Building SEO Backlinks: Why Less Can Be More

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seogoogle Building SEO Backlinks: Why Less Can Be MoreThere 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.

Posted on November 17, 2009 by in Online Business, Promotion and Marketing, seo

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About Andrea Kalli

Andrea has over 6 years helping entrepreneurs develop their business dreams through solid online marketing strategy planning, implementation, marketing, and maintenance. "Your goals are my goals. We do this together." ~Andrea
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  • sam

    I think qaulity links are very useful to improve seo….
    Backlinks is very important for website importance on search engines.

  • Sandy Brisbane

    Hi All. Are any of the directories on the net like Brownbook, Linked in and Hot frog worth registering in?

  • http://www.google.com Besoxywosse

    if you had complete with all stuff of on-page than you need to create backlinks for this forums which will certainly boost your website visibility and positions in search engines.

  • Link Building – Felipa Guzmdn

    I couldn’t agree more. So where do you find the best link building services? At the best prices?

  • Professional Writing Services

    It is best to perform your link building strategy carefully and selectively, rather than look to link farms, even those more aesthetically appealing websites today that are nothing more than link farms underneath. Authority links based on real relationships will always carry more weight and good content has far more weight in terms of search engine rankings than many would lead you to believe

  • Erik Z.

    i consider my seomoz membership to be the bet money i ever spent but i also joined socialadr and have seen massive benefit from their backlinking campaigns. i think your readers will appreciate this:

  • Sasha Cole

    Fantastic article. SEO strategies can be a great way to enhance ones advertising plan without the risk of financial investment. This is definitely one of the better articles I’ve seen printed on this site. My hats goes off to you!

  • Kevin

    Quality over quantity just seems to be a universal rule, even on the internet. I agree wholeheartedly that this is definitely the way to go. Create a solid foundation for you to stand on, and you’ve got no where to go but up!

    I honestly find it amazing how Google can even sift through everyone’s backlinks to find true quality work, and they’ve done a brilliant job in this way by indirectly getting people to work smarter not harder.

  • Sidney Moun

    Backlinks are essentially the online version of the grapevine. You could even liken them to pyramid marketing if you think about it long enough. They are a crucial element in how well your page ranks with search engines. If you are going to get the most out of SEO practices then you simply cannot ignore the need to get backlinks of high quality and high page rankings themselves.

  • Del Smithers

    I am a newbie to internet marketing and I am trying to do everything right now, rather than later. I am so glad to have found this website. It is certainly some of the best advice I have encountered so far. There is just so much dis-information out there and a newbie can be easily mislead. I am trying to build a business and I found the advice very helpful indeed. Thanks!