Blackhat SEO firm had more success than whitehat me
-
I’ve been link building for a small online store. Before I took over their SEO, they hired a company who got them lots of spammy links over a 12 month contract. The spammy links didn't seem to improve or hurt rankings on their main keywords but general search traffic has almost doubled.
Now I’m doing whitehat SEO for them and getting links through emailing bloggers and giving them reasons to link to us. Over 2 months (amongst over things) I’ve obtained links from around 35 websites, mostly PR 3 – 4 with a few up to PR 7.
On my own website, a couple of links like this would produce a noticeable effect in the rankings, but I can’t seem to budge the ranks for this website.
I’m concerned that they might just want to go back to their old SEO firm for more spam links.
Am I doing the right thing? Am I getting links quick enough and how can I argue the case for whitehat if they’re getting more noticeable results from blackhat?
-
That's a good idea, to remind them that the naughty links could have their value wiped in one go at any time.
-
Thanks. If you want to outsource some work....
In this case I'm defining black hat as placing links on websites, that SEO company presumably own, which are covered by links to unfamiliar online stores using high value keywords.
We're not using Adwords but are using Google Analytics.
-
I've wondered that a lot myself. Is it possible to test it?
-
Very true. I can see that that our search traffic has a close correlation with the number of conversions. The search traffic they are getting is for high value keywords in their niche, but they aren't getting much traffic from search really. So in this case, higher ranks equal more revenue.
-
Always communicate with your client. If they want to go back to the blackhat firm, explain that the effects of blackhat techniques may very well be temporal and after the next Panda, BlackBear, Gorilla or whatever update they can be easily thrown back to the end of search results. And this "update" can happen anytime, maybe tomorrow maybe only in a year. If they're in for the long term, they have to plan for more than a year... Solid results take time, but they also stand the test of time!
-
"Now I’m doing whitehat SEO for them and getting links through emailing bloggers and giving them reasons to link to us. Over 2 months (amongst over things) I’ve obtained links from around 35 websites, mostly PR 3 – 4 with a few up to PR 7."
This is quite an accomplishment...35 organic links. Give it some time. Every SEO has their own opinion on what is black hat and what is white hat. Are you using adwords? are you using google analytics to track traffic and conversion?
-
Hi David,
Taking a shot in the dark here, especially without seeing your backlinks, etc., but is it possible that some of the previor link building tactics have been dragging down the rankings/traffic that you are trying o supplement with by using honest, more effective white-hat tactics?
Best,
W
-
It's a small online store -- how are conversions and sales doing? Traffic and rankings are great, but if I (with an online store that sells items related to RC warships and scale boats) somehow rank for rabbit cages and get a lot of traffic from it, I've got rankings and traffic, but it hasn't done me a bit of good for the bottom line. If you then come along and get me three link related to DKM Bismarck plans that have 1/10 the traffic I got from the rabbit cages traffic, but that traffic converts and gets me sales, I'm going to be happy.
tl;dr Are you and the customer focusing on measuring the right results?
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Case Study of Massively Successful Tool?
Hi, all. I'm working with a client and trying to come up with an example or two of a tool that attracted huge numbers of inbound links. What come to my mind is the original Zillow home pricing tool. When that came out, it kind of blew people's minds that you could put in any address in the United States and you'd get a (moderately) accurate assessment of a home value. If I recall, they got a bajillion links overnight. I don't need an example quite at that scale (in fact, a smaller success might be better), but I definitely want something a little more recent (even if just the last five years). Any suggestions for me? Much obliged. -Erik
Link Building | | JB_Upstart1 -
Citation, Google Plus and SEO questions
Hi, I have a website www.gemslearninginstitute.com. We offer different after school programs for kids located in Canada. I have a very basic knowledge of SEO. I have a few questions. Just wondering if someone can please help me. We offer UCMAS Mental Math Program, Tutoring and Chess School/Coaching and runs a Chess Club. I would like to boost my google ranking and get more local traffic. 1- My citation is not consistent. Which program should I use to correct the citation and delete duplicate or inconsistent listing automatically. 2 - Should I do the citation with my company name only “GEMS Learning Institute” or Should I do like this “GEMS learning Institute – UCMAS-Tutoring-Chess”. Which one is better? 3- Right now I have two different google plus business pages. One with the name of “GEMS Learning Institute” and the second one is UCMAS. Should I have only one page as GEMS and delete the UCMAS. 4- I am not sure how to check if my site is penalized by google. 5- How can I measure things which are working on not? Can you please recommend next steps should I take after doing citation to improve the ranking? Thanks in advance and appreciate help.
Link Building | | fslpso0 -
Are links from BBB on non-accredited business pages helping SEO?
I've been doing a lot of research on BBB and the site's value. I know you have to pay for accreditation as well as a link, and most search engine optimizers says it's worth it. I added a company to BBB in October, but I did not pay for accreditation or a link, and yet a link still appears on the business' BBB page. Is this link still a followed link? Does Google view it as an important link? If a non-paid link on BBB is still good, I don't see too many more benefits to BBB accreditation than the trust factor and possibly gaining an A+ ranking.
Link Building | | rcseo0 -
Can copyright links to your site have a negative impact on your SEO?
many of the websites we designed have a copyright link in the footer. Like: webdesign by company name then this is made a hyperlink to our company website. Some of these websites have a high PR and other metrics but rarely are about webdesign. What is a clever thing to do? Tom
Link Building | | Onlinq0 -
Local Personal training studio needs SEO advice. Is directory submission they way forwards?
I have a local personal training business and am struggling to push our website to the top of local personal training searches despite already having a better domain and trust score than almost all of the higher ranked competitors. The website has only been live around 4 months but I was wondering if submitting to paid directories would help me to rank on page one? our website is www.danielalexandra.com
Link Building | | DAlondon0 -
Tracking SEO efforts
Is there any way in SEOMOZ I wan track whether my SEO efforts have moved me up the google rankings? I'm not sure how to benchmark to establish whether my efforts have made an improvement or not
Link Building | | Hardley0 -
Wired image releases via Creative Commons for SEO
Wired Magazine has started to publish images under CC licence as reported here: http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/11/wired-releases-images-via-creative-commons-but-reopens-a-debate-on-what-noncommercial-means/ The images are found here http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2011/11/creative-commons/ They allow noncommercial use (though this is not clearly defined) and request to attribute to the original source and "ask for a link back to the original story where the photo first appeared". The latter does not seem to be compulsory, but of course is a great SEO tactic to generate deep links. What's your take on this? Does anyone have experience with providing image material with the request to attribute you as the original source?
Link Building | | zeepartner0 -
Press Releases for seo links?
With panda etc is publishing Press Releases with prweb etc a strong seo method of getting good links form strong domains?
Link Building | | DavidKonigsberg0