Types of Links

Last week we discussed link building and quality inbound links. Even some lower quality links can help search engine ranking of your site. As a general rule of thumb, the higher authority of the site, the harder it is to get a link from them. These links take a lot of research, creativity, and negotiation to attain. These links are crucial for SEO, traffic, and branding. To see what is happening in your industry search for your top keyword phrases. Examine the top results. Find out who is linking to them.


The reverse is also true. Lower authority sites and links are easier to get. And we have to start somewhere. Directory listing is a good place to start. Listing will takes some time, but isn’t overly challenging. And it will help your SEO. One internet marketing blog recommends keeping directory links to 15% or fewer of your links.

Reciprocal links are link exchanges with other websites or blogs. These may require a little finesse and negotiation, but are only moderate level of difficulty. Reciprocals are especially helpful for getting new web pages crawled. Keep reciprocal links to 10% or less. Three-way links involve three websites that are similar (A links to B, B links to C, C links to A). Three-ways should be limited, but they do provide a moderate SEO value.

Sitewide links placed on every page of a site are not recommended. Text link brokers offer these, but Google frowns upon them.

Of very high value are one-way links. One-way links drive traffic and improve SEO. These coveted links pass on valuable link juice without a reciprocal link. Use your network of industry connections to build one-way links.

Not all sites have the same reputation, credibility, and authority. If you can get links from sites that end in .edu or .gov, these links will result in more SEO, traffic, and branding value. Links from these sites may be difficult to attain, but they are worth the effort. Start with your local colleges or governments and look for linking opportunities. Media links are also very desirable. If you can connect with a local radio, newspaper, or magazine – go for it. Again, look among your professional network. Can a journalist provide help?

Some links that are easier to attain include press release links, article links, and RSS links. You will drive traffic and gain some branding with online press release syndication. Articles of high quality will prove you to be a subject matter expert while improving traffic and branding. RSS links, when bloggers subscribe to your feed, may have some positive effect on traffic.

Get involved socially. In order to make your comments count. Get a globally recognized avatar at http://en.gravatar.com/. When you have a meaningful comment to add to another website or blog use your email address, which will then use your Gravatar, and include a link to your site. Note: some sites may not be set to “dofollow.” These won’t pass on any link juice.

Social media links are pretty easy to attain. When you get links from Facebook or other social media outlets you’re gaining SEO, traffic, and branding. Business is all about relationships. People like doing business with people they like. Leverage your connections to gain relevant links to your site.

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And link to FletcherFreelance.com (or anything on this blog you enjoy)!