17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link

Paul Hancox · 09-14-2009, 09:39 AM

Hi Folks

I just came across this blog post at SEOMoz.org which I think is a pretty great discussion of all the different ways in which Google determines the value of links.

SEOmoz | 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link

Also, their Search Engine Ranking Factors 2009 survey is pretty interesting. It was basically a survey of SEOs to determine what they considered to be the most important elements in ranking:

Search Engine Ranking Factors | SEOmoz

The Top 5 were:

Keyword Focused Anchor Text from External Links

73% very high importance
External Link Popularity (quantity/quality of external links)

71% very high importance
Diversity of Link Sources (links from many unique root domains)

67% very high importance
Keyword Use Anywhere in the Title Tag

66% very high importance
Trustworthiness of the Domain Based on Link Distance from Trusted Domains (e.g. TrustRank, Domain mozTrust, etc.)

66% very high importance

Bear in mind that these are ultimately opinions, but still they are from people who work in SEO. Not surpringly, anchor text in backlinks was rated #1, with quantity and quality of those backlinks a close #2.

Interesting stuff, don't you think?

SMS · 09-23-2009, 07:39 AM

this is definitely very interesting, Paul. thanks for digging out this little gem.

ap09.com · 12-17-2009, 04:52 AM

Thanks for the information.Very useful.

stellamary · 12-17-2009, 05:10 AM

Keyword is the most important for the betterment of the site creation...The keyword selection should be a correct analysis for the site development.Thus is should be a famous word also the less competitive one.

Agnel · 12-17-2009, 05:14 AM

Thanks for sharing such a valuable information here. Really useful. Good job!

bolengas23 · 12-17-2009, 05:27 AM

I've had positive experiences with the combination of at least 2 - keyword focused anchor text and diversity of domains linking. Combine this with the right number of backlinks then you're on to a winning ranking in the weeks/months to come.

butters · 12-17-2009, 05:49 AM

So now I am just curious... If this is a external BL chart to do with relevancy, no follow doesn't matter?

FJM2010 · 12-17-2009, 06:03 AM

A great little nugg of info..Cheers

Ride_the_lightning · 12-17-2009, 06:08 AM

Hi there, thanks a lot for the info, I'm sure if I combine all the poins mentioned, it will be a success, so I'll keep it

eibhlin · 12-17-2009, 06:16 AM

Posts like this one make this forum an absolute gem. Thank you, thank you!

I printed out the original article. It's well worth keeping as a reference. So, extra thanks for not merely repeating the core info, but sharing the link as well.

webbyworld · 12-17-2009, 07:03 AM

Great post! External links focussing anchor text is really helpful for ranking purpose in Google!

Amenda Jessera · 12-17-2009, 09:17 AM

Very interesting. I am in middle of my project, just like stuck. It seems your tips will help me. Let me try more on this way

09-14-2009, 09:39 AM	#1
Paul Hancox Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,028 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 433 Thanked 554 Times in 229 Posts Social Networking	17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Hi Folks I just came across this blog post at SEOMoz.org which I think is a pretty great discussion of all the different ways in which Google determines the value of links. SEOmoz \| 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Also, their Search Engine Ranking Factors 2009 survey is pretty interesting. It was basically a survey of SEOs to determine what they considered to be the most important elements in ranking: Search Engine Ranking Factors \| SEOmoz The Top 5 were: Keyword Focused Anchor Text from External Links 73% very high importance External Link Popularity (quantity/quality of external links) 71% very high importance Diversity of Link Sources (links from many unique root domains) 67% very high importance Keyword Use Anywhere in the Title Tag 66% very high importance Trustworthiness of the Domain Based on Link Distance from Trusted Domains (e.g. TrustRank, Domain mozTrust, etc.) 66% very high importance Bear in mind that these are ultimately opinions, but still they are from people who work in SEO. Not surpringly, anchor text in backlinks was rated #1, with quantity and quality of those backlinks a close #2. Interesting stuff, don't you think?
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09-23-2009, 07:39 AM	#2
SMS Can Content be Addictive? War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 159 Thanked 352 Times in 126 Posts	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link this is definitely very interesting, Paul. thanks for digging out this little gem.
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12-17-2009, 04:52 AM	#3
ap09.com Active Warrior Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 86 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Thanks for the information.Very useful.

12-17-2009, 05:10 AM	#4
stellamary Active Warrior Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Keyword is the most important for the betterment of the site creation...The keyword selection should be a correct analysis for the site development.Thus is should be a famous word also the less competitive one.
	Interactive Website Design

12-17-2009, 05:14 AM	#5
Agnel HyperActive Warrior Join Date: May 2009 Location: Newyork Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Social Networking	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Thanks for sharing such a valuable information here. Really useful. Good job!
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12-17-2009, 05:27 AM	#6
bolengas23 Dubai Warrior Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Social Networking	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link I've had positive experiences with the combination of at least 2 - keyword focused anchor text and diversity of domains linking. Combine this with the right number of backlinks then you're on to a winning ranking in the weeks/months to come.
	Dubai SEO & Middle East Online Marketing

12-17-2009, 05:49 AM	#7
butters Lee Bartlett War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Harlow, Essex, Uk Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 81 Thanked 173 Times in 133 Posts	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link So now I am just curious... If this is a external BL chart to do with relevancy, no follow doesn't matter?

12-17-2009, 06:03 AM	#8
FJM2010 Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 21 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link A great little nugg of info..Cheers

12-17-2009, 06:08 AM	#9
Ride_the_lightning Warrior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 24 Thanks: 5 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Hi there, thanks a lot for the info, I'm sure if I combine all the poins mentioned, it will be a success, so I'll keep it

12-17-2009, 06:16 AM	#10
eibhlin Innovator, having fun! War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Postcard-perfect New England Posts: 385 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 377 Thanked 345 Times in 193 Posts Social Networking	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Posts like this one make this forum an absolute gem. Thank you, thank you! I printed out the original article. It's well worth keeping as a reference. So, extra thanks for not merely repeating the core info, but sharing the link as well.

12-17-2009, 07:03 AM	#11
webbyworld HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Great post! External links focussing anchor text is really helpful for ranking purpose in Google!
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12-17-2009, 09:17 AM	#12
Amenda Jessera Theeban-Advanced Warrior Join Date: May 2009 Location: at the edge of the world Posts: 525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 58 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts Contact Info	Re: 17 Ways Search Engines Judge the Value of a Link Very interesting. I am in middle of my project, just like stuck. It seems your tips will help me. Let me try more on this way