(Lin)King is Dead! Long Live (Lin)King!

[mjtaylor]

I have inkling about linking. I think it’s going to get harder to collect quality links through off site optimization – you know, blog commenting, article posting, directory listings, paid links and other, um, not so organic ways of getting links.

My take on Caffeine is that the algorithm is being adjusted to further denigrate the sorts of links that we can easily acquire. And if that’s not a large part of Caffeine, I would be willing to wager some buckaroos that it will be in the next major algorithm change. Paid links came under fire in 2007 and they are under fire again along with all sorts of less than organic methods with this latest request from Google to report link spam.

What to do? I know you don’t want to hear it, but Content is King – and if you build it they will come. And link to you. Really.

Google’s Matt Cutts recently posted a video on organic link building in response to a question I’m sure you’ve read in a thread or two before:

"Organic link building … is one of the most difficult tasks for SEOs. Can you please list 5 effective ways of organic link building other than building great content?”

You might want to catch Matt’s video answer on his five strategies, which includes a innovative method for posting in forums.

[Jim Gillum]

I agree....I have smelled a change coming for quite a while......

Not always what they say but, I kinda' feel a tendency in their presentations that seems to indicate a greater and greater shift toward content to enhance the Google user experience...... (more than ever)

Yet, through many forums all you read is links.....and not much about links from providing strong quality or something unique...

[nightcrawler]

You confused me there ... I was reading all wrong at once..

MJ What methods do you use now a days to build backlinks other then link baits?

I'll Copy your ideas!!

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by nightcrawler

You confused me there ... I was reading all wrong at once..

MJ What methods do you use now a days to build backlinks other then link baits?

I'll Copy your ideas!!

I think the message is that link bait is the only way! I do suggest you listen to Matt's video, if you haven't already. He has some great ideas about how to attract organic links. If you can get the idea that link bait is not so hard to create, perhaps you will want to copy that.

I do a few of the things that Matt suggested. I participate in the forum community. I offer my perspective on SEO - extensively. I am by far not the most expert SEO around, but I have a solid base and more than a decade of experience; I write well enough and I'm willing to do the research.

I maintain a blog. I have a silly little free spot at blogger.com. I use it to write about whatever interests me. I am also very busy on Facebook. I have close to 2500 contacts, and I spend time every day connecting with people there. I create photo albums that I know they are interested in, and I try to update my status with items of interest. Occasionally, ideally no more often than every 10 posts, I put a self serving link up.

Let me know what you copy.

[WM-Scott]

I believe the algorithmn is always adjusted in strange ways. I think sooner or later Forum Sigs will be eliminated as a way to build links. Why do I say that? Because Sigs are easy, and lately, I seen allot of spam. Lastly, Content will drive your site, many people don't put much effort into it, but it pays if you do.

[joshua99]

To sum up it is only the type of links that will be changing. Google will still use links to rank websites but only the natural ones.

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I am also very busy on Facebook.
Let me know what you copy.

I am looking for you on FB so that I see and also get the ideas for writing and before going through anything I will share it with you

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by WM-Scott

I believe the algorithmn is always adjusted in strange ways. I think sooner or later Forum Sigs will be eliminated as a way to build links. Why do I say that? Because Sigs are easy, and lately, I seen allot of spam. Lastly, Content will drive your site, many people don't put much effort into it, but it pays if you do.

I have heard that forum links are already denigrated. I wouldn't be surprised if their value was further diminished, though I have an inkling that they would still count for something since sincere forum participation is of value to the overall community.

[joshua99]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I have heard that forum links are already denigrated. I wouldn't be surprised if their value was further diminished, though I have an inkling that they would still count for something since sincere forum participation is of value to the overall community.

I agree with you.
Google cannot neglect completely forum signature as there are some people that provide some useful contribution to forums. They will surely work out some ways in their algorithm to take care of this.