Google’s algorithm is always evolving, and the importance of backlinks—especially those with exact match anchor text—has fallen off quite a bit. In fact, you can be punished quite severely for having an unnatural link profile. However, quality backlinks from trusted sources still carry their weight and are worth seeking out and developing. If you are still buying links from sketchy blackhat SEO companies overseas or here in the US and have gotten away with it so far you should STOP IMMEDIATELY. In fact, you should make an effort to get as many of those links removed as possible before you are found out. Google doesn’t like when people try to game the system.
For those of us who have remained on the up and up with their SEO strategies, there are still legitimate ways to get links back to your website and the associated SEO “link-juice” to help boost your website’s rankings. While reviewing the list below, and implementing your SEO strategies, please remember to keep your link profile looking natural. That means the anchor text should mostly be just the name of your business or the url. Only very sparingly should you use exact match anchor text links from outside sources (exact match is okay if for internal linking). While the best way to get high quality links is from other local businesses in your area, whether that’s Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix, Prescott or Flagstaff, here are a few places you can get links right away.
1. The Big Three
Google, Yahoo & Bing are the big boys when it comes to internet listing sites. You’ll want to be sure that you have an optimized business/maps listing with each, linked to your website. This is a big one when it comes to ranking on all three. While most people use Google, Bing and Yahoo are making strides so you don’t want to dismiss those users. Plus it’s a free link!
2. Social Media Sites
Basically every social media site has a place where you can include a link to your website on your profile. These links will carry the most weight if you are actually active with your account, but even if you don’t plan on using a site like Pinterest or tumblr much, set up a profile linking to your website and post on it once or twice a month just to keep it minimally active. Social media sites where you can create a profile include Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Linkedin, Instagram, tumblr, flickr, youtube, myspace and more are popping up all the time.
3. Other Directories and Listing Sites
There are listing sites specific to your profession as well as more broad directory sites. If you’re in the law field you’ll want to have an optimized listing on sites like lawyercentral.com and justia.com. If you’re in real estate there’s agentpreview.com. Some broad, non-specific listing sites where you can get free listings include customerservicenumbers.com and showmelocal.com.
If you want some help getting your website listed across the web and optimized for the best chance at ranking for your key terms, contact New Wine Web Design today!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (2/14/2016) Dennis Haslam(Flickr)