PageRank has been pretty dependent on linking for a while now.  It’s well known that the more incoming links you have pointing to your website, the higher the authority Google assigns to it.  Linking has progressed to be more detail oriented in relation to Algorithms.  In fact most of your page’s ranking on Google is not just dependent on the amount of quality links pointing to your website, but how it is linked.

Google now takes into account several attributes which include, but are not limited to:

• Authority level
• PageRank
• IP class

In order to procure several good quality inbound links to pages on your website, it is imperative to have a dynamic strategy to your approach.

Blogs
Blogging is a very effective way to acquire quick links.  A good strategy is review related website blogs and comment to promote your own website.  There are several websites out there that offer professional blog reviewers for hire, or you yourself can commit your personal time to accomplish similar goals.

Search Engine Optimized Articles
Writing good quality articles with keywords strategically placed is another great way to get high quality inbound links.  Obviously you’ll want to stick with content related to your website. Submitting them to article directories provides a very speedy way of obtaining those links.  Adding these articles into your newsletters will add to the incoming links as well as keep your reader/client/customer involved with the presence of your services.  To top it off, it establishes you as an expert in your field.

Good Old Fashioned Reciprocal Linking
There is an ongoing debate whether or not reciprocal linking is as effective as it once was.  Obviously, a good, organic one way link from an authoritative site to your own is definitely the best link to procure, however just not easy in multiples.  In my own 4+ years of experience with-in the field, I have found that reciprocal links continue to offer great value.  Not only have I seen PageRank increase because of reciprocal linking, but it also introduces all kinds of other advertising opportunities.

(Reference: http://www.sitepronews.com/2008/07/29/top-3-google-seo-linking-strategies/)

Jennifer Kaufman
Linking Strategist

The benefits of strategic linking to SEO are still alive and kicking. Though it’s not the only thing needed to make high rankings, in my experience it is the most effective way to gain authority. It’s amazing how much authority goes to a site with good quality links that point to it.

It’s important not to just take any link you can lasso in. The key is to get links from sites that have similar and supporting content. For example, a good reciprocal link for a food site, would be another site that is food related. The higher the page rank on their home page, the better for you.

You’ll also want to take advantage of your title and description. It’s important to do your research for terms that you want to show up for. When you find one you see as most appropriate, make sure you don’t already rank for it. Your goal is to rank high for a term you don’t already rank for. Your description should also be optimized and supportive towards your title.

If you want to take it a step further, find out what page you will be listed on on their site, and cater your title and description to the main theme of their site and page topic.

Jennifer Kaufman
Linking Strategist