Google Panda’s on the prowl, and it may just get you for linking to bad neighborhoods. It’s about time bloggers and webmasters realize that quality link building is serious business. Low quality backlinks will only make things worse. If you want a sturdy, long term relationship with the search engines then build links more intelligently, naturally – the way it’s supposed to be done. Focus on getting backlinks from sites that the search engines think are ‘good enough’.
So how do you really determine the value of a site when it comes to link building? Here are a few things to keep in mind before you say “I do” to any new backlinking opportunity that comes your way:
1) Great Content – Gone are the days when you could submit a bunch of articles to a few article directories and get a quick link. Today, you need to look beyond, and make sure the content on the site you’re planning to get a backlink from is worth it. Is the content targeted and value oriented? If the answer is yes, then you don’t need to think twice before linking to it. Any website that strictly keeps out low quality content and encourages SEO friendly content can prove to be a valuable backlink opportunity.
2) Niche Authority – Even though getting a link from any authority site carries weight, backlinks specifically from niche authority sites are more powerful. Quality and relevancy are two factors that make a good niche site. Any authority website that is relevant to your niche and offers real value is backlink worthy. The aim here is to try and acquire links that are laser targeted.
3) A Clean Look – Google loves websites that deliver value and offer clear insight. A site that gives top priority to quality content is much more valuable than one that is bogged down with all kinds of ads. For instance, linking to a mediocre blog that has AdSense plastered all over it is a bad idea. The site has to have a clean look and feel.
4) Link Building Practices – Do a little background check on the website you want to gain a backlink from. Analyze its link building practices to get a fair idea about how valuable the site is. Typically a good website that is known for its quality will have lots of natural, relevant links pointing to back – and that’s exactly what you should be looking for. Taking this one small step ensures that you don’t ‘connect’ with sites that use questionable backlinking tactics.
5) Spam Control – No matter what site you use for link building purposes, see to it that it has an active spam control. A website that keeps a regular tab on its user activity shows how serious it is about maintaining overall quality. For example, a blog that on an average has 30 spammy comments under each post is not worth commenting on. After all, you don’t want to link to any web property that may get you in the bad books of the search engines. The more you work on associating with the ‘right’ sites, the better results you’ll get.
