WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN LINKS ?

As you should all know by now links are the most important aspect in search engine optimisation and are what makes you get to number in Google, right ?

Well yes and no. Certainly, links are important especially in getting good results, for more competitive phrases, but not all links are created equal. There is a lot of mythology, misinformation and plain underhand dealings in the SEO marketplace about obtaining the right kind of links.

And while we're at it, don't you have to constantly follow Google because its algorithm changes on a daily basis and unless you follow its twists and turns you will fail miserably in the nirvana that is Google's number one spot? You guessed it, the truth ain't necessarily so. Much as there are plenty of people out there that would like to relieve you of your cash for "helping" you out.

The truth as ever, is somewhere buried within this concept, but is nowhere near as complicated. Google's business model relies upon giving the best search results to people, so it needs to ensure the top spots deserve them. The algorithm can be broken down into two simple processes:

1. what is the page about
2. is the page worthwhile in this topic

The first step involves keyword research and the second involves getting as much credibility as possible in your marketplace. And, quite frankly, you can work out what is worthwhile yourself. So for instance, would you say 500 links from any old site outsourced for $500 would be the best indication of quality content or a couple of high quality sites that are respected in your sector linking to you under your key phrases. Not really that difficult to work out is it? Essentially three simple indicators of the value of links are:

1. Relevancy - the link should be from a relevant page and preferably a relevant site
2. links for older sites tend to have a greater value than those from newer sites
3. page placement - links from within the content are often worth more than those on a links page and added ad hoc on a page such as in the footer or on a sidebar

If you follow these rules you will find that fewer of these quality links will more than outweigh dozens of links from non-relevant sites, merely because they will offer you a reciprocal link. It worked five years ago and it still works today, regardless of the minor or major amends to Google's algorithm

How to get these links though, well that's a different matter entirely, and that takes effort and application.

How much time and effort depends upon what those rankings are worth to you.

How to find links?

The easiest way of finding out good links is to see who your competitors have linking to them. And the best way of doing this is to use the Yahoo Link domain query. In order to do this, go to Yahoo and enter the following string into the search query:
linkdomain:thedomainname.com -inurl:thedomainname.com

For any other info please feel free to give us a call on (01273) 384287 and ask to speak to Guillaume or Clinton