RE: Bcentral.com

From: Eric Ward <netpost_at_netpost.com>
Date: Fri 29 Jun 2001 11:33:49 -0500

ROB FRANKEL <rob_at_robfrankel.com> WROTE:
 
> Which begs the question, "what about search engines
> based on link popularity?" One could argue (especially
> those unfamiliar with these intricacies) that any link
> is a good link, which helps rank on those types of
> engines.

> Do those other engines/directories -- even those nobody
> ever heard of -- help that cause?


Search engines that factor link popularity
into results do indeed ignore "junk" links.

Not all links are created equal and the engines give
greater weight to links they deem to be from more
authoritative sources. A link from yahoo! is more
important than a link from yoohoo!! But frankly, in
the long run, link popularity will not make the
difference between crappy rankings and good rankings,
because there are so many ways to scam up links.

I've seen several link scams that attempt to subvert
the process. Shared links pages, free for all sites,
remote hosted link lists.

So that FFA (free for all) links page is a waste of
time and nothing more than a spam harvester, as are
most all other create-a-link-in an-instant offers.

As for second tier but legitimate directories or
search engines the link wont have any impact on
popularity, but is worth securing if that venue
attracts the folks you think would be looking for you.

The goal of link seeking shouldn't be to improve
rankings with engines. That should be a pleasant side
effect if you link-seek the right way. The goal instead
is to methodically build a network of links to your
site at venues that are a logical and topical match
or your content.

If you get better rankings, so be it, but even if you
don't you've built a nice network of 24/7 links that
each will send you some new traffic. Imagine you had
1000 links, but each one only sent you 1 visitor a week.
Thats 52,000 new visitors a year.

 -Eric

_____________________________________________________
E r i c W a r d . c o m http://www.EricWard.com
Content Announcements and Link Building Strategies Since 1994
    mailto:eric_at_ericward.com -==- voice: 850.974.5393

 "Ward has been the Svengali behind the scenes of some
  of the Web's best known launches, from Amazon.com to
  Rodney.com" -- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (May, 1998)
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Received on Fri Jun 29 2001 - 11:33:49 CDT