SEO for Affiliate Websites - Don’t Get Links from a Cemetary!

May 13, 2008 | 11 Comments

A few days ago, Jeremy published a post over at Shoemoney titled: SEO Has no Future. As you can imagine, every time he posts about SEO… the comments tend to carry on for several days during a sometimes heated debate, this was definitely no exception! The problem with his post is that what he talks about has very little to do with actual SEO and more to do with search engine marketing, or SEM.

SEO itself is considered as EVERYTHING you do to help your site rank better in search engines. From your initial research to layout of your content and ultimately, developing a link strategy to gain more pagerank, everything you do on the site to attract visitors from search engines is considered SEO. By saying that SEO has no Future (great linkbait title) as he does in his post, it would be too easy for someone to think they can just put up content, get some social bookmarking love and succeed. I hate to say it… but it’s wrong!

Looking at every aspect of SEO and in our case, how it can affect an Affiliate Website, there was one very valid point in his article… Search Engine Marketing, or SEM is likely going to be the first to die! If you have been following along this blog for a while, you probably noticed that I rarely talk about getting links from places like USFreeAds or other types of “Get links Quick” places. I think I posted one article about getting 10,000 links in one day as part of a test on one of my own sites and that is about it, aside from directory listings for BANS sites. The main reason I avoid these types of posts is that the practice of building links, just to have links, is a huge waste of timeand will likely become a non-issue in search rankings at some point! I cannot count the hours and days I have spent on inbound linking for various websites… only to have the links discounted in the longrun! At the time, I was getting links from pages designed for links to other websites which became known as link farms… today, you might as well call them link Cemeteries!

Google may not have a great way to do it yet, but you can bet that at some point, they will have fine tuned the algorithm to completely discount reciprocal or even one way links, that were created for the sole purpose of attracting search engines and increasing pagerank! In the Google Webmaster Guidelines, it even says so:

Don’t participate in link schemesdesigned to increase your site’s ranking or PageRank. In particular, avoid links to web spammers or “bad neighborhoods” on the web, as your own ranking may be affected adversely by those links.

I suggest everyone actually spend an hour or so reading through ALL of the Webmaster Guidelines, paying close attention to the sections on link schemes and affiliate websites. EVERYTHING you wanted to know about succeeding with a BANS site is listed in these guidelines… Some of the more notable guidelines that DIRECTLY affect BANS:

• Create a useful, information-rich site, and write pages that clearly and accurately describe your content.
• Think about the words users would type to find your pages, and make sure that your site actually includes those words within it.
• Make sure that your TITLE tags and ALT attributes are descriptive and accurate.
• Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings.
• Don’t participate in link schemes designed to increase your site’s ranking or PageRank.
• Avoid hidden text or hidden links.
• Don’t use cloaking or sneaky redirects.
• If your site participates in an affiliate program, make sure that your site adds value. Provide unique and relevant content that gives users a reason to visit your site first.
• It is not only the number of links you have pointing to your site that matters, but also the quality and relevance of those links. Creating good content pays off: Links are usually editorial votes given by choice, and the buzzing blogger community can be an excellent place to generate interest. In addition, submit your site to relevant directories such as the Open Directory Project and Yahoo!, as well as to other industry-specific expert sites.

Overall, SEO from a technical standpoint will ALWAYS be needed on every website and every page you create! SEM, or marketing of that website for inbound links on the other hand… has always been a waste of time!

The bottom line of ANY link building strategy… no-cost directory listings are GOOD! Directories actually have a purpose in that they help organize the Internet like a phonebook.

If you DO go out link farming, get those links from RELEVANT websites with existing pagerank and authority. If you are going to a site for the sole purpose of an inbound link, you are wasting your time! Don’t get links from a Cemetery!

Popularity: 7% [?]

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Using SubmitEdge for Directory Submission

March 23, 2008 | 24 Comments

Happy Easter! I found many of you had questions about how to properly submit your sites to directories, using SubmitEdge. First let me say that the links and banners on this site DO CONTAIN affiliate codes. I mentioned this once before, but I guess its worth mentioning again.

ANY resource you see listed on this site are actual tools I use myself for building, promoting, tacking and researching my own sites. I post the banners as a method to make it easier for you to find them and if there is going to be banners, I may as well setup affiliate programs with them. You are welcome to go directly to the sites if you prefer…

Back to the video… it is a short 9 minute clip, showing just how quick and easy submit edge is to use for site submission.

Popularity: 12% [?]

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Someone asked - Why are you Building Link Directories?

March 8, 2008 | 6 Comments

Earlier this week, I posted 2 times in regard to free places to get your Build a Niche Store backlinks. In those posts:

• One way Niche Website Links
• Niche Website Links and Article Directory

I listed 2 sites that I have been working on myself. They are both hosted on my Hostgator account and one uses a link cloud, the other a full version of the php link directory with article support. Read more

Popularity: 8% [?]

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Free One-Way Links - Add your BANS Site Now!

March 6, 2008 | 12 Comments

As mentioned earlier, I have been working on a new project called Niche Clouds. I am to the point with the project that I need to have 5-10 links in all of the categories and I NEED YOUR HELP!

When you get to the site you will notice a few of the pages are just blank… well, I have plans for those pages, but need to get 50-100 (or more) links into the database first! :-) That’s where you all come in… submit your links and get listed on the site before it is opened up into the BANS user forum and several other places I have it slated to be promoted. The site is registered for 10 years… so these one way links are going to be invaluable within just a few short months when the site is deep indexed and gains authority!

I cannot let the cat out of the bag… but having a link in this directory “Might” just get your site listed at 150-200 other sites, instantly!

Note: At this time, I am ONLY accepting Build a Niche Store websites, please do not submit other sites you may have.

So… How can you help? (Please read this whole page before you go to the other site)

• Visit the BANS Niche Site Directory
• Choose the category from the left menu that your Build a Niche Store site falls into
• Suggest a term for your Build a Niche Store site (3-4 words MAX, even though it says 3)
• Walk through the suggestion process, submitting your anchor term
• YOU MUST CLICK ON PURCHASE - even if the cost is $0.00! Or, the link will NOT save into the database.

Since I have decided to make this free for a limited time, I cannot control how you all choose to add BOLD, Text colors, etc to your requested listing. I do however ask that you don’t submit every one of your sites as BOLD, HUGE TEXT, etc. I will have to police this manually and have limited control over it… so I just ask you all to use your honor system. ALL links have to be manually approved, which I only do once each day… if you submit today, it may not show up until tomorrow.

If you REALLY feel generous, I would LOVE inbound links to the directory! If you want to place it into the footer of your niche site as a niche directory, the code is below:

<a href=http://www.nicheclouds.com/ target=”_blank”>Niche Clouds Website Directory</a>

Happy Free One-Way linking!

Popularity: 19% [?]

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New Resource for Links and Articles

March 2, 2008 | 7 Comments

Hi Everyone… I have taken another one of my older domains and developed a Link & Article Directory on the site. It is setup to accept both links and articles, with simple submission forms.

The Hit Doctor Link and Article Directory

Currently, I have it set to reciprocal links so I can gain a bit of PR on the 5-6 year old undeveloped domain.

 Please use it for all its worth! Links to your BANS sites, Articles for your BANS sites etc.

Mark

Popularity: 8% [?]

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