Link Building Service Dallas Texas
When Google popularized the concept of ranking sites based partly on their link popularity, the logic was
that the most deserving sites would naturally have the most quality links to them. Essentially, any site could be optimized
for a certain keyword phrase, but unless other sites validated this page by linking to it, it would
not rank highly. This, of course, led marketers to question how they could improve their link popularity.
The answer is just as advertising, sponsorships, and public relations work accomplish this in the offline world,
so do they in the online world. Further, since all of the major search engines now utilize some form of link popularity
as a factor in ranking sites, improving a site's link popularity is a very important part of a search engine
marketing campaign.
At Catanich, our process for improving a site's link popularity can vary greatly from client to client, but it
often takes on the following structure.
Link Potential Identification
The first step in the link enhancement process is identifying potential link opportunities. In this process we
manually check the "back links" for competitive sites that are ranking well for your desired terms. Specifically,
we enter your key search phrases, click on the top ranking sites, and then review who is linking to them and why.
After doing this for a number of phrases, we will have a pretty good feel for where the best link opportunities lie.
Once complete, this information is presented to the client for review. Common link opportunities include:
- Specialty Directories — In addition to major online directories like Yahoo, ODP,
and Looksmart, there are typically directories or buyers guides for
every major industry that provide online listings and links.
- Partners — Many companies have partners in distributors, sales agents, and key
suppliers who may link to their site.
- Complementary Sites — Other sites that don't compete with you but sell to your
same target market are often interested in sharing traffic.
- Advertising and Sponsorships — Many sites get link popularity from ads that
they run or events/organizations that they sponsor.
- Online Media — Link building programs can be integrated with standard public
relations or through the use of PRWeb™, PR Newswire or others to gain
exposure in online media.
Link Building
Having identified potential link partners, we can now turn to requesting, purchasing, or exchanging links.
In an ideal world, every site would want to link to your site simply because it was informative, helpful,
and useful to their readers. In reality, links often need to be purchased or exchanged.
Free Links
Specialty directories will often list qualified sites for free as they are looking to provide good content
and attract more visitors to their own sites. They typically save the top spots for advertisers, but many
directories can still provide some link popularity. Also, distributors, agents and suppliers will often
link to your site for free as they stand to benefit from your success. Your PR work can also provide free
links, but there are typically expenses associated with creating and distributing the news releases.
Paid Links
For most sites, there are often numerous "on topic" sites that will sell them ad space. The key is in
prioritizing these based on:
- The quantity and quality of visitors they will generate for your site.
- The link popularity they will pass to your site.
- The cost.
Many sites that sell ads or listings offer absolutely no link popularity transfer. The links often show up
on pages buried deep in their site or are redirected through a secondary database.
Reciprocal Links
Complementary sites, partners, and directories are often willing to exchange links in order to improve
their own site's link popularity. This is a very gray area of search engine optimization and must be done
carefully to avoid joining "link farms" or "link exchange programs" that are frowned upon by the search
engines. Your Catanich account manager will help execute this part of your program.
Resource Page Development
In order to implement a reciprocal linking program, we create a "Resources" or "Links" page that outlines your
linking guidelines and serves as your own resource page.
Press Release Submission Sites
Directory Submission Sites
Classified Listing Sites
Article Submission Sites
Social Bookmarking Sites
Blog Directories Sites
Education & Support
As part of our program, we also advise clients on how to best structure their linking campaign (so as to
complement their on-page optimization) and run their ongoing link building efforts.
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