Link Building Tactics for 2012?

[alhallinan]

Hi all!

Happy New Year!

Just wanted to pop in here and start a discussion to see what are some of the most effective link building techniques you'll be using for 2012?

-Andy

[CAndrew14.]

Eppie, do you still support these methods? These are very risky grey methods that I'm very surprised you're still recommending in 2012. Would love to hear your updated input. You're very smart and I love the Link Detective tool you created which is why I'm surprised to see this.

[expertvillagemedia]

I know some websites are getting great attention these days on the name of 1$ per article, but truely speaking I saw their samples, its just spunned content created by article spinners. SO its better you hire professionals. I know some awesome writers who charge reasonable price for quality articles but surely, not 1$ per article.

[AustinRealtor65]

What kind of quality are you getting for this rate?

Can you provide an example of what a $1 article looks like?

[Sglowmark]

Are backlinks services relevant in this post Panda/Penguin environment or are they pretty much considered spam now?

[Clix]

Is this true, or is it worth my time to continue to comment on relevant blogs/articles?

[cbielich]

Just a question: aren't these practices going against what Google is trying to fix with the Panda update?

[TalkingSheep]

I think when it come to great content we should all look to the original experts at content creation - journalists. Ask yourself - is this blog post newsworthy, is it relevant, is it unbiased? Put yourself in the readers shoes and be honest with yourself - is this content really worth the readers time? I mean web content producers have it the hardest - pre-internet journalists weren't competing for nearly as much attention as now. For print media, readers may be stuck with only one magazine in the bathroom or plane - so that is what they will read. The web is inherantly a browsing platform - so we are always looking for something better. That is why online dating can be so discouraging - or so my friends say ! ; )

So be very critical of your content. And obviously put the time into what I call "syndicating"  the content out to social media, bookmarking, etc.

My best,

• A former journalist

[cbielich]

Andy you made content with the post and comments you made. Now this blog post has a ton of great links and resources lol!

[Naziman]

I prefer to blog commenting, guest posting, and forum profile links. For blog commenting, it slow but you can get friend also.

[SherWeb]

this is definately the best wat to fall under google radar for violation of google quality guidelines

[DeltonChilds]

Thanks for the tips.  It's so hard compete with these other attorneys who are using all these crazy link building services.  So many are spammy too.  I'm really iffy about hiring some blogging network to work some magic for me because want quality content associated with my brand but... man it's hard to compete that way!!!

Guest Blogging It Is Then!

[NoahsDad]

Yes it did.

[simonberenyi]

My background is in education, so I set up my site to be a resource and not just a sales brochure. People who visit my site stay on my site because the content is good. My SEO is only just getting started, but I passionately believe that great content, with great context is the way to go.

Great content must be worth the authentic natural links?

[iAnalyst.com]

Agreed on blog networks, I also think forum profile links are a definite no no. But what proof do you have that blog comments aren't considered worthy and are additionally spam?

[Steve25]

Private blog networks - I would be very careful with these, there are loads of blog networks currently being de-indexed.

Blog commenting - I now have proof that the big G isn't considering these as worthy links and instead consider them as spam.

[SeattleOrganicSEO]

I might be a little late to the party  and didn't go through all the posts shared by Keri (which I hope to do later), but how about social bookmark campaigns.  I have a friend who was able to use stumble upon and the like to get her site to drive huge amounts of traffic to her site: http://www.swayable.com/

So, to answer the question you repeat multiple times, "How do we get them to link after we build great content?" Maybe you should find some way to get in front of crowds with the content and hopefully get them to "like it" or promote it somehow?  Facebook...twitter...and these social bookmarking sites.

SEOmoz used to have this website and might still somewhere in their recommended social media websites or maybe it was their directory list: http://www.ranker.com  Well, I know I've posted to it's sister site with a blog post of mine and got 10X's the traffic we were used to because it was in front of a crowd.  We didn't get a ton of links, but we may have gotten a few.

I thought the original question was about the most effective link building techniques and then has digressed down to a debate about creating great content ='ing link bait vs. other more artificial techniques that Vojt listed.  I'd like to read more about other strategies like Vojt's listed because it is sort of obvious that building great content is going to get you potential links, no?  Well, here's a few more ideas from other places when I searched for "link building 2012":

http://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/link-building-2012.html

http://www.polepositionmarketing.com/library/link-building-secrets-2012/

http://weblogbetter.com/2012/01/02/link-building-strategy-for-2012/

Not saying these are well written or have good ideas, but maybe one idea about link building is writing posts about the next year with the same topics we ask about year after year (i.e., your question) and then get some idiot like me to copy & past it into SEOmoz and then getting links? There's an idea...

[EppieVojt]

If the content's really good, social can have an excellent pay off.  If you're promoting mediocre "me too" garbage, it's just not going to work.  You have to be really honest with yourself about the client's site and content -- if it's not good enough to work in the social space, don't burn the hours.  Instead, fix the content problem or focus on building links like I noted above, since they largely bypass the editorial process.

[EppieVojt]

Most freelance sites should have people willing to write for those rates if you're willing to buy in bulk or commit long-term to a writer.  If a writer can sit down and bang out a bunch of these, they can do it more profitably than if you're giving them 1 or 2 at a time.  I prefer oDesk but any reputable site should do.

[jenadams]

Have you included social media in your mix?  How much weight do you give to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and +1, and LinkedIn?

[jenadams]

Hi Eppie,

Where do you find the 150 word writers who will do this for $0.50 to $1?  Also what services do you use for directory links?

Thank you

[amit.ganguly]

This is certainly very helpful.I was looking out for this answer only.

Thank you so much !!

[EppieVojt]

Here are seven actual link-building tactics that don't require you to have amazing content:

1. Private blog networks - easily the most powerful "hands free" method of building links right now.  Outsource the writing of 150 word posts for $0.50 to $1.00 each.  Perfect for building deep links and anchor-specific links to sites that already have some domain authority.
2. Guest posting - gives you full control over the content in your posts and the sites you get links from. Allows you to target much higher quality sites than private blog networks but you won't have as much control over anchor text.  Also, not ideal if the site you're linking to is sub par, as your author links are likely to be reviewed.  If your site is legitimate, this is one of the most powerful link building tactics around.
3. Directory links - they still work and can be completely automated.  Use these to build up a base of links to a site.  I automate through a service that lets me schedule these out over an entire year (100 per month).
4. Blog commenting - you can easily outsource it, automate it via Scrapebox if you want, or do it manually.  It depends on your risk aversion and own business morals.  There are simple search patterns you can use to identify dofollow blogs as well.
5. Footer links from WordPress themes / plugins - less obvious but highly effective. I have a site that picked up over 3 million links last year from theme footers ("powered by" links).  If you're smart, you can automate this to vary anchor text on the fly.
6. Forum profile links - easily automated but clearly spam.  If you're concerned about potentially burning a site, I wouldn't use these extensively pointing to your own site.
7. Buy them - not through a network, but creatively.  You can sponsor open source software (can get very high PR links this way) or a meetup group, give to a charity, donate a prize for a community event.  If you do enough community related stuff, you may be able to spin that as a newsworthy story to the local press and nab a link there.

If you combine these 7 tactics, you shouldn't have much trouble ranking.  If your content is awesome, you'll start to accrue natural links once you get the ball rolling.

Hope you find this to be helpful.

[AWCthreads]

This content blew up a server with 80,000+ hits: http://noahsdad.com/target-down-syndrome/

[EGOL]

They are doing you a favor. They are telling you that you will have better results with different content.

There is a lot of content on SEOmoz about linkbuilding.

There isn't a lot of content on how to create successful content and how to recognize it.

So the next time you have some content that you want to get in front of bloggers, why not come here and ask... "What do you guys think of this content?"

You will get honest feedback.

If its really good content some folks here might blog, tweet or link.

If you have really good content you don't have to show it to very many people because a few eyes on great content is like throwing gasoline on a fire.

[Paligap]

Maybe your assessment of what constitutes great content is a little off?

People are more likely to link to you if you engage with them - if you have great content (genuinely great) - then why not search on twitter for people talking about the subject matter, engage with them and point them to the content if it is going to be useful for them. If they like it there's a chance that links will follow.

Just one idea.

[alhallinan]

I'm pretty disappointed that I've had about 7 emails and comments on my blog about how terrible my picture was. All I wanted was some advice on how to get content in front of other bloggers, but instead, people from SEOmoz have just been emailing me and leaving comments on my website about how horrible my content is.

Bummer.

[EGOL]

Thanks.... most of the ten content items listed there required a LOT of work, usually from multiple people.

Also, I really like that you reported on Noah's Dad.  A really good success story about someone we know.

I believe that most content people will tell you that most of the content that they produce fails to get viral distribution.  But when it happens they get a lot of traffic and the stature of their site gets kicked up a notch.

Sharing your content via Digg, Slashdot, StumbleUpon, Reddit is a good way to begin.  Very few of the items submitted get a lot of attention, but when that happens it is like throwing gasoline on a fire.  If that doesn't happen with your content it is a sign that you need to be throwing bigger, or better or badder balls of mud at the wall.

[KeriMorgret]

Alhallinan, in all fairness, you said in your comment "Coming up with kick-ass content isn't the issue. We're really good at that. Its getting people to LINK to the kick ass content that is the problem. " and "But we can't get people to link to it for the life of us. We know its funny, great content, but no links in 12 months. What the heck?"

I believe EGOL was trying to address a couple of your comments in his response.

In looking at that link that you shared, my first thought was "this was written for keywords, not for the user". Specifically, "Hire SEO Expert Tip" doesn't read very naturally. Second, you'll likely have a hard time having other people in the industry link to a post that has four "tampa SEO" links for your five tips. It's obviously optimized for your terms and that talks about your company specifically. It's just not a stand-alone resource that other people would link to.

[KeriMorgret]

Today's YouMoz looks at ten examples of good linkbait pieces and dissects why they were successful. It might help you get a couple of ideas for your pieces too.

http://www.seomoz.org/ugc/10-extraordinary-examples-of-effective-link-bait

[alhallinan]

EGOL, no one asked if you liked the content, nor did anyone ask you if you would link to it.

The content was merely an example - the question remains: After you create a killer piece of content, then what? How do you get it in front of people who might link back to it?

[EGOL]

I wouldn't link to it.

I don't think it is very good.

It is chest-thumping and marketing.

That  does not attract links very well.

Just being honest.

[KeriMorgret]

Here are some SEOmoz blog posts that can help provide some inspiration.

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/throw-away-your-form-letters-or-5-principles-to-better-outreach-link-building

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/outreach-for-linkbuilding-whiteboard-friday

http://www.seomoz.org/ugc/how-to-create-and-promote-a-link-worthy-resource-list

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/8-tips-for-blogger-outreach

[alhallinan]

Good answer, Keri - but after I create that content, then what? Just because its great content doesn't mean it will get in front of website owners who can link to it. Do you agree? Its not "if you build it, they will come." How do I get people to see it after I write it?

[KeriMorgret]

I just watched a TV show yesterday about buildings being built in Saudi Arabia and the double-paned windows that are actually eight inches apart and have outside air blown up through them to help keep the building heat down. It reduced air conditioning needs by 2/3. That's some pretty amazing content there!

My husband and I watched this while we sat in our rental house with no air conditioning of any type. What about some content for the millions of renters who want air conditioning but can't make permanent changes to their house or apartment? Such as how to safely install an a room air conditioner when the windows only go side to side vs up and down, how to keep your house secure, what size air conditioner do you need, what's the budget option vs the high-end option.

Give me all kinds of info about how to choose the right air conditioner so that I feel comfortable that I'm getting the right thing from your online store and I won't just head on down to Fry's or Sears and buy something there. Give me calculators about how big I need for a particular room size, give me worksheets for properly measuring my windows I buy the right sized kit for sealing the rest of my windows, etc.

[alhallinan]

LOL, again, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how great the content is - people will not just flock to it.

Let's say I write the most magnificent article, take the most magnificent picture, or whatever, and post it to my website.

People are not going to magically just start linking to it - they have to first SEE it in order to link to it.

How do I get my websites in front of them?

"Creating amazing content" is not the answer. I want down and dirty, nitty gritty answers on how to get it done.

[AWCthreads]

Alas, greatness is in the eye of the beholder not the reflection in the mirror.

At first glance of your page, a visitor might think it wreaks of negativity. A picture of an SEO guy laying in the gutter may not elicit the response you'd like from the visitor. Do you want laughs or links?

Also, the titles of your points are all in the negative. Write in the positive about what you do that is great instead of what others do that sucks.

[alhallinan]

Coming up with kick-ass content isn't the issue. We're really good at that. Its getting people to LINK to the kick ass content that is the problem.

For instance, my team came up with this idea and took this photo:

http://tampaseo.com/2011/05/seo-for-food/

But we can't get people to link to it for the life of us. We know its funny, great content, but no links in 12 months. What the heck?

The idea of "if you create great content, people will link to you" is bogus. We're creating great content, no one is linking.

[EGOL]

Perhaps you have never searched for that content?

Efficiency information, calculators, all types of "how to", all types of buying guides, product reviews...

... even if you were in the manure business there is an awful lot of content that can be written.

[alhallinan]

I get it, I get it... but how much AMAZING content could an air conditioning repair company create?

[AWCthreads]

Case in point...the owner of the store literally walked in about 8 minutes ago and told me we are going to be the distributor for a unique and profitable product. We're going to shoot video of it in use and build some great pages for it and hopefully, generate some great links to AMAZING CONTENT!

[EGOL]

ha ha...  content is the only linkbuilding method that I use.

How much linkbuilding does wikipedia do?  How many links to they have?

[alhallinan]

Need link building advice... Not content advice

[EGOL]

My list of content to create is really really looong.

Starting to add videos and calculators to some of it.  Juicy photos as always.

[AWCthreads]

Keeping in line with EGOL's linking building apologetics, we are trying to beef up our content to add relevant benefit to our ecommerce products. Specifically, we are adding new textual content where we can and videos to categories and product pages. How many Rand videos, white board videos and  Matt Cutts videos have you watched? In the preceding Matt Cutts article, Joe Brockmeier writes: "So if you're planning that 2012 site budget, you might want to think twice about hiring that SEO expert and find a content expert instead." Videos can be a valuable content tool.

Ecommerce lends itself to selling a lot of the the same products as other folks on the web with the same product information from the manufacturers. So, where do you come up with fresh and unique content?

Informative videos may help with that, so we are going to give it a try and see how it goes with attracting beneficial links.