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By crawling between web pages via links, search engines can discern whether a website is popular or unpopular. To win this popularity contest, a website must have many links from other websites pointing toward it. The process of analysing link information has been honed by search engines exceptionally well. So much so that search engines can now produce detailed assessments of a website by examining its link structure.
Search engines work under the assumption that quality websites will naturally link to other high quality websites. Untrustworthy websites are likely to have less links then their reliable counterparts, making link counting an excellent way to determine the credibility of a website.
Whilst Search Engine Marketers do not know every factor search engines consider when analysing links, some elements have been shown to make a difference. These factors are explained below.
Popular websites are generally considered to be trustworthy, professional and reliable. Links from popular websites to your website are given greater weight by search engines.
A high proportion of websites on the internet are spam. To identify legitimate websites and reward them, search engines look for links from trustworthy websites. Links from reliable websites will help your ranking immensely.
If a single web page makes excellent use of keywords in its content and attracts a high number of links from other websites, it is likely to rank exceptionally well for the keywords in question.
Links generated from websites focusing on a specific area of expertise are considered to be more important than links from websites containing unrelated or broad content.
Search engines look at the big picture when determining the credibility of a website so choose who you link to carefully. If you are linking to a ‘spammy’ website, your ranking may decrease.
There are multiple ways to build quality links to your website. The list below describes some of the most common and simple methods.
Submission – Involves asking people to link to your website. For example, sending your link to websites or bloggers related to your business.
Self-Generated – These links are generated by Search Engine Marketers and include providing your link to a forum, blog or guestbook. They are generally low in value.
Natural links – Are from websites that have organically mentioned your website in their content. This often happens when a website offers high quality content.
A multitude of quality links to your website is one of the most effective ways to boost your search engine ranking. It is also one of the hardest tasks Search Engine Marketers perform. Here are some of the strategies used by the experts.
Directories – Placing a website on numerous directories. Make sure they are legitimate and relevant to the content on your website.
Customers – Ask your clients to link to your website. Instead of linking from a word, you could send them a logo or badge to link from.
Sharing Information – Being a valuable resource to your industry will encourage people to link to your website. Start a blog and start sharing.
Engaging Content – Make content so fascinating that people pass it on. Think outside the box and offer articles, videos or graphics that spark interest.
Licensing Contracts – Provide people with photos, data or videos that they can use on the condition they link back to your website.
Purchasing links to your website is not approved by major search engines, which devote time and energy into detecting offenders. Search engines consider this practice cheating and although they may not always detect if a website uses paid links, it is a risk not worth taking. Building links organically is the most effective way to achieve long term search engine success for your website.