Many links or one relevant link

[PhilC]

Which is better :

--> a one way link from every page of a PR 5 web site whose content has no relation to the website being linked to OR

--> ONE link (one way) from a page (having PR 5) that has content related to the website being linked to ...

[awall19]

right now I would typically say the first of those two (usually by a decent amount)

eventually it may change though.

(I am talking for Y! & Google, not Teoma when I say this)

[PhilC]

But recall what Google is saying through adsense :

Originally Posted by Google

... For example, a click on an ad for digital cameras on a web page about photography tips may be worth less than a click on the same ad appearing next to a review of digital cameras.

From this we can presume that they have the technology to 'understand' the context of the content of a page ... So isn't it safe to assume that Google perhaps also weighs links from content related site more?

[awall19]

we can presume many things...and google may have the technology to do many things, they do not just release anything.

they need to figure out solutions that work across a database of billions of pages. once they implement stuff they want to make sure they do a good job or they will get many of the "google just destroyed my business" newspaper articles and forum posts that they got last november and december.

they can't satisfy everyone, but they are going to be careful with rushing out new technology. they already have the reputation for being the best search engine.

since they have that reputation and comparible search quality to other engines they are not usually going to put something out there now unless they are pretty sure it will improve their relevancy.

now there is also much more risk in making major changes than there were in the past since yahoo has its own search technology providing search at yahoo

[PhilC]

Ok, going according to your perception, paying to get listed in a directory than doesn't make much sense ... assuming that the directory lists you in only 1 category (thereby giving you only 1 link) which is context related (context being the category and all).

[awall19]

if it is a one time fee I don't mind spending a grand to list my site in a bunch of different directories. remember that when you get those links they will last a while and even if same ip range links get discounted then you still have the hook up by having your links spread across many different sites.

[PhilC]

Yes that makes sense. The links will last as long as the directory exists.

So you belive that one way link relevancy (the way I described it) isn't much of a benefit?

How about if we were to make the comparison between
--> One link from a relevant category in a directory and
--> one link from a relevant content loaded page. (Ofcourse, all other factors like PR, link's life etc remaining the same)

[awall19]

eventually links from a local area may get deweighted extremely heavily. currently they really are not being deweighted though.

a single link is usually not that valuable. adding links to many directories, writing many articles that get syndicated, spreading out across many sites is really really valuable for your link popularity.

[PhilC]

Originally Posted by awall19

eventually links from a local area may get deweighted extremely heavily.

Didn't exactly get you on that. Was that with reference to directory listing (local area category)?

[awall19]

localrank has the ability to determine which link from a site or C class IP block has the most value and ignore all other links from that site or IP bock

[PhilC]

Thanks ... that explains a lot and cconfirms my belief ...

[awall19]

I am not saying that localrank is in full effect yet (as I do not think it is based on my limited observation and limited discussion of the topic in forums) but it can be fully implemented any day

I am still sponsoring a few different sites with sitewide links