You get to pick 100 backlinks

what would be the spread?

[smallcompany]

I found a motive for this thread in another one where Tedster said "strong and naturally balanced backlink profile"

So you got to pick 100 backlinks. How would you spread this between the site types (realistically)?

Example:

- 10 links from directories
- 20 links from within text from other sites
- 20 links from blogs
- 10 links from forums
- etc.

How would your link profile look like for best and honest results?

Thanks

[wheel]

I'd get almost 0 links from forums. I think forum links are pretty much useless for SEO, but can be used to drive traffic. Unfortunately it takes a lot of work to build a forum rep to the point where you drive traffic. I've done it, I don't do it generally.

Way more links from within text from other sites.

As many top quality directories as I could get, with 0 lower quality directory links.

Blog links I would categorize within 'links from within text from other sites'. If done well, then I don't see a lot of difference between blog/not blog.

[cnvi]

I avoid blogs because threads rotate/die or the blog shows cobwebs. Also many blogs are nofollowed these days.

I avoid most contextual links. I have found that many contextual links are hiding behind some kind of paid links scam.

I like forums when the thread is highly relevant to my realm of interest.

I only like directories when the relevancy is extremely high such as a directory that obviously is designed to help the user find a resource within a very specific niche. I avoid the germane directories that are obviously there just to be a directory and nothing more.

I prefer links from highly relevant websites with links or link resource pages that aren't using nofollow. A relevant link from a well edited links page almost always generates traffic from the link itself. Even when the link isnt generating traffic, its still advertising my website's brand. People see the link title and they will remember it when they see it repeatedly within that niche - even if they dont click it. I have found I can get a brand new domain to rank well within just a few months with relevant links from links or resources pages.

Regardless of your "spread", relevancy and acquisition of the links in a slow/natural rate is the key. If you achieve the spread too quickly it won't hurt you but it also will not always help you.

[martinibuster]

Directories
There are only three I submit to lately, BOTW, DMOZ, and Yahoo.

Forums
This could be a good one but most people spam forums the same way some people make sex to their spouses, in and out, get it done. Which is a shame because it could be so much better. I was on a major fishing site that has a newsletter with fishing tips and trends. A recent newsletter sent to thousands of their subscribers contained a rave review about a trout catching lure that many fishing forums were discussing, a word of mouth thing where people used and reported back positive results. The reason people were talking about it was because he was participating in forums like a regular member while also answering questions about his products when people started discussing it... Someone at the magazine site saw all the forum chatter and decided to publicize it. Worked well for him.

Blogs
This is similar to forums. Only many forums are more influential than blogs. Positive word of mouth on forums can be a good thing. Word of mouth on blogs, less so. And the reason is because most blogs aren't followed as much, certainly not as much as on forums. Many blogs, regardless of pagerank, don't have much of a following or influence. Some of these blogs have snappy graphic design that makes them look professional, and the content can often match the quality as well. But I find that it's more often the case that the blog is not as successful as it may appear to be, regardless of content quality and professional graphic design.

It's important to verify a site via Quantcast, Alexa, and Google Trends for Websites to get an idea of how important a blog really is. It's not accurate, but if the site doesn't receive enough traffic to even be measured by Quantcast, chances are it's a dud and won't be useful.

There are blogs with good followings. Identify them by verifying them first then engage with them.