Link building is becoming a very important (actually the most important) aspect of SEO. However, not all links are good for your website. Google recently introduced stiff measures to deal with people who use unscrupulous ways to boost PageRank. This move is, no doubt, bound to affect all who don't play by the backlinking rules. Talking about backlinks, here are some 11 mistakes to avoid like a plague.
1. Paid Links
Buying and selling links is normally seen as unnatural because there are hidden motives aside from user experience for either of the websites involved. This includes buying content that contains links or sending a "free" product to somebody in exchange for them including a link to your site in their future write-ups. So steer clear from this short-cut.
2. Unnatural Links are a plague
Please take good note of the word "unnatural". It is all right to link to other sites and have them link back to you, but it must be natural. Natural links are simply links that add value to your visitors. If you are a law firm, don't try to exchange links with a dolphin research company.
3. Avoid bulky content, add value instead
Publishing articles and guest posts in bulk is no longer fashionable. In fact if you do guest articles just to gain keyword rich backlinks, your site might just get penalized. The rule of the thumb here is to ensure that you're publishing posts on other websites if you have something valuable to share.
4. Avoid automated links
There are many tools out there that claim to help you gain thousands of backlinks in very little time. Google's spam team is always after websites that use such services to hyper-inflate their authority on the net. You don't want to be caught using these services.
5. Careful about text ads
Text ads are a popular way to market products nowadays. However, if they don't use the rel="nofollow" attribute, Google is likely to mistake them for manipulative backlinks and therefore punish you.
6. Avoid ads and advertorials that contain links that pass PageRank
Always use link with the rel="nofollow" attribute if you pay for an ad or article. This will ensure that the ad does not pass link juice to your website therefore keeping you safe from a possible penalty.
7. Avoid over-optimization
If you're fond of publishing content that is full of links - all appearing to be anchor text - you could get a penalty. Google is now, more than ever, very strict on value addition as opposed to just optimization.
8. Avoid linking to low quality article directories
Linking to directories that will never send a single visitor your way is sheer waste of time. These links will not in any way favor your search rankings. Only link to directories that send visitors to your website and ignore the rest.
9. Footer links are a no-no
Avoid putting keyword rich links in your footer. Such links are counted as "bad" in Google's rulebook and are therefore to be avoided at all cost. This however does not include links to the "about us" or "privacy" but rather links like "buy followers" or "visit our shop".
10. Be cautious when using widgets
If you normally use free widgets to market your website, you should be sure to use the nofollow attribute so the link does not appear spammy. Google does not like links that are embedded in such platforms and may punish you for them if you don't use the rel="nofollow" attribute. If a widget developer offers you a chance to market on their platform, try to avoid using links (only when this is not logically possible should you resort to rel="nofollow" attribute).
11. Avoid forum comments that are optimized
If you are fond of using online tools to post comments on forums then you're likely to get a Google punishment in the event that such comments are unnaturally written or abnormally optimized. So, be sure to always post the comments yourself.
The writing is clearly written on the wall
Google does not like artificial or bulky links. You definitely don't want to lose the authority that you've spent years building due to a backlink slap. To get good links that help you to achieve and sustain exponential growth, it is imperative to play by these eleven rules.
We wish you all the best in everything you do.
About The Author: Jason Smith is an online manager for Foley, Incorporated - Power Generator. He likes blogging about online strategies that are related to SEO, Content, PPC and Lead generation.
Did you find this article helpful? Please let Jason and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.
Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).
Related articles:
Keeping Your Pages Afloat On Google By Using The Disavow Tool
The Death Of Link Building?
5 Helpful Tips To Recover From Recent Penguin Update
SEO Link Building Techniques That You Should Avoid
How To Improve Your SEO With Backlinks
For a full list of helpful articles on link building and SEO, use the following links:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Link%20Building
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO%20Tips
If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.
As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776
Until my next post on Friday on how non profits can embrace social media to expand their reach and increase donations, enjoy the rest of the week! See you back here on Friday!
© 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.
1. Paid Links
Buying and selling links is normally seen as unnatural because there are hidden motives aside from user experience for either of the websites involved. This includes buying content that contains links or sending a "free" product to somebody in exchange for them including a link to your site in their future write-ups. So steer clear from this short-cut.
2. Unnatural Links are a plague
Please take good note of the word "unnatural". It is all right to link to other sites and have them link back to you, but it must be natural. Natural links are simply links that add value to your visitors. If you are a law firm, don't try to exchange links with a dolphin research company.
3. Avoid bulky content, add value instead
Publishing articles and guest posts in bulk is no longer fashionable. In fact if you do guest articles just to gain keyword rich backlinks, your site might just get penalized. The rule of the thumb here is to ensure that you're publishing posts on other websites if you have something valuable to share.
4. Avoid automated links
There are many tools out there that claim to help you gain thousands of backlinks in very little time. Google's spam team is always after websites that use such services to hyper-inflate their authority on the net. You don't want to be caught using these services.
5. Careful about text ads
Text ads are a popular way to market products nowadays. However, if they don't use the rel="nofollow" attribute, Google is likely to mistake them for manipulative backlinks and therefore punish you.
6. Avoid ads and advertorials that contain links that pass PageRank
Always use link with the rel="nofollow" attribute if you pay for an ad or article. This will ensure that the ad does not pass link juice to your website therefore keeping you safe from a possible penalty.
7. Avoid over-optimization
If you're fond of publishing content that is full of links - all appearing to be anchor text - you could get a penalty. Google is now, more than ever, very strict on value addition as opposed to just optimization.
8. Avoid linking to low quality article directories
Linking to directories that will never send a single visitor your way is sheer waste of time. These links will not in any way favor your search rankings. Only link to directories that send visitors to your website and ignore the rest.
9. Footer links are a no-no
Avoid putting keyword rich links in your footer. Such links are counted as "bad" in Google's rulebook and are therefore to be avoided at all cost. This however does not include links to the "about us" or "privacy" but rather links like "buy followers" or "visit our shop".
10. Be cautious when using widgets
If you normally use free widgets to market your website, you should be sure to use the nofollow attribute so the link does not appear spammy. Google does not like links that are embedded in such platforms and may punish you for them if you don't use the rel="nofollow" attribute. If a widget developer offers you a chance to market on their platform, try to avoid using links (only when this is not logically possible should you resort to rel="nofollow" attribute).
11. Avoid forum comments that are optimized
If you are fond of using online tools to post comments on forums then you're likely to get a Google punishment in the event that such comments are unnaturally written or abnormally optimized. So, be sure to always post the comments yourself.
The writing is clearly written on the wall
Google does not like artificial or bulky links. You definitely don't want to lose the authority that you've spent years building due to a backlink slap. To get good links that help you to achieve and sustain exponential growth, it is imperative to play by these eleven rules.
We wish you all the best in everything you do.
About The Author: Jason Smith is an online manager for Foley, Incorporated - Power Generator. He likes blogging about online strategies that are related to SEO, Content, PPC and Lead generation.
Did you find this article helpful? Please let Jason and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.
Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).
Related articles:
Keeping Your Pages Afloat On Google By Using The Disavow Tool
The Death Of Link Building?
5 Helpful Tips To Recover From Recent Penguin Update
SEO Link Building Techniques That You Should Avoid
How To Improve Your SEO With Backlinks
For a full list of helpful articles on link building and SEO, use the following links:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Link%20Building
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO%20Tips
If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.
As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog
You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776
Until my next post on Friday on how non profits can embrace social media to expand their reach and increase donations, enjoy the rest of the week! See you back here on Friday!
© 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.
Very informative post. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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