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What does Google look for in a site to get a high ranking?
if you type widget into google then google is trying to find relevent info for the "keyword" widget - a search engine that ignores keyword would just be a tool for pulling random results from the net!
google looks for many different things including -
link pop
keywords in links
keywords in outbound links
keyword density
dmoz listing etc..
How do you get other sites to link to your site?
How do you get other sites to link to your site?
Agentwebranking
That's not as simple as it sounds, I've tried that w/o any success... Is there a method to the madness?
eg, if you sell widgets accessories then a widget repair, widget sales, or widget information site would be a target.
Then find the webmaster or info or enquiries email address.
Your message should be along the lines of:
Hi, I run a site that deals with xxxxxx and I think that this might me relevant to the users of your site.
Would it be possible for you to add a link to my site (Ive already put a link to your site on mine)? Only if you feel it is appropriate. :)
For your info, my site has xxx number or visitors each month, who fall into xxxx category and I believe that by sending traffic between our sites we could provide useful information / service for both our visitors.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Kind Regards
Your Name
Your Title
Your Site URL
JOAT
Yes spend 1 hr a day tracking down sites and contact webmasters, if they don't respond after 3 weeks send a polite chase up email, I normally find the second email works
Make sure you use a spreadsheet and make a note of sites contacted. It works
[webmasterworld.com...]
Before I understood the importance of quality links pointing to my websites, I didn't dedicate very much time to acquiring them.
First, your website has to be "ready" to have other websites to link to you. Quality content and useful information is, as far as I'm concerned, the most important aspect of any Internet website. Webmasters are looking to improve the relevance and quality of their site, by linking to yours. You are not only providing content and information for your visitors, but also for the visitors coming through from these links.
I'm a firm believer that an aesthetically pleasing website helps too. Mind you, all design and no content makes me hit a Back Button faster than an old west gun slinger.
When other folks, like yourself, email me to exchange links, I take a good hard look at what their site has to offer my visitors. Remember this when you request a link exchange from any Webmaster. Tell them how your website could prove useful and relevant to theirs. I usually mention the advantages to both websites, including themes and PageRank. Make it seem like a mini business proposal, since that is basically what you are doing.
Finally, you are going to get a lot of cold shoulders. I've sent out hundreds of email requests for link exchanges, and don't recieve replies from a large percentage of them. Don't get discouraged if no one answers, it will happen more often than not. Webmasters are usually very busy people, but most will take the time to improve the diversity of their website by providing links to other sites in their area of interest.
Just keep searching for on-topic websites and keep sending emails to the Webmasters, the 25 rejections you get are worth it for every link you DO get.
Hope this helps.
- Chad
Do they have to be related sites?
..They don't HAVE to be related, but it's the best place to start.
Jackofalltrades said:
When looking for sites to link to you, think where your users are likely to come from and then look for sites that way.
..and that's probably your best advice. Always remember your target market and appeal to it.
Is your site for information purposes or are you selling products or services?
Well then, you have a large audience and related websites shouldn't be all that difficult to seek out.
Let's say your service is Pest Control (for sake of an example). On your website you offer information on how to avoid a roach infestation. This won't really impact the amount of business you do, since people will always have a need for Pest Control experts.
Therefore, your offering helpful, useful content to your visitors free of charge, which is always good.
Good place to start is to check out the competition. Do a link:bigtimepestcontrolcompany.com search to find out where others are getting their links from.
Also check out:
- Local community webpages
- Message boards focused on your service or area of interest
- Small local business directories
- Pest information websites ("The Red Ant Information Page"...etc..)
Cheers
- SlyGuy
How is this done?
link:competitiondomain.com
and have a look around! This is a list of the links pointing to any particular domain. It's useful to find out where your competition is getting their links from, may give you a few good ideas on where to search for your own.
- Chad
How is this done on Google?
As you can tell, I'm new to this
A new world will open up to you :)
Yes, the meta keywords tags has been a thing of the past for quite a while now. The term "keywords," though, is very sloppily used... some people use it to refer to the words they're targeting, so when someone says something like "doing keywords" in reference to SEO, I really have no idea what they're talking about, but I usually fear for the worst.
I try not to use the word "keywords" for anything except the meta keywords tag. I call the rest "target words" or "target phrases," or, like Overture, "search terms." Anything else gets sloppy and confusing. Maybe we should change the name of the "Keyword Discussion" forum to something less confusing. ;)
For example, I make stained glass windows. I would not put a link anywhere on my site to another stained glass studio, however I would consider trading links with a really high class woodworker, or a sculptor, or an abstract painter, etc. A person who buys a handmade corner table for $500 just might be the kind of customer who would want a $400 window at some point (and vice versa), so we complement each other nicely.
After you think about what kind of sites you want to have a link agreement with, then you should see how well they do in the search engines. If they do well, it is fair to assume that they will get decent traffic. So I would think of the most likely search terms that potential customers might use to find those sites, and I'd plug each of those terms into Google. The sites in the top 10 or 15 are the ones I'd go after.
While visiting each of those sites, I would look at the quality of their web design - if it looks amateurish or unprofessional, do you really want to associate yourself with them? I'd also want them to have their own registered domain name, otherwise it is more likely than not that you'll be looking at a deadlink in the not too distant future.
Finally, how many other links are they presenting. If you are one of 200 on their "favorite links" page, and in your own case they are one of 10, is that to your benefit in the long run?
To keep all this info organized, as was suggested, use a spreadsheet. Or make up a simple chart - put the url's down the left side, and across the top put:
Description ¦ Search Term ¦ Goog Position ¦ Design Quality ¦ # Links ¦ Contact? ¦ Date
So that might look like this:
site1.com ¦ wood desks ¦ "handmade tables" ¦ 3 ¦ good ¦ 9 ¦ yes ¦ 10/17/02
It is not the number of reciprocal links, it is their *quality* that matters. If you get one a week that meets your criteria, then this time next year you'll be on 50+ sites that you are proud to be associated with - and that is time well spent..
What does Google look for?
I still think keyword in the domain also makes a good difference.
Today I used a key phrase and this is what I found.
# 1 PR 5 & 50 incoming links (that is what google showed).
# 2 PR 7 & 1040 incoming links [Site is totally off the topic and not relevant to search]
This is my favorite :)
# 3 PR 0 [Yup, White toolbar & site seems (at least I *think* so) like they have played game in past] But they have the domain www.keyphrase.com
# 4 PR 6 & 14 incoming links.
There were few other interesting sites, but I think, # 3 proves my point :)
However, and this is going to sound a little non-sensical, one of the best ways to continue receiving incoming links long term it not to go chasing them. Rather to continue building quality content for your site. That way you will find all sorts of people and sites linking to your site, unasked, and from places you would never have thought of, simply because you will have a great site people want to link to.
Onya
Woz
how long does it take to show my links?
Google has to spider/index web sites linking back to you, to realize/recognize them as sites linking back to you.
"I suggest you contact other Webmasters to swap links."
That's not as simple as it sounds, I've tried that w/o any success... Is there a method to the madness?
It is very simple... but you need to switch your perspective.
Review the site content of sites you would like a link from and email.
Comment on their site quality (something particular) and how this content would benefit your visitors if you had a link to them.
Wait for a response...
More likely the ones that response, will review your site and once you have opened a dialogue up with the web site owner -- it is far easier to get something in return.
