Do neighborhoods matter anymore?

[wheel]

Does being in the same backlink neighborhood as those sites that rank matter anymore? I'm not suggesting there's a trend, however some of the 'spammier' sites that are ranking in my niche don't have any backlinks in common with others. For example, those that rank based on heavily paid links like directories, theme sponsorship, and so on, typically don't have any crossover in backlinks between their site and others that rank.

[malcolmcroucher]

Yea im noticing alot of that to .... a seo company which interlinks all their clients or a widget company which has 5 widget sites . when i do an ip lookup they all have the same ip .

[lfgoal]

Yeah, it seems lately that google doesn't seem to care much about the quality of one link versus another. It's more like "a link is a link is a link"

[nealrodriguez]

well, i ranked sites in '07 by getting links that my ranking competitors would have pointing to them; but it is '09 after all.

[wheel]

eah, it seems lately that google doesn't seem to care much about the quality of one link versus another. It's more like "a link is a link is a link"

Martinibuster has some more defined opinions about this [webmasterworld.com] in the supporters section.

[edited by: martinibuster at 11:24 pm (utc) on Feb. 21, 2009]
[edit reason] Added link. [/edit]

[ogletree]

You have to remember there are things that will help you rank that could hurt your rank in the future. This is very hard to swallow when your competitors are all doing bad things. It is even harder when you see them get away with it for years. I had a situation where a client got very frustrated with a competitor spamming and ranking that they joined in. After a few months both websites were given a -50 penalty. It is always best to follow the rules and if your going to spam don't do it on branded domain name.

Don't get links that are unnatural you are taking a risk of losing everything. A few here and there are not a big deal just don't do it in bulk.

[wheel]

MB's post, in contrast to my own, discusses links that are natural. they're just not in the neighborhood.

[Shaddows]

You have to remember there are things that will help you rank that could hurt your rank in the future. This is very hard to swallow when your competitors are all doing bad things. It is even harder when you see them get away with it for years.

Think "banks".

Its really hard to lend responsibly when you see your competitors grow large and rich lending on self-certified, NINJA, 125% LTV loans.

Stupidity might get you short term gains, but look at the fallout when the reality sets in and people (SEs) start checking the VALUE of the assets (links), rather than the volume.

[edited by: Shaddows at 10:19 am (utc) on Feb. 23, 2009]