Comments on: Link Building Steps : Clean Up Your Own Backyard

By: Malte Landwehr

Malte Landwehr — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:45:38 +0000

The advice given in this article is absolutely essential for everyone who is engaged in linkbuilding. And thanks for mentioning WebsiteGrader. Hadn’t yet heard of that tool and will give it a try now.

By: Loren Baker, Editor

Loren Baker, Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:26:10 +0000

@Diane : Yes, you are correct. The quality and presentation of a site, or its brand recognition, can have a direct influence on its linking ratio, especially if you are using emails, wire services and other push marketing methods to attract the links.

On the other hand, the content of the site also helps ’sell’ it to publishers who may be looking to link to the top resources within a niche.

I guess all in all, the quality is in the eyes of the target market, but making sure a site can squeeze the most out of its link juice, whether that juice be sitting on the shelf already or still waiting to be plucked from the groves, is a top priority.

By: Loren Baker, Editor

Loren Baker, Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:07:46 +0000

@Eric Ward : Yes, agreed, I think this topic would make for great material during a presentation. Something like Link Building Preparation, 0.5 … etc. Sometimes the best rank, is right under your nose.

@Snoop : Thanks dude.

By: Snoop Blog

Snoop Blog — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:05:22 +0000

Great article Loren.

By: Diane Aull

Diane Aull — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:18:50 +0000

What a concept — making sure your site is link-worthy before you go rushing out to try to collect links! I’m thinking in addition to the greater benefit you get from links pointing to a “tuned up” site, it’s just got to be easier to get those links in the first place if your site is in shape.

Loren, this is such great advice. I love the analogy of inspecting and tuning up your car before a long road trip.

By: Eric Ward

Eric Ward — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:37:59 +0000

It is truly amazing what you can accomplish with the already existing links pointing at your site, without having to seek out any new links whatsoever. If you do it properly, of course ;)

By: Loren Baker, Editor

Loren Baker, Editor — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:41:35 +0000

A natural link is going to work better than a 301 redirect because of both user URL used in the original link, the keywords in the URL, the anchor and the load time factor stated above. Thanks Nathan.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:39:20 +0000

301s are a redirect, and like any redirect they have effects on the user experience. Google’s Matt Cutts just recently reiterated to the world that slow sites get ranked lower than fast sites. So, a linking campaign that sends most users to a 301 redirect, is going to get bumped downward in Google’s quality scoring system compared to a site with links to real URLs.

By: Ric Dragon

Ric Dragon — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:16:46 +0000

OK, wait a minute! Are 301’s completely effective, or NOT? Your statement:
“It makes much more sense to wait because even though a 301 redirect will help transfer the link juice from the old URL’s to the new ones, direct links are much better.”

Do 301’s only kind-of work? Or do they work completely in transferring link juice.