Anchor
Use descriptive anchor text for all
your text links. Most search engines consider anchor text of incoming links
when ranking pages. Here is an example of anchor:
Listed below are some of the
important points to note about anchors:
- The Anchor Title plays a very important role and
is seen by most of the search engines. The anchor title should have
appropriate keywords. Anchor title helps the site visitors using a
balloon, and displaying written text.
- The Anchor Text is another important part, which
should be selected very carefully because this text is used not only for
search engines but also for navigation purpose. You should try to use the
best keywords in your anchor text.
- The otherpage.htm is the link to another webpage. This link could be to an external site. Here, you need to ensure that the linked page does exist; otherwise it is called a broken link, which gives a bad impression to search engines as well as to site visitors.
Another example of an anchor could
be as follows:
In this case, Anchor Text has
been replaced by an image. So, while using an image in place of an anchor text,
it should be checked that you have put alt tag properly. An image alt
tag should have appropriate keywords.
What are Backlinks?
In
layman's terms, there are two types of links: inbound and outbound. Outbound
links start from your site and lead to an external site, while inbound links or
backlinks, come from an external site to yours. e.g. if cnn.com links to
yourdomain.com, the link from cnn.com is a backlink (inbound) for
yourdomain.com, however the link is an outbound link from cnn.com's
perspective. Backlinks are among the main building blocks to good Search Engine
Optimization (SEO).
Why Backlinks Are
Important
The
number of backlinks is an indication of the popularity or importance of that
website. Backlinks are important for SEO because some search engines like
Google, give more credit to websites that have a large number of quality
backlinks, and consider those websites more relevant than others in their
results pages for a search query.
Therefore,
when search engines calculate the relevance of a site to a keyword, they not
only consider the number of backlinks to that site but also their quality. In
order to determine the quality, a search engine considers the content of the
sites. When backlinks to your site come from other sites, and those sites have
content related to your site, these backlinks are considered more relevant to
your site. If backlinks are found on sites with unrelated content, they are
considered less relevant. The higher the relevance of backlinks, the greater
their quality.
For
example, if a webmaster has a website about how to rescue orphaned dogs, and
received a backlink from another website about dogs, then that would be more
relevant in a search engine's assessment than say a link from a site about car
racing. Therefore, higher the relevance of the site linking back to your
website, the better the quality of the backlink.
Search
engines want websites to have a level playing field, and look for natural links
built slowly over time. While it is fairly easy to modify your webpages to make
them more SEO friendly it is a lot harder for you to influence other websites
and get them to link to your website. This is the reason search engines regard
backlinks as a very important factor. Further, search engine's criteria for
quality backlinks has gotten even tougher, thanks to unscrupulous webmasters
trying to achieve these backlinks by deceptive or sneaky techniques, such as
hidden links, or automatically generated pages whose sole purpose is to provide
backlinks to websites. These pages are called link farms, and they are not only
disregarded by search engines, but linking to a link farm could get your site
banned entirely.
Anchor Text
When
a link incorporates a keyword into the text of the hyperlink, we call this
anchor text. A link's anchor text may be one of the most powerful resources a
webmaster has. Backlinks from multiple websites with the anchor text
"orphaned dogs" would help your website rank higher for the keyword
"orphaned dogs". Using your keyword is a superior way to utilize a
hyperlink as against having links with words like "click here" which
do not relate to your website. The 'Backlink Anchor Text Analysis Tool' is a
tool which will assist you find your backlinks and the text which is being used
to link to your website. If you find that your site is being linked to from
another website, but the anchor text is not being utilized properly, you should
request that the website change the anchor text to something which incorporates
relevant keywords. This will also help boost your rankings.
Ways to Build Backlinks
Even
if plenty of backlinks come to your site the natural way, additional quality
backlinks are always welcome.
1 The Backlink
Builder Tool
When
you enter the keywords of your choice, the Backlink Builder tool gives you a
list of relevent sites from where you might get some backlinks.
2 Getting Listed in
Directories
If
you are serious about your Web presence, getting listed in directories like
DMOZ, Yahoo and Jasmin directory is a must, not only because this is a way to
get some quality backlinks for free, but also because this way you are easily
noticed by both search engines and potential visitors. Generally inclusion in
search directories is free but the drawback is that sometimes you have to wait
a couple of months before you get listed in the categories of your choice.
3 Forums and Article
Directories
Generally
search engines index forums so posting in forums and blogs is also a way to get
quality backlinks with the anchor text you want. If the forum or blog is a
respected one, a backlink is valuable. However, in some cases the forum or blog
administrator can edit your post, or even delete it if it does not fit into the
forum or blog policy. Also, sometimes administrators do not allow links in
posts, unless they are relevant ones. In some rare cases (which are more an
exception than a rule) the owner of a forum or a blog would have banned search
engines from indexing it and in this case posting backlinks there is pointless.
4 RSS Feeds
You
can offer RSS feeds to interested sites for free, when the other site publishes
your RSS feed you will get a backlink to your site and potentially a lot of
visitors, who will come to your site for more details about the headline and
the abstract they read on the other site.
5 Affiliate programs
Affiliate
programs are also good for getting more visitors (and buyers) and for building
quality backlinks but they tend to be an expensive way because generally the affiliate
commission is in the range of 10 to 30 %. But if you have an affiliate program
anyway, why not use it to get some more quality backlinks?
6 News Announcements
and Press Releases
Although
this is hardly an everyday way to build backlinks, it is an approach that gives
good results, if handled properly. There are many sites that publish news
announcements and press releases for free or for a small fee . A professionally
written press release about an important event can bring you many visitors and
the backlink from a respected site to yours is a good boost to your SEO
efforts. The tricky part is that you cannot release press releases if there is
nothing newsworthy. That is why we say that news announcements and press
releases are not a commodity way to build backlinks.
We recommend creating profiles for key
employees and founders. Be sure to add custom links with anchor text (“anchor
text” is the actual words that comprise the link. You want these to be
search terms for which you want to be found, not your name or company name.
This anchor text helps Google determine what other sites think your site is
about) . Your profile link on Google Profiles will be devoid of a no – follow
and you can add much additional information along with the link including
videos and photos. These profiles are especially important now that Google Plus
has launched.
Create a
local business listing for all of your offices. Use target keywords in the
profile and description fields. This is a great source that is devoid of no –
follows and has high visibility in the search results. A Powerful, easy, and
effective place to build backlinks.
Build a
company profile, as well as individual profiles for key employees and founders.
Select “Other” when setting your first web site link to create custom anchor
text. Also take advantage of the two additional links available, but no custom
anchor text is allowed.
Digg is
great for traffic generation, and while not the powerhouse it once was, is
still a large community. Plus, you can submit articles you want to promote, and
links to those articles are followed by search engines.
Even if
you’re not a check-in maniac, you should set up Foursquare profiles, as the
link you associate with your account is followed.
An
article submission site in the Digg vein. Very active with highly engaged
users. The links you submit will be devoid of the no – follow attribute .
Create
as many Squidoo “lenses” as you like, about any topic. A lens typically
consists of a blog post-esque article, with links to other recommended sources.
An
article discovery site that’s exceedingly busy and popular. Drives significant
eyeballs all around the Web. Submitted links are followed.
Even if
you don’t know a burger from a baba ganoush, create a profile on Yelp. The link
in your profile is followed. Links in comments, however, are no-follow.
This
local business portal allows you to create a profile for your business and is
devoid of the no – follow attribute. Use target keywords in the profile and
description fields, and anchor text if possible.
Create a
custom YouTube channel for your company . While comments and any links you
include in your description will have the rel=”nofollow” attribute, YouTube
gives you a link in your profile that is devoid of no – follow.
Article submission is becoming a bit dated in
terms of Google optimization and building backlinks. Large content repositories
like this and Hubpages (below) may have been devalued somewhat in Google’s most
recent “Panda” overhaul of its algorithm. But you can use this site to recycle
blog posts that you have published elsewhere, and pick up an additional link.
Write articles on topics of your choosing, with
custom links and anchor text . Significant link potential here. Devalued a bit
in Google’s new Panda update.
Also in the Digg and Reddit category. You get a
link in your profile , and you can submit news stories and articles. All
article links are followed.
Other
methods
1. Submit Guest Post to Other Blogs
2.
Comment on do follow blogs and make sure these blogs are relevant to your own
blogs. They might not carry too-much of link value, but it will still be
beneficial for overall link-profile of your blog.
3. Start Relevant Threads in Forums and Link to
Your Blog Posts
4.
Link to Your Blog in Your Forum Signatures (Only high quality forums)
5.
Social bookmarking is also considered as backlinks and you should target
following network: Google plus, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest to name a few.
6.
Make Use of Discussion Boards by Linking to Your Blog in threads. Quora is one
such HQ discussion board.
7.
Make Use of Blogging Communities by Submitting Your Blog Posts to Them, some
great places to start are Blog Engage, Inbound
8.
Ask Questions related to your blog in Answer Sites like Yahoo Answers and Link
to Your Blog in your questions
9.
Answer Questions in Yahoo Answers and Cite Your Blog as the Source
10.
Interlink to your blog and other posts on your blog when writing on your blog.
11.
Exchange links with other bloggers in your niche. Make sure to form link
pyramid and keep it natural.
12.
Submit Your Blog to Top Blogging directories (Again quality mattes here)
13.
Write a mail to influencer who write on the same topic and encourage them to
share it on social-network. You never know how much one sweet email can make a
huge-difference.
14.
Submit your blog to top niche directories
15.
Network with other bloggers in your niche (Online and offline) and links will
automatically follow you.
16.
Submit your blog posts to all social bookmarking sites you know
17.
Submit your blog to your top social networking sites
18.
Submit your articles to stumbleupon
19.
Submit your blog to digg, it is dofollow and Google crawls most of its
submissions
20.
Work on making your blog go viral on top social bookmarking sites, this alone
can bring you tons of quality backlinks from authority sites.
21.
Submit your post
22.
Make use of press releases, and send press-release about important updates from
your blog. You can also compare best product in your niche and send a
press-release on the same.
23.
Submit your post to directories
24.
Most forums have a website review forum
25.
Release a free theme and include a link to your blog in its footer. (Not
recommended)
26.
Release a free wordpres plugin and include a link to your blog in it. But don’t
keep it sitewide, as sitewide anchor text links are bad.
27.
Release software or compile your ebooks to .exe and submit them to top software
sites like brothersoft
28.
Convert your blog posts to pdf and submit it to document sharing sites,
29.
Review top companies and products and they might link back to you
30.
Do a weekly link love post and link to many bloggers, they will most likely
return the favor. Take advantage of outbound link SEO.
31.
Interview top bloggers and ask them to help you share it on their favorite
social networks and their fans will link to your interview.
32.
Provide testimonials for marketers and also provide your link when doing so,
they will most likely link back to you.
33.
Make use of web 2.0 sites like squidoo to promote your blog
34.
Submit your blog posts to blog carnivals.
35.
Write high quality content and you will get strong backlinks
36.
Write controversial posts
37.
Write news posts and try to be one of the first people to write it.
38.
Ask other bloggers to interview you.
40.
Write link bait posts.
41.
Write top list posts because they can go viral easily.
42.
Write a post comparing some top gurus in your niche.
43.
Write a post featuring some upcoming bloggers and why you like them, they will
most likely link to it.
44.
Trade articles with other bloggers in your niche.
45.
Submit your site to Dmoz, many other directories use this directory and that
alone is enough qaulity backlinks for you.
46.
Submit your blog to .edu and .gov forums and blogs, Google so much loves
backlinks from this sites and regards them as authority.
47.
Make use of groups like Google Groups and Yahoo Groups
48.
Create a Wikipedia Page For Yourself and include your link in the resource section.
50.
Write posts that have “the ultimate” in the title, each of these type of post I
wrote got over 20 backlinks each.
51.
Start a blogging contest and make linking to your blog one of the requirements.
52.
Sponsor blogging contest and you will get a lot of backlinks from this.
53.
Donate to charity sites, many of them will link back to your site.
54.
Build a great tool and many people will link to your tool and your blog.
55.
Do a big product launch.
56.
Make the news at any cost.
57.
Release your own firefox extension and have a page dedicated to it, many people
will link to it!
58.
Blog about celebrities.
59.
Render your services to top people in your niche, for example, the fellow who
designed Darren Rowse’s theme was credited at the footer.
60.
Write 101 posts, they tend to get more social and natural link love.
61. Design a top bloggers award and give it to as
many bloggers as you can in your niche, they will link back to you.
62.
Contact your theme designer and tell them to use your website as an example in
their portfolio, they will most likely include a link back to your blog.
63. Create
manuals and long tutorial posts on your blog, this type of post do receive lots
of backlinks.
64.
Create a great ebook or membership site and make linking to your blog the
requirement to get it.
65.
Submit your resume to resume directories while linking to your blog in your
resume.
66.
Write how to posts, they also tend to get more backlinks.
67.
Write posts that starts with numbers e.g. “7 ways to…”, these type of posts do
tend to get backlinks.
68.
Submit your images to image directories and include a link to your blog in its
copyright notice and as a requirement to use it. Ex: How to use Flickr to drive
traffic
69.
Join blogging contest and you will most probably get backlinks if you win.
70.
Have a “link to us” or “spread the word” page on your blog while asking your
readers to link to you – it is important to make it easy for them by putting
your direct html code there using your desired anchor text.
71.
Submit your website to local business directories, backlinks from these sites
are regarded by Google as authority.
72.
Write on about.com and link to your blog in it, this will likely be crawled and
used by a lot of websites thereby increasing backlinks to your blog.
73.
Make effective use of april fool.
74.
Do very costly jokes on your blog but indicate it is a joke underneath the post
(tricky? ahah!), e.g., “Apple has bought Google for $260Billion”, something
like this will get tons of links and retweets before people even know that it
is a joke.
75.
Create niche specific tutorials, which are not only unique but help the
community. Such tutorial articles get lots of backlinks.
76.
Create viral youtube videos and inlude links to your blog in the video and its
description.
77.
Create Lots of Websites and Interlink Them to each other. (Avoid private blog
network)
78.
Offer lots of free downloads on your blogs.
79.
Update your blog regularly because this will make more people trust your
website and it will also make you rank for more keywords which means more
traffic and eventaully more backlinks.
80.
Write a great post with a lot of pictures in it – let the post be pictures
only.
81.
Write a post comparing various companies and services and which is the best,
the best comapny will most likely link to it.
82.
Compare different top products and link to them, people will most likely link
to it e.g. You can comapre a mac with a PC.
83.
Get a collection of high quality paid things and make them available for free
(make sure you are not violating the copyright of the owner in any way!)
84.
Create a directory for your blog and make it important to reciprocate links
with you by giving those who link to you higher placement and giving them free
featuring on your homepage.
85.
Beta test a lot of products and give your review and tips on improving the
product, the owner might just link to you.
86.
Run surveys on your blog and publish the results for everybody to see, if the
survey is good and helpful you will definitely get a lot of backlinks to your
blog.
87.
Write a list of the “top 10 myths” or “top 10 mistakes” about something.
88.
Position yourself as an authority in your niche and try to get attention from
the media.
89.
Offer to speak at events and seminars related to your niche, don’t forget to
mention your blog while introducing yourself, this will most likely help you
get some backlinks.
90.
Have a special writing style that attracts people.
91.
Be transparent on your blog.
92.
Get listed in top paid Directories like the Yahoo Directory and the BOTW
directory
93.
List your product on Ebay or Amazon and include a link back to your blog.
94.
Create a podcast and submit it to Itunes, link back to your blog from it.
95.
Create web apps and submit them to app directories such as Go2Web20
96.
Write a great and very useful whitepaper and ask your blogging friends to help
you distribute it around the web, make sure you inlcude a link to your blog in
the whitepaper.
97.
Run a contest giving people physical products for free; make linking to your
blog a requirement to join.
98.
Try to know which stories are hot at the moment and make sure you blog about
them.
99.
Blog about very important events such as the Independence Day and the likes.
100.
Start your affiliate programmed.
101.
Create a news section on your blog with regularly update news in your niche and
you will begin to get links fast.
Link Practices That Are To Be Avoided
There
is much discussion in these last few months about reciprocal linking. In the
past few Google updates, reciprocal links were one of the targets of the search
engine's latest filter. Many webmasters had agreed upon reciprocal link
exchanges, in order to boost their site's rankings. In a link exchange, one
webmaster places a link on his website that points to another webmasters
website, and vice versa. Many of these links were simply not relevant, and were
just discounted. So while the irrelevant backlinks were ignored, the outbound
links still got counted, diluting the relevancy score of many websites. This
caused a great many websites to drop off the Google map.
There
is a Google patent in the works that will deal with not only the popularity of
the sites being linked to, but also how trustworthy a site is that you link to
from your own website. This will mean that you could get into trouble with the
search engine just for linking to a bad apple.
Many
webmasters have more than one website. Sometimes these websites are related,
sometimes they are not. You have to also be careful about interlinking multiple
websites on the same IP. If you own seven related websites, then a link to each
of those websites on a page could hurt you, as it may look like to a search
engine that you are trying to do something fishy. Many webmasters have tried to
manipulate backlinks in this way; and too many links to sites with the same IP
address is referred to as backlink bombing.
One
thing is certain; interlinking sites doesn't help you from a search engine
standpoint. The only reason you may want to interlink your sites in the first
place might be to provide your visitors with extra resources to visit. In this
case, it would probably be okay to provide visitors with a link to another of
your websites, but try to keep many instances of linking to the same IP address
to a bare minimum. One or two links on a page here and there probably won't
hurt you.
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