One of the most underutilized linking practices that can help you move up in the SERPS is Internal Linking or links imbedded in copy which is also known as contextual links. The best link is one that serves multiple objectives thus leveraging the link value due to possessing as many desirable attributes as possible. Since we have complete control of our internal links it makes sense to fully take advantage of multiple feature or multi-purpose links to achieve synergy.
Linking relationships are a critical element needed for high performing websites. Both contextual links in the body of content and interconnecting internal pages can either make or break your web site success.
If your site has three main topics and you have numerous sub-pages associated with broad topic, then make sure to cross-link between all closely associated pages. One to three body of content links is enough -don't overdo internal linking or the human user experience will suffer and they'll abandon your site altogether.
A good site has a consistent design template layout along with a repetitive set of navigational links leading into primary internal pages. Search engines can distinguish between a navigational link (due to duplicate positioning residing on multiple pages of content) and other types of links that are more helpful to achieve your desired search engine marketing goals and objectives. Use your navigational links to get people to the right areas of your site so they can quickly locate content they’re looking for. Design-in links (ie. contextual links) in the body of content to direct visitors to other related-topic web pages or sub-pages.
There can be some overlap in link anchor text between the selected keywords for both the source and destination web pages which makes both pages more relevant. I always make sure that each web page has at least three body of content links, from other internal pages, pointing to them.
One good SEO practice is to always make your internal links absolute value links using the entire http://xxxxx format, versus using relative links having the shortened file extension only.
HTML Site Map and XML Site Maps
All web pages on a site should be listed on an HTML site map page. It is also SEO Best Practice to create an XML sitemap file which can be submitted to Google Webmaster Tools so your freshest content can be indexed immediately. Getting your web pages quickly indexed can help you be identified as the original content author in cases where others are copying or plagiarizing your content.
Showing posts with label contextual links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contextual links. Show all posts
Monday, July 21, 2008
Web Directories & Web Linking Concepts
There are easily about thirty to forty great directories that pass page rank value and link juice, and are actually worth the money and time submitting to. I always choose quality directories over quantity of directories because any technique used in unusually high volume can be considered spam. The best web directories are human edited and have large quantities of inbound links that are already indexed in Google. Some free web directories are worth submitting to even with the associated downfalls and additional requirements such as requiring a reciprocal link back. Usually free web directories take longer -multiple weeks or months to approve your submission making them less desirable versus paid directories that review quickly. Try not to submit to more than one web directory hosted on the same Class C Block IP address. In short both paid and free directories can be of value, but paid directories accelerate indexed backlinks.
Deep Linking Directories
The first couple of months on a new site linking campaign I will consistently submit to valuable directories, then in the coming month(s) submit to the remaining list of great directories that have good deep linking features included. I keep an updated list of great deep linking directories that provide links to your site's internal pages.
Fundamental Web Linking Concepts
There are fundamental reasons for links that should be stated. You want your site spidered regularly and indexed in the search engines; you want sufficient link popularity meaning a high quantity multiple-keyword incoming links to compete with other sites that have already established their search visibility; and you want highly focused keyword anchor text links passing value and supporting the most difficult search queries you're trying to rank for.
The Right Links & Less Desirable Links
You want a higher quantity of links that are narrowly focused for your top level keywords, and you also want a lesser quantity of links supporting your long-tail keywords or secondary keywords identified in your H2 tags. Less desirable links are those that are positioned in the header, footer, or margin of a web page, or links that are surrounded by blank space, sponsored content, links going to other outside low Page Rank sites, or links originating on non-indexed low-value pages. You want links that have keyword anchor text supporting your keyword and page ranking objectives -links that originate on good web pages.
More desirable are contextual links that are surrounded by topical word content making them more beneficial to your site and more relevant. Natural Links imbedded into the natural flow of body and sentence content that don’t appear so blatant are best, whether originating on your site or an external web page. Don't forget to mix up your anchor text with different sequences of keyword(s) order.
In general I have found that directories, blogs, and your own content are the best sources to begin establishing the kind of links you need.
Deep Linking Directories
The first couple of months on a new site linking campaign I will consistently submit to valuable directories, then in the coming month(s) submit to the remaining list of great directories that have good deep linking features included. I keep an updated list of great deep linking directories that provide links to your site's internal pages.
Fundamental Web Linking Concepts
There are fundamental reasons for links that should be stated. You want your site spidered regularly and indexed in the search engines; you want sufficient link popularity meaning a high quantity multiple-keyword incoming links to compete with other sites that have already established their search visibility; and you want highly focused keyword anchor text links passing value and supporting the most difficult search queries you're trying to rank for.
The Right Links & Less Desirable Links
You want a higher quantity of links that are narrowly focused for your top level keywords, and you also want a lesser quantity of links supporting your long-tail keywords or secondary keywords identified in your H2 tags. Less desirable links are those that are positioned in the header, footer, or margin of a web page, or links that are surrounded by blank space, sponsored content, links going to other outside low Page Rank sites, or links originating on non-indexed low-value pages. You want links that have keyword anchor text supporting your keyword and page ranking objectives -links that originate on good web pages.
More desirable are contextual links that are surrounded by topical word content making them more beneficial to your site and more relevant. Natural Links imbedded into the natural flow of body and sentence content that don’t appear so blatant are best, whether originating on your site or an external web page. Don't forget to mix up your anchor text with different sequences of keyword(s) order.
In general I have found that directories, blogs, and your own content are the best sources to begin establishing the kind of links you need.
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