We’ve talked a bit about backlinks. These are links from another website which lead to one of your websites. Originally the purpose of these was to get more customers to your page via clicks, today most use them for SEO with little concern for their original purpose. Google is trying to get things back the way they were, to an extent at least. So here are some tips for backlinks:
1. Relevancy is the most important thing when it comes to links. It trumps all of these other tips. If it is not relevant stop there.
2. Quality is better than quantity. Some may believe that there is still some value in programs which manufacture thousands of backlinks, but with recent changes many experts are beginning to see these programs as a waste of time.
3. At least 50% of all of your backlinks should go to your homepage. The other 50% can be to inner pages or landing pages.
4. Imbed links in relevant text. That means instead of writing out your link, www.whatever.your.link.happens.to.be.com, put it inside text that pertains to you; cute puppies are sold here, for example.
5. Look for variety. Blogs, directories (sometimes), forums, etc. Don’t focus on only one type of site. Look into complementing products and services as well, ones which do not directly compete with you, and see about working out link exchanges.
6. Always make sure your backlink is coming from a trusted site. Bad backlinks can do more harm than good.
7. Keep track of all of your backlinks. Have a list somewhere and check up on them now and then to make sure nothing odd has happened with the site or with your link.
Watch out for companies that try to sell backlinks in bulk or other easy solutions, at best they won’t do much good, at worst they are trying to scam you. Other than that, just remember that it is your name out there. Treat links like you treat your brand and always ask yourself, “If my customer saw this link would they think less of my business or more?”