The Big Link Secret

Emails came in last week from Danny Sullivan with invites to speak at the upcoming Search Engine Strategies (SES) conference in New York. I’ve been asked to participate in the four linking panels being offered – Link Basics, Link Strategies, Buying and Selling Links and the Link Building Clinic.

Of the four sessions, the Link Clinic is the most audience interactive; we share tactics, tools and a couple funny stories while answering any question thrown our way.

Invariably someone will ask for "our secrets" and to share opinions on what’s the most effective linking technique we use. Since each panelist approachs linking from a different perspective the answers vary and can be very polar ;)

However there is one thing we all agree on and never fail to say during every clinic which is -– no one single long-term linking tactic will drive you to the top.

And keep you there.
And be totally search engine friendly.
Period.

Linking is not an island (that’s a link farm) and can’t be the only thing to focus on if you want to rank well on the search engines. It’s part of an overall process and if you want to be successful online you have to make it part of that process.

Different sites need different strategies to succeed; a good link builder will take the time to listen, research and then initiate a strong link marketing strategy to bring a client to their goal by incorporating several tactics to the mix.

Don't let your site become the big secret. Mix it up!

v7ndotcom elursrebmem

If you're active in SEOLand, then you're aware of the latest and greatest contest that's been launched.

Me, I don't pay much attention to stuff I can't pronouce but I'm all for charity so if you're gonna play/watch/chuckle at this, do it for a good cause and click this link:

v7ndotcom elursrebmem
Using the web to help kids with cancer.

Buy A Membership

Regardless of what type of site you own or industry you're in it's highly likely there's a trade association associated with it. Joining these organizations provides multiple business benefits but from a link building standpoint here are two really good ones:

The Association has a website you can be listed on - and
The Association has like businesses as members.

With the push to link with sites in same or complimentary niches, being a member of your trade association makes it easy to identify potential link partners. All you have to do is research the membership database, determine which sites would be your best "link partner bet" and then ask/rent a link from them.

Once the link's in place, the next step is to do a little referral link marketing....

Slashdot / Del.icio.us / Digg

Being Link Fashionable

Was reading today's Research Brief from the Center Of Media Search and this stuck out:

The report notes that "what is intriguing is the shift in interest from low-carb and fad diets to more scientific and balanced approaches, as indicated by the top search terms for the Health & Medical - Wellbeing Category."

The shift in fads isn't limited to the weight loss world, link building seems to be experiencing the same thing. Less technical linking talk these days and more emphasis on linking through marketing. Seems my "it's not linking it's marketing" tag is back in fashion!

Whoo hoo! Break out the earth shoes and the TAB.

Link Credibility

I’m not a fan of developing content and then sending it away to reside in an article directory. I’ve done that in the past but have never gotten anything substantial out of it long or short term. With so many being submitted, articles are quickly buried and out of site. It’s doubtful anyone looking for fresh information will spend much time searching past the first page of article titles.

This isn’t a put down of article directories; on the contrary, I’ve seen some great pieces in them. But the article directories only host information; they don’t enforce the proper use of the article or police them once they’ve been downloaded. That’s your job and quite frankly, the time you spend monitoring your article will trump the back links they bring in. (Many people simply do not comply with publication guidelines and provide hyperlinked bylines. )

Instead, use the articles you're creating to develop a premier resource center on your website. Once the section has been created, do a media and public relations blitz to let the world know they’re there, that you're the expert they need to quote in their next article and the one-stop authority spot for Product X. Your site benefits and the noise you make within your industry to customers, the public and the media will help establish you as a key player.

For the last couple of years I’ve offered a content generation tactic I call “Link Libraries”. In a nutshell, it’s a service that adds content to a site and then promotes it to the media. It’s a solid tactic that generates links and establishes the site as a key information provider to journalists in a specific niche. I’ve added articles, white papers, surveys, reviews, etc – any type of information a customer may look for to help make a purchase decision.

There are two key factors to making this one of the best link building tactics available today.

1. You have to have good information to showcase
2. You need to find the right people to show it off to.

I believe credibility in the content creation tactic is the key driving force for securing links. People automatically assign credibility to information they read in news sources, presented by journalists, or find naturally on informational/review publications.

Develop solid content and find your media people on resource sites such as Burrelles Luce, your industry Association and even local Chambers. Search on keywords “free press release services” and you’ll find tons of sites that will send a release free-of-charge. ( most offer premier paid versions as well).

2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!