The
answer to this question is YES and NO....
"Link
popularity" is the one of newest buzzword in the Internet community
and is something the search engine optimizers (SEOs) are discussing
nonstop. For those unsure of what it means, link popularity essentially
describes how popular your website is, based on the number of links
from other sites, that point to yours. It is a bit more complicated
than that but, for this article that simple definition should suffice.
YES:
It
is all about the mighty search engines! The search engines in their
quest to produce meaningful and productive results for their users
are using this particular property of your website to help filter
and organize the massive amount of websites in their databases. So
to have you website be "visible" to the search engines and
thus their users, you need to work on getting inbound links. It is
something you can do yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Either
way, it is a "must do" promotional technique.
One
of the best ways to get links is to give links, through reciprocal
exchanges. Using link exchanges does two things. First, it makes getting
links easier. Most webmasters are willing to help each other, so if
you give them a link, most times they will return the favor. Second,
by adding links to other quality websites, it augments the quality
of your own website. Finally, you are providing a resource (links
to other websites) for your visitors. Will you lose potential customers?
If you website is good, you shouldn't have to worry.
A note
about what is meant by a "quality" website. You do not want
to link to any old website. You need to research the website and note
such things as its Google pageRank, theme, search engine rankings,
the websites it links to, etc. You only want to link to the best websites
you can. Unfortunately when you are first starting out, many websites
will not want to since you are new...In that case you might have to
search a bit harder and maybe "lower your standards" some
but your persistent will pay off. Set goals and stick to them.
NO:
Getting
websites to link to your website is important, but quality out ranks
quantity. This is true for the websites you get to link to you (as
stated above) and most definitely for your own website's content.
Before
worrying about getting those links, you need to create quality content
that will make people want to link to you. Your website needs to be
designed properly and "optimized" before you worry about
links. The time spent getting your website's overall design and content
properly done will make your link popularity grow even faster later.
(For more info, see my article: Designing
For Link Popularity)
If you
website is new and has been designed well or "optimized,"
do not fall for those "get link popularity quick schemes."
Be patient-it takes time. Yes, you should work on link popularity
but you just can't get a link from anyone.
If you
website is about shoes, why get a link from a website that is about
wheelchairs? Inbound links are there to drive targeted (people looking
for what you have to offer) traffic to your website, product, or service.
Thus getting quality (well established, high traffic) links from related
or complementary websites is the goal. These are the links that will
bring you the traffic and potential customers you want and need. Link
popularity should only be an afterthought!
In conclusion,
link popularity can not be overlooked, but as with any website promotional
technique, to be effective it has to be done properly. So yes it is
worth your time only if the groundwork has been laid and you put the
time into it that it deserves. Only then will it truly help your website
out.
-Larry Sullivan
Linking101.com
Larry is the owner and webmaster
behind Linking101, is
a website dedicated to assisting webmasters find information, resources,
and a better understanding on the power link popularity and link exchanges
wield. Linking101.com
has a free opt-in newsletter, product reviews, articles, and its own
unique custom link products to help give you the edge you need.
