"One Page With Two Links To Same Page; We Counted The First Link" Is this true?

[PaddyDisplays]

I read this to day http://searchengineland.com/googles-matt-cutts-one-page-two-links-page-counted-first-link-192718

I thought  to myself, yep, thats what I been reading in Moz for years ( pitty Matt could not confirm that still the case for 2014)

But reading though the comments Michael Martinez of http://www.seo-theory.com/  pointed out that Mat says "...the last time I checked, was 2009, and back then -- uh, we might, for example, only have selected one of the links from a given page."
Which would imply that is does not not mean it always the first link.

Michael goes on to say "Back in 2008 when Rand WRONGLY claimed that Google was only counting the first link (I shared results of a test where it passed anchor text from TWO links on the same page)"  then goes on to say " In practice the search engine sometimes skipped over links and took anchor text from a second or third link down the page."

For me this is significant.  I know people that have had "SEO experts" recommend that they should have a blog attached to there e-commence site and post blog posts (with no real interest for readers) with anchor text links to you landing pages.  I thought that posting blog post just for anchor text link was a waste of time if you are already linking to the landing page with in a main navigation as google would see that link first. But if Michael is correct then these type of blog posts anchor text link blog posts would have value

But who is' right Rand or Michael?

[Fuel]

I completely agree with this response.

No one knows 100% for sure what a search engine is or isn't going to do - probably not even Matt Cutts and certainly not Rand, particularly since they are tweaking and improving the system on a daily basis.

And I too agree that you should never post content (blogs) just for the sake of posting content or just for the sake of linking to another page. Updates like Panda will come back to haunt you if this is your practice. Instead of focusing on whether or not a link in a post is going to have more authority than a link elsewhere and using that to determine whether or not you are going to post new content, focus instead on your audience and how you can provide them value. Does the article and/or link provide value to your consumer?

At the end of the day, always remember that websites are for people, NOT for search engines.

[EGOL]

Michaels comments made me think twice.

I ALWAYS have to think after reading Michael's stuff.   I usually enjoy it, but sometimes I don't understand it.  I think he is smarter than me.  

[PaddyDisplays]

Your of course right, aiming to have the best user experience for the user is the best long term strategy for ranking in surps ( and building a loyal customer base)

I also completely agree, blog content should be for users not for search engines (should have made that clear in my original post).  I tell people unless you make a real effort in you blog to make good content that people want to read/ link to, then the blog is pointless. I would use the "first link rule" as an technical example as why a crappy keyword blog is pointless ( was telling this to a small business owner just last night).  Reading Michaels comments made me think twice.

Sorry I can't give you a link for these "SEO experts" as it normally from cold callers selling SEO services, and it part of their package.

[EGOL]

But who is' right Rand or Michael?

Your question should have been:  "Who WAS right?".... and today what they thought back then doesn't mean Jack.

And for today and tomorrow, nobody knows how Google will be counting two links on a page.

So, the answer to your question is..... "Pay your money and take your chance.  But if you do what makes sense for your visitors then at least you are doing right by them."

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I know people that have had "SEO experts" recommend that they should have a blog attached to there e-commence site and post blog posts (with no real interest for readers) with anchor text links to you landing pages.  I thought that posting blog post just for anchor text link was a waste of time if you are already linking to the landing page with in a main navigation as google would see that link first.

The content of your blog should be meaningful stuff for the visitors of your website and your customers.   If you can't do that then why are you in business?   Anybody who is blogging blather is an idiot and should get out of the business.  If you see SEOs recommending this on their blogs or posting blather on their blogs please link to them here so we can howl and laugh.