Link Acquisition

[Doodka]

Hello All,

I've been trying to optimize my sites to appear as high as possible for a variety of key words, and I've been seeing some mixed results.

Can anyone offer any advice about the value of placing links on sites that do not have very high Page Rank or on sites that are not directly related to the content of my site?

Does placing a link on a page with a low PR and indirect relevancy help me or hurt me?

[dseo2]

The more relevant the pages are that you're linking to, the higher the page rank.

[CoolDiamond]

I am not sure that placing links to your websites on unrelated sites can bring any considerable benefit to you. As far as it concerns low PR websites I think there are good chances for those sites to gain more PR with time and hence you will get more PR juice

[mjtaylor]

The more relevant the pages are that you're linking to, the higher the page rank.

PageRank is not at all related to relevance. Perhaps you are confusing PageRank (PR) with where a site ranks in the SERPs.

Links from unrelated sites are not worth your time. They are not harmful, though, unless they are from "bad neighborhoods."

Low PR sites that are relevant are worth your time, though; they can drive traffic. And a site that has low PR today may increase in PR value tomorrow. Take your focus off the toolbar and onto quality and relevance.

[jennysquare]

I my opinion PageRank does matter while building bank link, as far as traffic is concern you may use low PR site, its not harmful as much, but keeping in view that some time search engine may penelize your site.

If I am wrong so please correct me

thanks

[coyogi]

The more relevant the pages are that you're linking to, the higher the page rank.
Not sure if I agree with this thought. PR should have nothing to do with relevance.

[Rudy - SEO]

Hello Doodka,

If you are trying to "optimize my sites to appear as high as possible", I suggest you not focus on adding links on your page, but gaining inbound relevant links with
accurate anchor text.

Your problem is that you are leaking power by adding links on your page. You need to gain good inbound links to the page.

[YonCatubig]

My opinion is having an anchor text in those site is fine, but when we talk about the long term matter it will not give your site a higher PR. There's a positive effect only in a short term run.

[mjtaylor]

I my opinion PageRank does matter while building bank link, as far as traffic is concern you may use low PR site, its not harmful as much, but keeping in view that some time search engine may penelize your site.

If I am wrong so please correct me

thanks

Why would a search engine penalize your site for obtaining a link from a site with low or even no PR?


My opinion is having an anchor text in those site is fine, but when we talk about the long term matter it will not give your site a higher PR. There's a positive effect only in a short term run.

Could you explain what you mean? Why is this only a short term effect?

[Alan Mor]

I always thought that by having a link to your site from one that is low on PR will actually hurt you. Is that true?? now I'm confused...

[mjtaylor]

I always thought that by having a link to your site from one that is low on PR will actually hurt you. Is that true?? now I'm confused...Sorry to confuse you, but consider where you got that information. I don't think you will find an authority site that suggests that. Perhaps you read it in forums? You really have to take what you read online with a grain of salt, especially in fora. This is one of the reasons many forums have a reputation system. It gives members a way to say they appreciate, approve or agree with a post without filling the thread with unhelpful posts, and it results in a vote of confidence.

That I have a lot of points and am a moderator doesn't mean I am always right, of course. I am also misinformed at times. But I try to research what I say if I am uncertain. And of course there are many areas in which we don't KNOW the truth.

On this point, however, I am pretty sure there is no harm in links from low or no PR pages - and this is certainly true when the sites linking to you are relevant and of good quality. A lack of PageRank doesn't mean a page is not of quality; put simplistically, it really means there are not a lot of links coming to that page.

Furthermore, linking is not only done for PageRank - some people (and I know this is shocking ;)) do it for traffic. Search engines know that.

Where you might have gotten confused is by reading that links *to* spammers or bad neighborhoods will harm your site. Bad neighborhoods are sites which don't conform the search engine's guidelines - link farms, FFAs, and the sites that link to them. You might be interested to read what Google has to say about bad neighborhoods (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35769).

Hope this helps clear the confusion.

[Alan Mor]

Thanks for the response. i guess after all it comes down to knowing where you want to go with your site and plan accordingly. Make the proper research and if possible link to the best ranked sites. Anyhow i personally prefer to have a few good links instead of filling my site with backlinks that don't even have anything to do with my content. But its true what you say not all the information you find on-line is 100% accurate and should always check.

Thank again for your input!

[mjtaylor]

Thanks for the response. i guess after all it comes down to knowing where you want to go with your site and plan accordingly. Make the proper research and if possible link to the best ranked sites. Anyhow i personally prefer to have a few good links instead of filling my site with backlinks that don't even have anything to do with my content. But its true what you say not all the information you find on-line is 100% accurate and should always check.

Thank again for your input!

Excellent strategy. If you put your focus on relevance, you can expect traffic, can't you?

[ShaneHunter]

Relevancy
Contextual
Page Rank
Site Rank

Those are the keys, I've found - in order of importance.

[mjtaylor]

Relevancy
Contextual
Page Rank
Site Rank

Those are the keys, I've found - in order of importance.

How did you find those and determine the order?

And why, if you have such sophisticated knowledge of SEO, would you post this newbie question in which you ask what role keywords in titles play in the SERPs?

http://www.webproworld.com/webmaster-forum/threads/101135-Role-of-Keywords-in-Title?p=511521#post511521

[stampa]

PR is no longer relevant.

[mjtaylor]

PR is no longer relevant.

Really? You mean it's completely irrelevant? Or you mean Toolbar PR is irrelevant? Because I am pretty sure that actual PageRank is still a relevant factor with in Google's algorithm.

[anunay]

PR is no longer relevant... is it true?

[anunay]

my domain is 3 months old its PR0, however my website is on google page 1 for many keywords.... I dont know but I have not done any link building activity except posted few Yahoo answers

assettreat.com

[thersey]

I would really try to post your links on relevant websites and try to make sure there is some credibility on those sites if you can.

[mjtaylor]

PR is no longer relevant... is it true?

No, it's not. PageRank (real PR, not Toolbar PR) is a ranking factor.