Link Popularity & Website Marketing

What is Link Popularity & Why Is It Important?

Finding quality web sites and directories can bring you added traffic, increase your search engine visibility, and increase how popular you appear to the search engines. This in turn can often help boost your placements as most search engines factor link popularity into their algorithms.

Numerous sites are all vying for the same keywords, and how "popular" your site appears to the search engines may improve your rankings. In particular, the number of quality sites and directories within your industry that are linking to your site tell the search engines how "accepted" your site is within that category - somewhat like a personal recommendation. A lack of, or a small number of quality links within your industry, or in well-placed, reputable directories, can lead to your website not achieving as high of placements as it might merit.

High Quality Links For Your Industry

How do you get high quality links? Simple, with good content that is 'sticky' and informative - also known as link bait copy! Check out information on copywriting and why it is so important to have keyword rich copy on your website.

Research other websites and directories that are connected to your industry and see if there is a solid category that your business would fit into. The goal is to find other websites in your industry that either share the same keyword focus as your site, or relate to the same target audience. Quality link building requires diligence, patience, good researching skills and some good old-fashioned common sense.

Links from business or product-specific directories are excellent. For example, if you sell auto parts, look for automotive-related directories and sites. Narrow it down as much as possible. Make sure your links get paid attention to, and only add links or exchange links with those sites that will benefit both your target audience, and YOU!

Depending on your business, in can be a time consuming and challenging task to find high-quality sites that you want to get linked from, but well worth the effort. Through algorithms that measure relationships on the Internet, search engines either disregard a link, or pay attention to it.

Anchor Text Matters

Research the current sites linking to yours and see what text they are using to link back to your site. Are they linking on your domain name? Are those sites linking to your using top keyword phrases pertinent to your website? If they are all using the same anchor text within the link to your site, contact them and ask to switch their anchor text that links to your website.

Any other ideas? Sure! What about creating, optimizing and submitting press releases? Submitting to online press release distribution sites is another effective way of gaining high quality backlinks and maximum exposure on the web.

Got questions about link popularity? Please contact us and an internet marketing specialist will help you out.