Although Search Engine Optimization is a time consuming task, it can make a big difference to your bottom line when done correctly. Having long-term goals and focusing your optimization tactics on those goals is very important.
Google and other search engines have become more skilled at being able to determine which websites truly deserve to have higher rankings. Below are three examples of SEO methods that have become outdated and are no longer optimal for search engines, and also some solutions to the issue.
Purchasing Links
Rather than acquiring links to a website from other websites properly, some people choose to buy links from websites just so they can improve their search engine ranking. Some people even go so far as to pay a link brokering service to buy and maintain links for them.
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Why not? Acquiring links in this fashion is a blatant violation of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, and if Google realizes that you’ve been purchasing links, your rankings will drop and your website may even be completely removed from all search results.
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The alternative: Take the proper measures to earn your links organically. What this means is having a constant flow of unique and high quality content that people will find interesting, be drawn to, and want to link to. Content like videos, podcasts, and articles with valuable information are all terrific ways to not only increase traffic, but also link-backs.
Internet Press Releases
There are a lot of Internet companies whose service is to spread your press releases for you. The main objective in this type of situation is to gain online attention and obtain link-backs to your website.
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Why not? Plain and simple: Not only is doing this a waste of time, but it’s also a big waste of money. Having links from unknown websites will not help your rankings.
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The alternative: A great way to get quality links and good press is to make use of websites that allow you to network with journalists. Often times these folks are looking for sources for their stories, and if you wind up being quoted by one of these reputable sources, you stand a much better chance of obtaining link-backs to your site – from a real news outlet. Increasing your search engine rankings in this way is not only honest, but is also much more effective.
Dropping your link in blog comments.
At one point in time, if a person were to enter the URL for their website into a comment field on particular bogs, it would increase their search engine rankings.
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Why not? Quite frankly, doing so is a complete waste of your time. Not only do these types of links no longer have any SEO value, but they can also aggravate the people whose blogs you are commenting on.
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The alternative: When commenting on blogs, make sure that your comments are friendly and informative. Do your best to strike up conversations with other members and if the opportunity ever arises, be as helpful as possible. Don’t promote your own website unless it is highly relevant to the topic at hand. Having your site’s URL tied to your name is enough to get some traffic going to your site, even if it doesn’t help in terms of SEO.
By making sure that you change with the times, you’ll be able to achieve higher search engine rankings in an effective – not to mention honest and reputable – way. What other outdated SEO techniques do you see sites using?