Creating Link Popularity - Without Getting Banned
by Dan Thies
By now, most webmasters know that link popularity is the single most
important factor in driving top search engine rankings. But did you know
that some links can actually kill your search engine rankings?
The importance of links has led to the creation of "links programs"
such as LinksToYou and others. If you're already in a links program, hold
on to your hat, because I've got bad news for you.
How Links Programs Work
In a links program, every member of the program uploads a page or pages
to their website. These pages carry links to the other program participants'
websites.
Why They Don't Help Search Engine Rankings
All of the major search engines are aware of these programs, and most
of them use automated processes to weed out "identical" pages.
Even if a search engine recognizes the link, they won't give it much weight.
How Links Programs Can Kill Your Business
The most popular search engine in the world today is Google. In late
2000, Google began a systematic campaign of permanently removing links
program participants from their index. Altavista has begun a similar program,
although recent problems kept them from executing it.
Don't the operators of links programs know all this? Of course they do,
yet they continue to operate and proliferate. Tobacco companies know cigarettes
kill people, yet they continue to sell them. I'm sure both would tout
the "benefits" of their product as a justification.
What To Do If You're In A Links Program
First, immediately remove all of the program's pages from your site.
Second, remove all the links they had you set up on your other pages.
Third, if possible, cancel your membership... then get to work creating
some legitimate link popularity.
Creating True Link Popularity
If you want your site to have lasting popularity and relevance with the
search engines, you need links from related sites. Dedicate 10 minutes
a day to locating and contacting other webmasters to swap links, adding
your site to directories, and publishing articles in your area of expertise.
Create Multiple Layers Of Links
For some search engines, links to your home page are good enough. At
least some of your links, though, should be targeted at your internal
pages. For example, if your site sells tools for gardeners, get some links
set up to your "how to" and FAQ pages too. This will help you
get more of your site's content into the search engine, and increase referrals
significantly.
Get The Links Indexed!
It doesn't do you any good to set up links if the search engines never
find them. You can submit the pages that link to you, but most search
engines nowadays won't index them unless there are other links to those
pages somewhere on the web. Consider adding a "resources" page
to your site, linked from your home page, with links to all the individual
pages that link to you.
How To Make Sure Your Links Get Indexed
In order to ensure that the links pointing to your site get indexed,
you really have to take an additional step, and set up a second domain
and website. The gardening website in the above example might need a partner
site like "gardening-resources.com" with a single page pointing
to all the links pages you've set up.
Once you've set up the secondary domain, add a link to it from your main
site's home page, and wait for the search engines to index it. Don't forget
to link back to your primary site, of course - not just your home page,
but any content pages as well. You should submit this additional site
to the same directories that you use to list your primary site.
It also helps to ask for an additional link to your secondary domain
when you set up links swaps. Just explain how the secondary site helps
both partners, by adding link popularity and helping the links pages get
indexed. Any sensible webmaster will gladly add the second link.
What Happens Now?
As the link popularity of both of your sites grows, they begin to feed
on each other. Don't neglect to track any search engine referrals to your
secondary site - if they grow to a high level, you may want to turn it
into more than just a links page. If you've done a good job of optimizing
your primary site, though, chances are your secondary site will never
outrank your primary site on any search.
If you take these initial steps today, and commit to a program of link
building for ten minutes a day, your site's traffic will begin to rise
dramatically within just 2-3 months, and it should only get better if
you stick with the program.
I wish you success.
Dan Thies has been helping his clients (and friends) promote their websites
since 1996. His latest book, "Search Engine Fast Start," is
available at http://www.cannedbooks.com
Go Back to the
Link Popularity Articles Directory |
