Link Inquiry

[nativeCO]

Does google find a way to discourage the intentional building of networks of links? It seems like common sense to me that we should be trying to create a credible network of links within similar industries to build page rank, as this would be beneficial to us all, but no one that i've tried to talk to has responded to me.

[dlonestar]

From the stuff I have read google does determine good links from bad.

The higher the Pagerank of a page that is linking to yours the better. Google lets you know which pages its likes by the page rank.

Check out seoquake for firefox. It gives lots of details about sites, incoming links, pagerank etc as you are browsing.

Stomper net is a good source of seo info and has videos about getting links to your site.

[nativeCO]

Originally Posted by dlonestar

From the stuff I have read google does determine good links from bad.

The higher the Pagerank of a page that is linking to yours the better. Google lets you know which pages its likes by the page rank.

Check out seoquake for firefox. It gives lots of details about sites, incoming links, pagerank etc as you are browsing.

Stomper net is a good source of seo info and has videos about getting links to your site.

I think we have a similar understanding of pagerank and SEO in general. I know that google deems links as either relevant or irrelevant, and this is to a matter of degree, which in the end helps determine page rank. As a lawn care company, linking to other lawn care sites would be deemed as relevant by google. If non-competing company's sites in the same business are linked, my understanding is that it would be beneficial to both parties. My confusion lies in the fact that it seems as though no one is willing to exchange links with me, despite the fact that it would be 100% beneficial for both of our Pageranks. That is, unless I don't understand something correctly. Maybe people aren't informed of Pagerank and such, or maybe they think my email is spam.

[jonthepain]

google's recent upgrade of their algorithm was designed to increase the relevancy of search results by making sure that links and articles were credible and relevant to the site, and not just links created to increase page rank.

so yes, a credible network of links in related industries are golden. links (and articles, blogs, etc) just for the sake of getting numerous incoming links are not as helpful as they once were.

[jonthepain]

ps i'd be happy to exchange links with you, but my seo guy tells me that reciprocal links are nowhere near as weighty as non-reciprocal links.

[nativeCO]

Originally Posted by jonthepain

ps i'd be happy to exchange links with you, but my seo guy tells me that reciprocal links are nowhere near as weighty as non-reciprocal links.

Yes, reciprocal links don't carry the same weight as one way links, but they are still better than nothing. Maybe if we find a third person we could do three 1-way links? It's good to see that someone's on board.

[jonthepain]

i'll put yours up tonight.

[nativeCO]

Originally Posted by jonthepain

i'll put yours up tonight.

I'll do the same for you. Please do it for my home page and I'll do the same for you unless you say otherwise.

[jonthepain]

thanks for the link Derek. Just put yours up.

[steveparrott]

Just a reality check for link exhanges. I have links to our company on about 200 contractor sites. Of these, Google recognizes only a handful. The problem being that most small business sites don't rank high enough (and don't have enough links back to them).

I've found the best back links come from the following:

• Lawnsite and other forums - be sure that your website is in your signature - post often, especially on topics that contain popular search terms
• Better Business Bureau
• Chambers of Commerce
• Press Releases
• Links within your own website - yes, some of these are counted as back links
• Online magazine and newspaper articles
• Industry organizations