Balancing Inbound and Outbound Links - Beware the Link Myths
(Page 3 of 4 )
Myth #1 - Sites can leak PageRank, and by outbound linking, you are inadvertently siphoning off your PageRank to the site being linked.
Contrary to popular belief, sites don't "leak" PageRank from outbound links. Sites get into trouble with their PageRank if their outbound links are to anyone and everyone who wants a link, with no rhyme or reason, or to sites in "bad neighborhoods" (which is an entirely different article), or to their own family of sites. I'm sure for some, I'm telling you nothing new; however I'm merely attempting to remind those who do know all of this. It's difficult to change people's perceptions at times, especially when good SEO changes nearly every three months; you simply cannot rest on your laurels, nor expect what worked for you last time will work for you today.
Let's look at the concept of "leaking" PageRank. Many webmasters get a few terms confused, and use them interchangeably. Terms like PageRank, traffic, and inbound links really all mean different things, even if they are all somewhat related to another. In my humble opinion, the idea that sites "leak" PageRank is nothing more than that pressed meat you put on sandwiches; meaning that this idea is entirely fiction. But the concept is so ubiquitous that it lurks around every corner of SEO sites on the web. In fact, it is probably the biggest myth around when it comes to links in general. And while so-called "experts" can argue the mathematical possibility of a site's ability to leak its PR, there is nothing that actually backs up the theory -- as if Google doesn't have an endless amount of PageRank, which it has to divide up among all the Internet's websites? That's silly if you really think about it.
Sure, there is a mathematical equation for PageRank. Trust me; this is NOT what I'm talking about. What I'm referring to is the mathematical formula that determines whether PageRank is transferred from one site or a page to another. Folks, there isn't any such thing. And because this concept has people confused (yes, SEOs too), this is where the cross-contamination of terminology occurs.
Myth #2 - Reciprocal linking is BAD. One way links are GOOD.
While in certain situations, this statement may hold a kernel of truth, overall, generalities such as this get our thinking skewed. The whole purpose of reciprocal linking is to share traffic, create resources for visitors, and promote a sense of connectivity to the Web. Reciprocal linking, in my opinion, has never been about PageRank or search engine positioning. Does reciprocal linking help a site's PageRank? Probably not. Does connecting like sites together promote "find-ability" in the SERPs? I think so. But when I say "like sites" I mean that they share a common theme, have the same types of information, or in some way complement each other.
It would be helpful to someone looking to travel to Egypt, for example, to visit a site that compares prices on hotel and airfare that is linked to another site that has a review of entertainment options in Egypt. The sites complement each other. Another example would be for a site that caters to Search Engine Optimization to United States customers to be linked to a site that does the same for webmasters in the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, in order to get one-way links, which are the jewels of link-building, someone has to be giving away those links. If we all hoped to get links, but never gave them, then there would be no such thing as one-way links at all.
Next: More Link Myths >>
More Search Optimization Articles
More By Jennifer Sullivan Cassidy
|
| · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | · | | | | |
|
/ 19 
