Link building strategy for SEO is still as important as it used to be ten years ago. Despite using all other means of improving SERP rankings, you just cannot afford to pay less attention to your link building strategy. Google still considers your inbound link profile to determine the website authority that in turn influences search rankings. However, you must be completely conversant with the rules and guidelines of link building as set by Google and comply with it to achieve the best results.
That is where the problem begins because proper interpretation of the guidelines is essential for implementing the link building exercise in the right way, but users often get confused. The confusion occurs from different ambiguous explanations about the guidelines. It results in a generation of wrong ideas about link building that leads to myths that are far from the truth.
In this article, we will discuss some issues about link building that result from wrong interpretation of Google guidelines and leads to some incorrect inference. Unless you remove these false notions, you can never reach to the core of link building to unravel its real powers. Once you can break through the veil of myths, a new horizon of opportunities would open before you. Read on to know how you could derive the maximum benefit of link building without tripping on the rules.
Accepting links from websites with low Domain Authority
People often say that you must not accept links from sites that have low domain authority. That is not correct because domain authority has no significance in the context of the quality of websites. Domain authority is entirely a different parameter that Google determines with the help of several metrics by relating it to the search rankings and it reflects neither the quality of links nor the quality of websites. Google only considers the worth of links based on its quality and does not at all consider either the quality of the website or its domain authority. Therefore, just forget about domain authority when sourcing inbound links and judge the quality of the link only.
Obtaining links from directories
The experts at Sage Mauk SEO consider online directories as an important source for collecting links because there is no reason why you cannot get links from these sources. However, you must avoid seeking links from low-quality directories, directories specifically focused to SEO, and paid link directories because these directories attract Google penalty. Judge the quality of directories carefully before approaching it for links. Be sure that the directories are not part of any clandestine link-building groups that practice black hat techniques. Work with directories that list high-quality sites, as these are dependable for seeking links.
Doing too much too fast when gathering links
The speed at which you gather links can sometimes become a matter of concern because if you gather too many links very rapidly, Google suspects foul play and it might put you in trouble. Speedy link building is a feature of spammy link building process and is the reason why Google discourages it. If you investigate the cases that have attracted Google’s penalty for fast link building, it will support this fact. If you stick to fair link building process and acquire quality links, there is no reason to fear penalty only because you could manage to do it very fast.
Approaching other websites for links
No one prevents you from persuading other sites to share links with you in a fair way. What Google discourages is networking with sites with the purpose of trading in links. As long as you are not involved in buying or selling links, whether in cash or kind, there is nothing to fear. Honesty is what matters most to Google for the sake of fair business practice. Be judicious to deal with authority websites and directories by verifying their credentials before engaging in any exchange. You can always approach any directory or website with a request to include your business link so that you could get back links from them.
Placing your link on other websites
If you want to put your website link on any other website to gain higher rankings, then there is no reason to fear that Google might penalize you. It is an established practice to place ‘no follow’ links on other websites with clear understanding with the website owners because this enhances site performance. It used to be a problem when PageRank was the only ranking algorithm that Google had to depend upon, but now that it is no more the only ranking algorithm, you can build relations with other websites to place your link there.
Variations in anchor text between brand and keywords
Google hates keyword spinning. If it happens that most of your anchor texts match with the majority of keywords with least reference to the brand or business it sends wrong signals to Google that becomes suspicious about your ways. However, if you can establish to Google that your link building process is legitimate and as per the rules of the search engine, then there is nothing to worry about. Be ready to show Google that whatever you are doing is in accordance with the rules and guidelines of link building without any ulterior motive.
Number of links to obtain from a single website
There is a misconception that to obtain better ranks in search results you must maintain a diverse link profile and to attain it you must obtain as few links as possible from any particular website. No one knows if there is any relation between link diversity and search rankings and even if it is correct, you can obtain as many links as you like from one particular website. The quality of backlinks and not websites is what Google considers important for determining the value of the site and its authority.
More clarity you have about the link building guidelines and its implications, more advantage you get in deriving its benefits. Do not be carried away by ideas until you verify it with the ground realities.
Guest article written by: Tiffany Parker had been associated with Sage Mauk SEO as an SEO expert before taking up her present assignment as digital marketing head in a new company. She is a well-known personality in the industry, and of late, she has been attracted to blogging, her latest passion.