Don’t Rely On Just One Type of Link Building
Writing by Brick Marketing in Link Building
The first step to any SEO strategy is to do keyword research and develop the website content and meta tags using targeted keywords. Once this has been done it’s time to move on to phase two, which includes ongoing link building. In order to be respected by the search engines, a website needs to have inbound links coming from legitimate sources that are relevant to the content of the site. The key to successful link building is that the links need to be diversified. A website that just uses one or two link building strategies is putting themselves at risk. While the search engines provide helpful tips regarding how they rank sites, we will never really know all of their secrets and if we want to be found in the search engines we are at their mercy. Google’s recent algorithm change to combat bad content is a prime example of why it’s important to take a diverse approach to link building and online marketing. Google decided that they wanted to crack down on bad content and many article marketing and document sharing sites took a hit, as did the companies that relied too heavily on this source of promotion and link building. This doesn’t mean that article marketing is dead, it just means that contributors need to be more aware of where they are submitting the content and make sure that it’s of good quality.
In addition to article marketing, here are 4 other ways to build respectable links and promote a website online:
Press Release Distribution
There are numerous press release distribution sites including PR Web, PR Leap, 24-7 Press Release, PR Log, and many others. Some are paid and others are free and some allow links in the body and others do not. Before submitting it’s best to do some research into which is best for your needs. Remember, a press release is different from an article and needs to be newsworthy. Distribute a press release anytime you launch a new product, attend an event, hire a new employee, add a new office location, or form a partnership.
Directory Submissions
There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of directory sites out there to choose from. Some charge a fee for a listing, but many are free. The key is that the directory should be of good quality and produce visitors to your site. Before submitting, check where the site is hosted and check the Compete score to determine its worth.
Local Search Engine Profiles
The big three search engines, Google, Yahoo, and Bing all allow companies to set up a local profile for free. If a company is national or has many different locations, it’s still a good idea to set up local profiles.
Blog Commenting
Check out blogs that pertain to your industry, customers, or business and leave comments that add value to the conversation. Most blogs allow individuals that comment to include a link with the comment. If you provide an interesting insight people may want to learn more about you.
Be sure to develop a link building strategy that occurs over six months to a year and stick to it. Remember, natural links will also build over time as your website is promoted and gains authority.
