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Avoid These Costly Link Building Mistakes

Presented to you by LetsTalkSEO.com © 2010








Link building constitutes an important aspect of SEO activities and it can be both expensive and time-consuming. Let’s discuss some of the most link building mistakes people usually make that may prove to be costly.

1. Make sure the back links do not have a ‘nofollow’ attribute.

Link exchanges are undoubtedly a good way to build back links. But at times, web masters cheat you and you come across a ‘nofollow’ attribute in no time, even if you have paid for it. In fact, this is a common scam. So, make periodic check if the link still exists and there is no “nofollow” attribute.
2. Having a good link but with ineffective anchor text.
If the anchor text is something like “Click here”, such links is of not much help, however high the PR of the site may be. So, the keywords in the anchor text are of utmost importance and hence the backlink should contain it. The Backlink Anchor Text Analyzer tool may be used for analyzing the anchor text.
3. Place an image link in place if having a text link with key words is not feasible.
At times, the webmasters in their hurry to complete the site fail to put an anchor text link. In such cases, an image link can be effective in bringing in more traffic (if it is attractive enough for the visitors to click it). But key word text anchor links are the most suitable ones for SEO purposes.
4. Not using ALT text, if you can only have an image link.
Although text links are preferable, go for image links, if that is the only available option but put your key words in the ALT text of the image.
5. Having links from inconsequential sites.
This is a common mistake. It is important to be linked from relevant sites only. For example, a dating site having links from finance sites is of not much help. Although it may be difficult, you should still be able to come across many relevant sites that are suitable for you to have backlinks from. You may use Backlink Builders to get the list of the sites that are relevant to you.
6. Having a link from a site that has so many links.
A backlink is useful only if it is not crowded with a plethora of other links. Being one amongst the 200 links in a page is of not much help. But if many of the links are unpaid and have “nofollow” attributes, in such a case, the link is of some value.
7. Links from pages spiders can’t crawl.
Even with all the features like keyword in anchor texts and without any “nofollow” link, a link would be of little value. This especially happens during link exchanges. The other side doesn’t oblige to put your link in its side even though you have done it. The link that can’t be indexed by Google may be placed in dynamic pages or in some pages that Google does not index, as robots.txt has banned them. So, it is better to check whether the pages that have your links can be accessed by spiders. You can use The Search Engine Spiders Simulator tool, which is a handy tool to do it.
8. Selling links explicitly.
Even if every webmaster knows that paid links may be bad for your rankings, they would still do it for money. If you are interested to sell some links, it is advisable to do it through the specialized link services like Backlinks.com. Unlike it, some other paid link networks are not very discreet about it. Although some paid links take care to camouflage this fact, most of them do not pay much attention to this aspect. Putting open invitations like “Buy 5 PR link for $10” or any such invitation making your intention to sell links crystal clear, would be a big blunder. Selling them in a subtle way through tags like “Advertise here” is a much better way than putting your prices for the links openly. This way, you can sell paid links but in a much more discreet way.
9. Getting links to ill-reputed sites.
Having a link to ill-reputed sites is a costly mistake. It means that you are endorsing them, also known as your bad neighbors and you may even be penalized by Google for it. So, make sure to do a thorough background check of the site before linking it to your site. Since your Search Engine rating is at stake, do all possible searches about the site. And, do not take the bait even if the site is ready to fish out large amount of money for it.
10. The link site turns bad.
You might have done all the background check of the sites. But at times, the decent site you had linked with would suddenly turn ugly, placing indecent and objectionable contents. So, do a thorough check, if the outbound links are unbroken and also where they lead to.
Links are highly important. Hence, always keep track of the links you are getting.

Link exchanges are undoubtedly a good way to build back links. But at times, web masters cheat you and you come across a ‘nofollow’ attribute in no time, even if you have paid for it. In fact, this is a common scam. So, make periodic check if the link still exists and there is no “nofollow” attribute.

2. Having a good link but with ineffective anchor text.

If the anchor text is something like “Click here”, such link is of not much help, however high the PR of the site may be. So, the keywords in the anchor text are of utmost importance and hence the backlink should contain it. The Backlink Anchor Text Analyzer tool may be used for analyzing the anchor text.

3. Place an image link in place if having a text link with key words is not feasible.

At times, the webmasters in their hurry to complete the site fail to put an anchor text link. In such cases, an image link can be effective in bringing in more traffic (if it is attractive enough for the visitors to click it). But key word text anchor links are the most suitable ones for SEO purposes.

4. Not using ALT text, if you can only have an image link.

Although text links are preferable, go for image links, if that is the only available option but put your key words in the ALT text of the image.

5. Having links from inconsequential sites.

This is a common mistake. It is important to be linked from relevant sites only. For example, a dating site having links from finance sites is of not much help. Although it may be difficult, you should still be able to come across many relevant sites that are suitable for you to have backlinks from. You may use Backlink Builders to get the list of the sites that are relevant to you.

6. Having a link from a site that has so many links.

A backlink is useful only if it is not crowded with a plethora of other links. Being one amongst the 200 links in a page is of not much help. But if many of the links are unpaid and have “nofollow” attributes, in such a case, the link is of some value.

7. Links from pages spiders can’t crawl.

Even with all the features like keyword in anchor texts and without any “nofollow” link, a link would be of little value. This especially happens during link exchanges. The other side doesn’t oblige to put your link in its side even though you have done it. The link that can’t be indexed by Google may be placed in dynamic pages or in some pages that Google does not index, as robots.txt has banned them. So, it is better to check whether the pages that have your links can be accessed by spiders. You can use The Search Engine Spiders Simulator tool, which is a handy tool to do it.

8. Selling links explicitly.

Even if every webmaster knows that paid links may be bad for your rankings, they would still do it for money. If you are interested to sell some links, it is advisable to do it through the specialized link services like Backlinks.com. Unlike it, some other paid link networks are not very discreet about it. Although some paid links take care to camouflage this fact, most of them do not pay much attention to this aspect.

Putting open invitations like “Buy 5 PR link for $10” or any such invitation making your intention to sell links crystal clear, would be a big blunder. Selling them in a subtle way through tags like “Advertise here” is a much better way than putting your prices for the links openly. This way, you can sell paid links but in a much more discreet way.

9. Getting links to ill-reputed sites.

Having a link to ill-reputed sites is a costly mistake. It means that you are endorsing them, also known as your bad neighbors and you may even be penalized by Google for it. So, make sure to do a thorough background check of the site before linking it to your site. Since your Search Engine rating is at stake, do all possible searches about the site. And, do not take the bait even if the site is ready to fish out large amount of money for it.

10. The link site turns bad.

You might have done all the background check of the sites. But at times, the decent site you had linked with would suddenly turn ugly, placing indecent and objectionable contents. So, do a thorough check, if the outbound links are unbroken and also where they lead to.

Links are highly important. Hence, always keep track of the links you are getting.

This original article is presented to you by LetsTalkSEO.com © 2010



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Filed Under: Analytics & Strategy, Fundamentals, Link Building, Optimization, Tools

Tags: Analyzer Tool, Anchor Links, Anchor Text, Back Links, backlink, Key Word, Key Words, Link Exchanges, Web Masters, Word Text

  • Claude

    July 28, 2010 at 12:26 pm


    I’m thrilled to have found your site and look forward to some great advice and how to’s.
    From what I have just read, I better be more careful on how I build my list of links. I realize I have a lot to learn and am very grateful you are offering this information for free.
    It is said that those who give freely of their time and expertise will be justly rewarded. I hope you are rewarded with nothing but the best.

    Sincerely,

    Claude

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