One incredible important part of SEO work is leaving backlinks. There are White Hat SEO backlinking methods, and there are Black Hat SEO backlinking methods.
See Also: Internet Marketing: White Hat SEO vs. Black Hat SEO
Either way, you want a lot of backlinks. So you would like to find ways to be as welcome as many sites as possible.
Recently, I got a reminder that websites that let you leave backlinks on them CAN REMOVE THEM anytime they want. So it only makes sense to play by their rules.
When you leave SEO backlinks, respect the rules on their sites!
By respecting "the rules," you are doing the following:
- You are relating YOUR post to the site's topic or discussion.
- Use anchor text that relates to its backlink.
- You are posting in a different format than what the site really offers.
1. You are relating YOUR post to the site's topic or discussion.
If the site is discussing zebra training, and your website features zebra training supplies, you probably have a lot to offer this zebra training site.
However, if your site sells hardwood floor installation, then you probably don't have very much to offer that zebra training site.
Example Post-Zebra Training-Good: I notice that zebras tend to respond better to certain zebra training supplies. For instance, not all zebra harnesses are equal. You have to get the right fit.
Example Post-Zebra Training-Bad: You can lose 20 lbs in the next 3 months. Lose your weight now.
Notice that "weight loss" has NOTHING to do with zebra training. That is sort of like going into a room, where people are discussing politics, and you suddenly start talking about children's toys. You won't be welcome for very long if you keep doing that. Leaving an unrelated post is the same thing.
The site that you are promoting should have SOMETHING in common with the site where you leave a backlink.
2. Use anchor text that relates to its backlink.
Sometimes, I am so eager to have backlinks pointing to a particular site that I will put them ANYWHERE...just so that I have backlinks.
However, we can revisit my previous example of posing on the zebra training site to see how frustrating that can be for the person clicking on our link.
Example -Zebra Training-Good: I notice that zebras tend to respond better to certain zebra training supplies. For instance, not all zebra harnesses are equal. You have to get the right fit.
Example Backlink-Zebra Training-Bad: You can lose 20 lbs in the next 3 months. Lose your weight now.
BOTH anchor text backlinks go to the SAME site, even though the anchor text says VERY DIFFERENT things.
The words "not all zebra harnesses are equal" leads to a site that discusses an overview of zebra training. After I click on that backlink, there is a good chance that I will find what I wanted.
However, if I click on the words "lose your weight now," and THAT link takes me to an overview of zebra training, I don't think that I'm going to find very much about my REAL concern...about losing weight.
Giving "misleading backlinks" will drive up visits, but doing this will also kill your Bounce Rate, meaning that people will spend such little time on your "targeted site" that Google will start getting signals that your site does not offer the public very much value.
Do you think Google will list your site very high in its rankings (for very long) if they keep getting signals from people that they want to leave...as soon as they visit your site?
Anchor text links are great, but the text you use to anchor that SEO backlink should relate to its linked site.
3. You are posting in a different format than what the site really offers.
Here is where I got my most recent reminder.
Classified Ad Sites
If you are leaving backlinks on a Classified Ad site, then make sure that it LOOKS like you are trying to use it to SELL something. Don't leave articles on there.
Example-OK: Detroit Online Marketing Service Available
Example-Bad: 3 Ways Detroit Online Marketing Improves Businesses
That first one is not the best sales title, but at least it implies that you are trying to sell something.
That "bad" example might make a great article or blog post, but it does not imply that anything is for sale. That's great for content marketing, but it's lousy for a Classified Ad site, which is ALL about displaying and selling your wares or services.
Press Release Submission Sites
If you trying to leave backlinks on a press release submission site, then don't post articles or sales pitches on there.
Example-OK: Owner Advises 3 Ways to Provide Effective Zebra Training
Example-Bad-Article Style: 3 Great Ways to Provide Effective Zebra Training
Example-Bad-Sales Style: The Greatest Zebra Training is Now Available
A press release should either report news that has happened or imply news that will take place shortly. The article and sales styles might work on the right types of sites, but neither implies any news. They don't belong here, and they will probably get rejected.
That means no backlinks for you there...if you don't respect their rules.
Social Media Sites
If you are trying to leave backlinks on social media sites, like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc., then be social. Don't try to sell people all of the time, especially when you first "meet" them. (NOTE: Asking them to visit your site counts as "selling" online.)
Social media sites are all about either being social or content management.
Example-OK-Social: The peanut curry at Asian Kitchen on M-59 is awesome http://www.asiankitchenfood.com.
Example-OK-Content Management: Create Your Own Buzz: 3 Reasons to Write a Press Release http://ow.ly/gvsyQ
Example-Bad-Blatantly Promotional: Visit me on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswechner
The first two (2) posts shared things that someone (who does NOT know me) might find valuable.
That last one--visit me, a stranger, on LinkedIn--is not going to interest ANYONE. Even if you know me, if you were curious, you would have checked out my LinkedIn Profile by now. You don't need to be told--on a social media platform--to spend time learning about me.
You can say a lot of the same things about guest posting. Make sure that you follow their guidelines. If you don't, they will not post your material any more, and that means that is one less place you can post your backlinks to your site.
Follow these important rules, and you will be able to get valuable SEO backlinks in plenty of places, and these places will serve you...and your website...well.
Am I missing any other important rules of posting respectful White Hat SEO backlinks?
Like this post? Other recent posts are
- 4 Ways to Prompt LinkedIn Discussion in LinkedIn Groups
- 5 Twitter Direct Message Turnoffs + 2 Winning Methods
- 9 Ways I Would Market Wine and Get More Sales
- The Biggest Mistake People Make When Presenting a Lesson
- 5 Steps for Social Media Beginners to Take to Become an Expert
- Being a Marketer Means Always Showing a Good Attitude
- 4 Quick Steps for a Great Way to Present an Idea (During a Presentation or a Blog Post)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hey there! Thank you for taking time to read my post and share your thoughts with me and my other readers. I'm always tickled when I get a non-SPAM comment. Honestly, sometimes I'm even okay with some borderline SPAM.
Let me know if you would like for me to address a topic by sending me an email at Chris@TheUltimateAnalyst.com.
Thanks, again. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Chris