Mr. Panda, How Should I Link Build Now?

[Pjman]

There seems to be a great deal of chatter about the devaluing of links on your basic syndication channels (article networks) after the Panda Update.

So I'd like to get a dialogue going of ideas of how we are to build links that would stand the test of time.

Theories off Ranking to #1:

1. Have the goods - You must have some of the best content available on the term you are trying to rank for. I usually look at the top rank sites and objectively work to beat their content. My content or tools I create are my link bait. When that is done I move to step #2.

2. Worry About # of Domains, Not # of Links - I build links on more domains then my competitors. I don't worry about the numbers of links, I worry about the number of domains they are on.

My best techniques, that still work are:

A. Guest Blogging - I use a network to contact blogs in my niche. I also search for relevant blogs and offer a post to deliver in 20 days or so.

B. Researching top 30 competitors back links - I look at their links and approach sites that links to them, but not me. I usually give them a compelling reason to link to me.

C. Social Media - I work on building my twitter and FB follows and likes.


Does anyone have any other sure fire ways to link build these days?

Things that provide low value links, don't waste your time or money:

1. Forum posting and blog commenting - No SEO value

2. Social bookmarking - Might get a page indexed, that's all.

3. Link Exchanges or Directories- Nuff said!

4. Article Syndication - Unless you are writing unreal stuff on a regular basis, provides little value.

5. Press Releases - Unless you have something that a reporter is sure to jump at provides little value.

[tedster]

But human review can't possibly cut it on the web today. The scale of the web went far beyond that level in the mid nineties. Human review would be on the scale of a directory, and directories have major limits today, except for verticals.

So whether it's Google, Bing, whoever - I've accepted the fact that search results are going to be algorithmic.

Rather than think about "link building" I'd reframe the idea and think of building awareness for content, market engagement, that sort of thing. If your site's got the goods then that gets you links. But more important, it also gains you a lot more. Connections in the marketplace, influencer contact, brand champions, that kind of thing.

IMO that's "how you should link build now."

[seoArt]

I don't agree with "If your site's got the goods then that gets you links." In an ideal world, yes, but in the real world you need to do some marketing to help things along.

[buckworks]

one of their top advertisers is gonna have to pull out too.

Consider changing to a PPC or CPM model with them instead of flat fee or whatever you're using now. If it's well targeted traffic you would still benefit from a presence there as long as the costs were proportionate to performance.

in the real world you need to do some marketing to help things along.

Yep.

"Build it and they will come" only starts to work after you've pushed long and hard.

[Planet13]

Rather than think about "link building" I'd reframe the idea and think of building awareness for content, market engagement, that sort of thing.

I would just kindly like to suggest that it is a Chicken or The Egg problem for many of us small fish.

Because we have little to no marketing budget, we were using SEO to build awareness, which in turn we hoped would lead to more inbound links, which would in turn help our rankings, which would lead to increased awareness, which would lead to more inbound links, etc...

So I would say that the way things are, you either are going to have to spend lots more in generating a buzz around your site to get better "natural" rankings, or you are going to have to be very, very creative.

[robdwoods]

I wouldn't go too far out of your way getting FB likes as a link building tactic. At this point they do not affect your rankings. I'd do it for visibility and traffic but right now it's valueless as a pure link equity building exercise.

[piatkow]

Strategies will vary by niche, there isn't a "one size fits all" solution.

For a new band looking for gigs I would spend a lot of time with FB
For a business selling widgets like everybody elses widgets then go for Adwords and off line advertising

[Jane_Doe]

"Build it and they will come" only starts to work after you've pushed long and hard.

I think it depends on the site. I usually just put sites up, get some starter links and see what happens. Some sites never go beyond that and others will get tens of thousands of thinks on their own. Sometimes the simplest or oddest stuff seems to get the most links.

[bekyed]

We are still building links with no problems at all. The link sites have to follow a criteria of:

high relevance (sites from hamburger directories etc lol)
few outbounds
different c classes
pr2 at least
vary between anchor and domain

The clients sites are still gaining positions in the SERPS, we have noticed a slow progression but that's about all.
We do make sure that the content is fresh on the site's too and no paid ads of any kind.

[bekyed]

For a business selling widgets like everybody elses widgets then go for Adwords and off line advertising

Not all e-commerce businesses can afford to use Google adwords, especially in a competitive market selling items under £25, they need to have a natural presence on Google to survive.
Offline just doesn't cut it today we have found.

[DanAbbamont]

This very question looks to me against G's politics from the start. Google says links should come naturally, and not be built.

People really misunderstand this concept. You're not supposed to "place" links for the sake of their juice, but you can definitely market your links for the sake of building awareness, which will attract natural links.

Ethical Example - Create excellent content. Submit to reddit. Get X upvotes. People blog it, tweet it, post to facebook, etc. You receive ranking benefit because actual people vouched for your content.

Unethical Example - Create decent content. Submit to 100 social bookmarking sites, 100 directories, syndicate hundreds of articles on directories, etc. You receive ranking benefit because you vouched for your own content on hundreds of different sites.

[Pjman]

Not all e-commerce businesses can afford to use Google adwords, especially in a competitive market selling items under £25, they need to have a natural presence on Google to survive.

Can't agree enough. Adwords has priced us out of their advertising. I'm selling a $29 product. Even at a 4-5% conversion, I barely break even.

Glad to hear traditional link strategies still work. Thanks for the share.

I had to put full time focus on removing thin content. I might get back to link building in 2 months.

[kd454]

@Pjamn

"Glad to hear traditional link strategies still work."

Yep they still work, as far as I can see nothing has changed as far as SEO, on or offsite.

The big change is Google pushed all the bid brands, big money sites to the top making hard for the little guy, and in some niches not even worth trying.

[bekyed]

Yep they still work, as far as I can see nothing has changed as far as SEO, on or offsite.

Yes it has, a few years ago you could use any old site for links, they were still counted as votes.
Now relevance is the key.

[DanAbbamont]

Yup, back in the good old days. Or bad old days, depending how you look at it.