Linkbait, Social Networking, and Hardcore SEO
(Page 1 of 4 )
If you’ve completed the on-page optimization for your web site, it’s time to look at the off-page half of your work. With Google getting better at spotting paid links and reciprocal link exchanges, you’ll need something more natural to give you “link juice.” Then again, if you’re thinking only in terms of link juice, you just might be doing it wrong.
If you've been following my articles recently, you know that I've been writing about a recent post Michael Martinez made in his "SEO Theory and Analysis" blog. In that post, he gave a list of 20 hardcore SEO tips and explained each one.
I'm glad he explained them, because many of the tips seemed counter-intuitive. For example, why would you want to stop using keywords in your URLs? But actually doing each tip gives the student an education guaranteed to advance his or her skills as an SEO. You might not WANT to stop using keywords in your URLS, but it's good to know HOW to do SEO without them. That way, if you're ever in a position where you can't use keywords in your URLs - due to a stubborn client, perhaps - you won't be at a loss for ideas.
The tips in this article focus on the kinds of things you can do that don't involve your site directly. Most of them require you to go off-site, to participate in some way on other sites and forums. Even the few that do involve your site will require you to do some active work off-site.
Don't assume, however, that this article will show you how to get away with social networking spam. Martinez has a low opinion of that sort of thing. For example, his eighteenth tip tells readers to "Find a niche directory you have never heard of before that you feel is honestly listing unique, useful Web sites. Promote that niche directory through links and comments on your own sites until you see improvement in its Compete, Quantcast, and Alexa metrics." With this kind of promotion, what's in it for you? There's the bonus you gain by association of pointing people to a useful resource. But there's also the little matter of learning what it takes "to become an influencer without cheating through social media Web site spam," according to Martinez.
Next: Know the How and Why of Social Media >>
More Website Promotion Articles
More By Terri Wells
/ 8 
