Forum Moderators: martinibuster
The most valuable thing I learned from Pubcon in Boston [webmasterworld.com] this year is confirmation that I'm a lazy SOB when it comes to content.
Sad but true.
So, I've resolved to spend from here up till the next one in London writing, writing and er... writing.
I'd like to hear peoples opinions on this:
Is it possible to spend almost 100% of your time writing decent content and just let the links take care of themselves.
Or is this just a pipe dream?
Nick
Google made a great search engine, but if they didn't ever do any sort of promotion, how would have anyone ever found it?
I'd say spend about 90% of your time making your site great, and about 10% of your time promoting it, so atleast it get's some recognition and people know it exists, and if your site really is great, then the links should start flowing in, and it will promote itself. :)
I mean once you have your dmoz/yahoo links and after a few obvious link requests in the very beginning.
90/10 sounds about right!
Nick
I would have thought it would be easy for you to help another webmaster with content and they can help with links.
everyone has their own favourites, and content actually needas a bit more talent, so maybe a contra deal would be more apt.
just a thought.
Shak
Yep. But, if you really want to spend all your time writing content you can do that and still get lots of quality inbound links. Write articles in your area of expertise and submit them to sites that accept freelance work.
Many webmasters are looking for content and quite a few of them will give you a link in exchange for your content. You can also make articles available on your site and request a link in exchange for use of the article.
I prefer writing new articles to allowing reprints though. I'm not really picky about attaching my name to all the articles I write either. I started off as a ghost writer though. Some people are real particular about those bylines. ;)
Another reason for writing articles for other sites is that you get your name out there. Get yer name out there often enough and people will find ya... :)
But one other thought, really really need to appreciate who the target is.
We get a reverse perspective here at WebmasterWorld since everything is text copy which is perfect for a forum.
A non-forum based site is completely different. Online users rarely read verbatim they scan, looking for thoose few points of interest, a keyword or phrases that sticks out. They then save, print, or look desperately for the download (e.g. PDF).
On that note and based on digitalghost previous suggestions as well as the fact that Google parses PDF links...
Developing articles "content" on your site as well as the PDF version with appropriate links to key-site areas and a disclaimer for adding to downloaders site helps diversify your linking strategy so that you do the work once... and everyone else spreads it around.
Not to mention the relevancy is "top notch".
Note: just ensure if taking this route not to point PDF links to the exact page of the HTML article... a duplicate content penalty will arise thus those PDF's will be pretty much worthless.
Dynamic content Flash, Shockwave and JavaScript adds alot of potential for direct links to your sites as well... not the "COOL" stuff but real knowledge building applets.
Note: just ensure if taking this route not to point PDF links to the exact page of the HTML article... a duplicate content penalty will arise thus those PDF's will be pretty much worthless.
So how would it work fathom? - I kinda getcha but now quite...
>writing for others
Yeah, been there, done that. I just find it's a waste. If I write something really good for someone else I may get one or two links. If I write it for ME then I may get much much more in time...
Nick
Only assuming that a PDF format would be similar.
Obviously the graphical interface of each website would be different but if all point back to the same physical article on your site I suspect Google would penalize the lot.
This is however only a theory with no prove what-so-never.
[edited by: fathom at 11:12 am (utc) on May 4, 2003]
I'm thinking I can create pdfs on the fly for each article as the link is clicked..
Nick
Google parses everything from start to finish.
Not sure if or how PageRank works here, but if so a bonus.
The relevancy of the link is the important part.
<Added>Actually PageRank must be transferred... or Google would not show in backlinks... right?</added>
[edited by: fathom at 11:22 am (utc) on May 4, 2003]
Nick
e.g. your PDF on another site and the link in the PDF to say your mainpage.
Cheers fathom, food for thought!
Nick
To reciprocate this hard work of CandP, a cut and paste email will get you a few more links.
For the important link opportunities I'd write an original e-mail.
I'm sure good content will get rewarded with its own links, hmmm think about the Google backrub paper, and links from here!
I suppose the industry will matter in the approach to gain link pop too. A few educational pages seems the defacto in most cases.
Someone e-mailed me asking permission to link to my site...heh, guess I'm doing something right. But it's not so hard to get links for that site since its edu and theres no ads, just pure content :)
A few educational pages seems the defacto in most cases.Someone e-mailed me asking permission to link to my site...heh, guess I'm doing something right. But it's not so hard to get links for that site since its edu and theres no ads, just pure content.
Gearing towards an educational vantagepoint has the beneift of many one-way from schools and institutions for added value resources.
Some good quality links, many not so great > but again you need to do little after the initial content installment.
