Backlinking for Website Optimization

It is no secret that backlinks are an important component of website optimization. But it's also no secret that there are many out there that don’t fully understand how to effectively utilize this website optimization method. 

Just like anything associated with SEO/SEM, there are certain rules that must be followed to the letter for it to have any effect on your site’s SEO campaign. Too little might not get the desired effect, but too much, and more importantly, doing it the wrong way, can damage your efforts to move up your site within search results.

What Are Backlinks

Backlinks, also called hyperlinks, are those clickable links you find on websites that take you to either another page of the site you're on or to a completely different website. The links can be in the form of clickable text found in the content of a page or through images.

The pages readers are redirected to are usually in the form of a sales pages, a sign-up or information capture page, or something that supports (or is related to) the initial content the reader was viewing. 

What Is The Role Of Backlinks In SEO/SEM

From a search engine’s point of view, backlinks act as a gauge on how popular a page or site is. The more links pointing toward a certain page, the more authority the search engine places on that page. The end result is a higher search result for the page. 

It is with backlinks, however, that many newbie SEO/SEM practitioners make mistakes – they fail to understand the dos and don’ts of backlinking. When it comes to website optimization, not all links are helpful.

Link Only to Related Sites or Pages

"Quality" links are those that link to pages that are directly related to the content of your site. By linking your site to another with the same topic as yours, search engines will rate the connection as something that would benefit the end user. The more quality links you have going to and out of your site, the more authoritative your site becomes in the eyes of the search engines. As a result, your site will be ranked higher on the search results for your specific niche.

Do not just get links or link from sites that are not related to yours, regardless of how well-known or popular that site is. Such a link will not be acknowledged by the search engines and, in some cases, may even get you kicked out the search results.

Use Keywords When Backlinking

Keywords are the foundation of any SEO/SEM campaign. They tell the search spiders what a site or page is all about. By using the right keywords to link to/from a site, you are again improving the chances of making that connection a quality one. 

For example, if the you are about to create a link from another site to yours, use the keywords that you are currently utilizing on your site. Let’s say your site is about pizza, and one of the keywords you’re using is “pizza recipes." Your text should not read “click here to find out more” but rather “click here to find out more pizza recipes." You can even just use “pizza recipe” itself. 

Backlinks are just one of many factors involved with website optimization. Others include website speed optimization, optimized content and images, and bounce rates, to name a few. Yes, it’s complicated.

Find expert answers to your backlink questions. Contact Website Optimization today.

Website Optimization
3134 SUNNYWOOD DR
ANN ARBOR, MI 48103
Phone: (877) 748-3678
Fax: (734) 661-1331
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/
https://plus.google.com/108123505155721216764/