Getting Backlinks

[Lori]

One of the most critical elements to SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is getting backlinks to your website. A back link is another website linking to your site.

The search engines do evaluate your website for different criteria and the amount and quality of websites linking to you is taken into account.

The best backlinks to acquire are ones that are related to your website. If you have a website about health products, you would want to acquire links from websites with similar, or complementary content.

Some ways to build your backlinks are as follows:

1. Create a Buzz.
Provide excellent content on your website that people will voluntarily want to link to.
2. Distribute free content.
Write informative or entertaining articles and submit them to webmasters to publish on their sites in exchange for them allowing you to place a link to your website in the bio at the bottom of the article.
3. Forum Signatures.
Participate actively on forums and include a link in your signature if the forum allows it.
4. Reciprocal Linking.
Exchange links with other webmasters.
5. Blog Commenting.
Read blogs in your niche and make comments on posts.
6. Submit online press releases. Distribute news about your businesses to PR Services such as PRWeb Direct, PRNewsWire and MarketWire.

Any other ideas?

[OffAssist]

Hi Lori,

Just a question... it was my understanding that on #5, the search engines ignore blog comments. I, of course, still do it because I like to get my name out there... I was just wondering if I had heard wrong... LOL... I know Blogger blocks comments from the spiders, I remember reading that on their help pages.

[Lori]

That's true, it's a good point. If the blog is using the 'no follow' tag on their comments links then it won't be counted. Not all blogs do at this point, to my knowledge... but this stuff is always changing!

You're right, the links are still good for networking though :)

Although - to clarify for newbies... the comments should be worthwhile to read! And the link should not be placed in the comment text. Usually when commenting you're asked to put your name and your website, then your comment. Your name will be linked to your website.

That's my understanding anyway Candy -- let me know if you find out more.

[Audrey]

http://ezinearticles.com/blog/ This is a post I just read today that Google is now sending alerts on blog posts.

Different blogs are set up differently. One of my favorites is whatcanimakewithit.com

[Lori]

Hi Audrey,

I noticed that Google has been sending blogs AND some forum threads via the alerts. I think it's terrific!

There is a setting in your alerts that lets you choose if you do or don't want to receive them though. And if you do, you should login to your google account and change your settings to 'comprehensive' to receive the blog stuff in addition to your regular news...

Candy,

I just did some research and I think you're right... a lot of the popular blog services/softwares have adopted the no follow tag by default. The new wordpress for example... so unless the webmaster changed it, the links are worthless for PR.

I'm glad you brought that up!

So, blog comments should be struck from our list for SEO purposes... but for networking are indispensible :)

Lori

[Lori]

Here's an article (http://blogs.webpronews.com/2006/11/28/are-linkbait-campaigns-hurt-by-nofollow/) I wanted to reference in light of our conversation here. It's from Chris Richardson of WebProNews.

Hope everyone is well!

Lori

[tam2005]

Wow interesting article there Lori. ;)

This following statement caught my eye! LOL

stories and articles that make it to the front page of Digg receive an average of 2000 new links in 2 weeks…

:eek: Amazing!

Thanks for sharing. :)