Nov

Building SEO Backlinks: Why Less Can Be More

There is a common belief in the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) community that maximizing the quantity of backlinks is the most effective way to build a powerful search engine presence. It is certainly backed by evidence — many popular websites are built on thousands of low quality links — but it is definitely not the only way to achieve search engine success. There are SEO strategies extending beyond quantity and mass linking, many of which are more effective, more manageable, and more scalable than a mass linking campaign. One of those is high quality micro-link building.

High quality micro-link building is a strategy that is extremely powerful to marketers. Instead of building a massive amount of links with little to no real value behind them, high quality link building is about creating small amounts of incredibly valuable links. Whether it is from a guest blog post on a popular website or simply a text link on the front page of a major Google influence, micro-link building focuses on highly valuable links in small quantities.

A lot of marketers think that it is impossible to get these links, either because of the quality of their products or the relationships required to get real link power. Yes, you need connections to build these micro-links, and yes — you need a product that is worth linking to. However, these are not impossibilities. While they require more initial effort than a large scale link building campaign, they are infinitely more sustainable in the long-term, and much more powerful for your search engine presence. Let us put the two side by side. Mass links are not dynamic — they can lose value very quickly — and with the rules of search constantly changing, they are often valuable one day and worthless the next. High value links are always worth their weight in the search engines. They have got age on their side, search engine authority behind them, and are insulated from the effects of search term changes, SEO competition, and reputation trashing competitors.

As an online marketer, your focus should be on building these links before any others. Sure, that single link on del.icio.us and Digg is worth a little, but it is certainly not a long-term strategy. Search terms change every other month, and when your entire strategy is built on this thin link value, it is easy to have it all fall out from underneath you.

Invest in personal relationships, guest post on popular blogs, and dedicate your SEO efforts to long-term micro-link building. By playing this way, you are not just preparing for the long-term, but investing in yourself in the short-term. A guest post on a popular blog is worth much more than an empty link on an obscure article directory, and the direct traffic alone will tide you over until your search engine rankings improve. Focus on value, set low quality links aside, and build your SEO foundation one contact at a time. You will build long-term authority, consistent and powerful sales, and a brand presence that is not peppered with low quality content.

One of my favorite websites, SEOmoz, had published a great article about this — including this video below. Awesome stuff!

Oh, and if you need help implementing your backlink strategy, look no further. Give me a call! You’ve got more important things to do, right? Or at least more fun…

SEOmoz Whiteboard Friday – Dude, Your Links Kinda Suck from Scott Willoughby on Vimeo.

AND…

SEOmoz Whiteboard Friday – How to Get Awesome Links from Scott Willoughby on Vimeo.

Andrea Kalli
Certified Internet and Social Marketing VA

Your powerhouse virtual assistant support for:
Keyword and Competition Research, on-page SEO, and Link Building strategies
WishList – Wordpress Membership Sites and Retention Strategies, Wordpress Support

MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: You should assume that I, Andrea Kalli, have an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned in this page and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

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