Link Myths
As competition among websites increase, close attention is being paid to
rankings in major search engines. Since a high ranking in a keyword can "make or
break" a business, webmasters are looking to find any method to increase their
ranking.
By examining the algorithms of Google and other search engines, it is easy to
see that a high value is being placed on the number of links (and quality)
pointing to a website. As a result, most webmasters have realized the importance
of finding partners to link to their Internet business.
Although link exchanges are vital to any marketing plan, there are some myths
that are perpetuated by many so-called "experts". To run a smart link exchange
campaign, it is important to understand these myths and make sure that you do
not fall for them.
Myth 1 - Link to every site
When I first started my link exchange campaign, I would link to every site
possible. As a result, my rankings suffered. As I learned more, I discovered
that I could improve my listings by linking to sites that complemented my own.
In order run a smart link exchange program, it is important to focus on linking
to sites that are closely related to your product or service without being a
direct competitor.
For instance, my original site sells Ethnic Jewelry. So, I look for link
partners among other jewelry stores that do not sell the same type of jewelry
that is listed in my store.
Myth 2 - All people will add my site if I add theirs first
To receive a link from an Internet business, most people will usually add the
site's link first. Unfortunately, not every potential partner will add your link
even if you have already added theirs. Sometimes a website is just not
interested in linking with your site. The problem is many webmasters will not
let you know that they are not going to link to your site. So, you might be
linking to a website that is not returning the favor.
A great way to ensure that you are only linking to reciprocal sites is to put
each link into a "temporary position" until you receive validation that the site
is listing your business.
Myth 3 - The name of my website should be in the title of the link
Another mistake I made when I first started out, was to have the name of my
website in the links that were pointing to my business. Eventually I learned
that many search engines, especially Google, pay attention to the title of the
link pointing towards your site.
So, if you are looking for top placement for
specific keywords, then they should be used in the title of the link instead of
your website name.
Taking the Ethnic Jewelry example from above, your link title would look like
this:
Ethnic Jewelry Store: Here we sell evil eye jewelry and Turkish jewelry.
Myth 4 - Only link to sites with a high Google Page Rank
In my opinion, the biggest "Catch-22" for webmasters is that many sites will not
link to an Internet business unless it has a certain "Google Page Rank". But at
some point, every site has started out with a low page ranking. So how did they
get a high ranking if no one would link to them in the first place?
Instead of focusing on a page rank, many successful websites look instead at the
quality of the Internet business. If it is evident that the webmaster has taken
the time to create a quality site, then you can assured that a high ranking will
eventually happen! By linking to a well designed website, you can be ensured
that the value of your link will increase as the website gains a high ranking.
Myth 5: Put all the links on one page in no particular order
When the Internet first gained popularity, webmasters used links as a way to
help their visitors. Initially, they placed links as way to complement the
content of the website. As the important of links increased, the focus shifted
from helping the visitor to helping the webmaster.
Instead of dumping your links onto a single page, you can help both your
partners and visitors by creating a directory. Here, you place each link partner
into a specific category. This will help visitors (and search engines) navigate
your site with ease.
Myth 6: I should avoid all types of "automatic" link programs
Many Internet marketers recommend avoiding automatic link exchange software.
They feel that using these programs will actually hurt your rankings rather then
help. But, there are a lot of great link exchange websites that automate the
process of finding links hurting your search engine rankings.
For instance, http://www.linkmarket.net and http://www.gotop.com are two
excellent sites that allow you to shop for link partners. When you find sites
that are complementary, you add them to your "basket" and the link exchange
websites sends out an automatic email requesting the link.
These
two sites allow you to save time, while avoiding the "black hat" techniques that
are prevalent among many automatic-linking services.
While exchanging links can be a time-consuming process, it is well worth the
effort. By taking time to properly link to complementary websites, you will find
that your rankings in important keywords will improve.
About the Author
Scott Patterson brought his online store:
http://www.mizambar.com to the top of the Google search engine by exchanging
links.
Links Pages
Link Partners
- Directory listing of important websites, both fundraising and non-fundraising.
Go here to add your website, look for popular websites, and access hundreds of
related websites.
Add Your Link
- Click here to add your website to our directory. Simply type in your URL and
select a category. Our software will import your website description. Be sure to
add a reciprocal link on your site.
Our Link Information - Directions for linking to
Fundraiser Help
NonProfit Resource Links - Nonprofit resource links to major non-profit websites.
Fundraising Links - Related Pages
Fundraising Companies - Fund Raising Company Listing
- Provides an alphabetical listing of fundraising companies with hot links to each fund raising company's website.
Fund Raisers - Profiles of 400+ suppliers of fund-raisers with complete details on various fundraising ideas - what product lines they carry, their website links, and phone numbers. Using the right supplier brings your fundraising ideas to life and maximizes your success.
Fundraising News
|
