Strategic Link Building and Directory Registration from Search High

One of the most challenging aspects of search engine optimisation is constructing a successful link building program; specifically achieving high quality inbound links. It's also the most important single element in achieving high rankings.

Link building is both time-consuming and fraught with pitfalls. It's important to concentrate on achieving natural links rather than artificial links. Natural links are added gradually over time as other sites that find value in your site add referral links with varying anchor text. Natural links are also there on their own merit, not the result of some reciprocal link exchange program.

Content, not Con

Artificial links, on the other hand, tend to be reciprocal and to spring up in great numbers all of a sudden. They are often the result of a link exchange programme, and this implies to the search engines that these artificial links have little to do with added value, but are more likely a method of improving rankings without improving content.

See it from the search engines' point of view; they are there to give searchers the best value for their search. They want to give users real answers to their queries. Which site would you send an inquiry too if you were a search engine?

Yet again, all this is leading to the conclusion that best - and only long-lasting - way to achieve high rankings for your website is to provide compelling content, with well written copy by a copywriter who knows how to write for search engines and understands your business - or who will take the time to do so.

In turn other web sites will then want to link to your site - it provides value to their visitors too. And if the referring site is in an associated industry, it's likely they'll be sending pre-qualified customers your way too, via the inbound link.

Clear Vision, Clear Website

You'll need to make sure that these links are from authoritative pages; pages considered important by Google and others. If the PageRank is 5 or better, it's definitely going to do you good. (Even here, there are one or two exceptions, but let's leave this for now).

Directory registration is also the best initial link building strategy that you can follow. Before you do, however, make sure your site is up to scratch, your copy and content checked and double checked, your tags appropriate to your content, navigation clear, internal links all functioning and you are very clear about which specific directory category is appropriate for your site. Without all these in place, the delays in acceptance are likely to be significant and frustrating.

Find Out More

If you are interested in finding out more about strategic link building, we'd suggest you visit our resources section, where you'll find links and articles on a whole range of SEO related subjects.

As you can see, building quality inbound links is both critical and difficult. There are many pitfalls to avoid. If done incorrectly, it can also actually harm your ranking.

Search High offer Strategic Link Building services as part of our integrated SEO service offering. If you want to minimise the risk and avoid both the long learning curve and significant time involved, we'd suggest that you contact us to discuss whether we can help. We'd be delighted to tell you more.