reciprocal links is considered valid by Google and the other search engines. The part applied to the page rank is not as important as the number of reciprocal links is, so this technique must be applied with measure and prudence.

Those thoughts are the results of my personal experience in a site's ranking. I used all the SEO possibilities I knew, but using inbound links was the most powerful tool to improve my web site ranking.

Every link added is ranking the site higher than linking every page individually. If the link also contains valuable keywords for the website content, the results are more promising. A linking strategy well done for each site containing single articles listed on small sites is bringing good results.

The page rank can also be improved by designing a sitemap. It is wise to have a page that links to all others to get every page spidered and indexed. It is not difficult to create a map page and link it from the site’s home page. The results will be appreciable.

To begin linking your sites with other sites, you can start by joining a linking directory. This will help increase your page rank, but you must make sure people are linking back to you. Don't just add a bunch of links to your page and think you're done. You have to have your link reciprocated on the other person's site. To learn more about joining a linking directory, go to:

o http://www.MyLinkMachine.com

Article writing is also a good resource to help with your PR. By joining article directories, you can insert your link in your articles as well as the Resource Box. A great resource to submit your articles is:

o http://www.MyContentBuilder.com

If you are already familiar with submitting articles and you are looking for a faster and easier way to get them into all those directories, you may want to consider an automatic submitting software. To watch a video on how to accomplish this, go to:

o http://1trac.com/dt/t/Article_Submitter_Video.php

Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Site's "Link Pop"

10. Post comments in discussion groups and on message boards. Be sure to make useful, relevant statements based on topics being discussed. Comments that only contain a link will usually be deleted or banned. If you make valuable contributions, people will want to find out what else you have to say by visiting your site.

9. Give away awards to other sites that you find particularly outstanding. Provide a graphic with the award title and a link to your webpage.

8. Email other webmasters and simply ask for a link. Let them know why your website will benefit their readers, and provide a pre-coded html link for them to cut and paste to their page.

7. Never underestimate the power of blogs. Talk to bloggers about links and posts about your website. The blogging community is ever-growing, and blogmasters are always looking for cool new things to post.

6. Write a site review on your webpage and send the site's webmaster a link. Who would pass up an opportunity to advertise a great testimonial?

5. If your site distributes a newsletter, start a contest for ad space. Offer to advertise a website in your publication to the sites that offer you a free link.

4. Write free articles for an article directory (search "article directory" in Yahoo! or Google for submission options). This allows people to read your work and publish it for free. Make sure to include a Bio Box that includes a link to your site. Stipulate that the article may be reprinted for free as long as the Bio Box is included. This will instantaneously provide extra links to your page when people reprint your work.

3. Write to webmasters and compliment their site. Often, they will want to include your kind statements in a testimonial section, and a link to your site will give the quote credibility.

2. Start your own reciprocal linking campaign. Write to webmasters of quality, relevant sites that you want your readers to see. Choose wisely! Tell them why your site will benefit their readers, and show them how prominently their link will be displayed on your page. Make sure to include a pre-made html link to your site that can be easily cut and pasted.

1. Submit to as many directories as you can. Webmasters agree that directory submission is the BEST way to gain targeted traffic to your site. By listing your site in a directory, web users will view your page as a reliable resource tailored specifically to their search criteria. And a great way to quickly submit your website to hundreds of Link Directories is by using the Link Directory Submitter.

Why Link Farm and FFA Submissions Are a Bad Idea

Before search engines got smart, a site's page ranking was based on keyword match-ups. When webmasters stock-piled their sites with keywords, the wrong sites were getting too much attention. Google decided to focus on a site's "popularity" instead. The number of incoming links became the focus of PR criteria. The theory behind this system was that if a lot of sites link to another site, that site would contain valuable content.

But again, webmasters got sneaky. With this trend, we began to see the evolution of "Link Farms" and "Free-for-All" (FFA) sites. These pages were essentially a gigantic collection of (often times) useless links. In most cases, the sites were not categorized or descriptive. They became a place for webmasters to dump their links in order to make their site appear more popular.

This strategy worked for some time, but soon search engines caught on. "Link Farms" and FFA sites served no purpose to web users. Since Google prides itself on catering to web users (and NOT developers), a solution had to be formed. "Link Farms" were cluttering up the web and making it more difficult for users to find valuable resources online.

Google soon began to rate the quality of the links that determined a site's "link pop." "Link Farms" and FFA sites became categorized as spam, and thus contributed no value to a site's link popularity.

Today, submitting to a "Link Farm" or FFA site can be harmful to your website's reputation. Google takes a strong stance against these kinds of link pages. At best, the "Link Farm" will drag down your ranking and make it harder for the valuable sites to work in your favor. At worst, your site will be BANNED altogether for using spam sites to attempt to generate traffic. This is a very real possibility.

"Link Farms" and FFA sites present very little value. Although it may sound tempting, users will not obtain quality or relevant links from the submission. Plus, who wants to see their link among "junk" websites for adult entertainment, dating sites, and casinos? Submitting to "Link Farms" doesn't contribute to your credibility and is just not worth the risk.

Instead, spend your time submitting to credible directories and exchanging links with other relevant sites. The process can be time-consuming, but it is the only way to generate safe, site-specific traffic.

For an easier method to the tedious directory submission process, and to Submit your website to 300+ link directories fast and easy we recommend Directory Submitter.