Rank Fast with these Topical Authority Tactics Ep.589
In this podcast episode featuring SEO Specialist Matthew Bertram, the focus is on demystifying Topical Authority in SEO and providing actionable…
Link Building
Optimizing SEO - Google and Original Content - #seopodcast 161
Good link building requires natural, varied anchor text, relevant reciprocal links, and avoiding paid directories, spun articles, and footer keyword links, especially after Google Penguin algorithm updates.
Key takeaways
- Anchor text links still have value but over-using keyword-rich anchor text triggers Penguin over-optimization penalties.
- Reciprocal links are acceptable when both sites are in related industries, ideally executed as guest blog posts.
- Paid directories with automatic approval and no vetting process carry little trust and can hurt rankings if the directory is penalized.
- Infographics may be suppressed from passing page rank by Google if they only regurgitate existing information rather than presenting unique data.
Links that help SEO, links that hurt SEO, and links that search engines just plainly ignore.
About this episode
Welcome to the most popular internet marketing podcast on iTunes, hosted by E-Webstyle! Join us this week as we talk aboutCreating Value for your LinksThe Do’s and Dont’s of LinkingOptimizing SEO, Google and Original Content
Questions this episode answers
Are reciprocal links still okay for SEO after Penguin updates?
Reciprocal links can still be appropriate when the two sites are in related industries and can genuinely support each other. The hosts recommend executing them as guest blog posts rather than straight link swaps, and avoiding reciprocal links with unrelated sites or sites that host hundreds of other reciprocal links.
Why are keyword-rich anchor text links now risky for SEO?
Since the Penguin algorithm update, having too many inbound links that all use the same target keyword as anchor text looks unnatural to Google. A natural link profile includes varied anchor text such as brand names, generic phrases, and click-here links, not just exact-match keywords.
Do edu and gov links still help SEO rankings?
Yes, but only when obtained naturally. The hosts suggest submitting local events to campus publications near a university so the event gets listed online with a link back to your site, creating a legitimate connection rather than attempting to hack or manipulate edu or gov pages.
What is wrong with using article sites and spun content for link building?
Search engines stopped counting links from article sites a long time ago, according to the article discussed in this episode. Spinning articles and syndicating them across multiple sites wastes time and no longer generates link value. The hosts recommend writing one strong original article and using social signals to drive traffic instead.
In their words
If your webpage is a dead end of the web, then that's not a good experience.
Host
Terms defined in this episode
- Anchor text link
- A clickable hyperlink where the visible text contains a keyword. Overuse of keyword-rich anchor text can trigger a Google over-optimization penalty after the Penguin update.
- Reciprocal link
- A link exchange where two sites each link to the other. Described in the episode as one of the oldest SEO strategies, still acceptable between related-industry sites but spammy when done across unrelated sites.
- Trust rank
- A quality signal used by search engines to evaluate how trustworthy a linking directory or site is, influenced by its approval process and editorial standards.
- Blog roll
- A list of links, usually in a sidebar of a blog, pointing to other sites or blogs. Considered outdated and of minimal SEO value because the links appear on every page of the site.
Full transcript is being added.
Matthew Bertram
AI keynote speaker · Owner & CEO, EWR Digital · President, ModalPoint
Matthew Bertram is an AI keynote speaker, creator of DIG™ (Digital Information Governance), and owner and CEO of EWR Digital. He helps energy and industrial leaders win visibility in AI search (GEO and AEO), is President of ModalPoint and CMO of the Oil & Gas Global Network, hosts The Best SEO Podcast, and has authored eight books including LLM Visibility. More about Matthew Bertram.
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