Old Dog 'Relearning' SEO

[hallm]

Hi Guys,

Been lurking for a while, thought since it's a new year and all I'd come out of the shadows and ask for some ideas.

Main website has been around for about 10 years, and always ranked well for it's favored keyword.

Unfortunately it's been passed up by some 'newcomers' who are using comment spam to boost their backlinks.

I just bought directorybot and will be working to build more backlinks this year. Will be using a lot of blog links (blogsvertis), one way links, maybe some articles.

I learned SEO back in the day when we did reciprocal exchanges and used Zeus. I've been out of the game last couple of years, but am wondering what else has changed....

I'll be reading everything I can get my hands on to relearn SEO, but it still looks like one way links (and lots of them) are still the way to go.

Recips are out, are three ways still being use?

How about paid blog posts, those still effective?

What's the best way to compete with someone using blog comment spam?

Thanks, and I look forward to participating this year.

[dburk]

Hi hallm,

The latest methods include blog networks, article syndication, Web 2.0 networks, Social bookmarking networks, RSS syndication and good o' link bait. There are many variations of methods and strategies. All these methods work well when employed properly and you should consider a balanced combination of these methods.

Central to all of these methods is the creation of unique and useful content. If you are not good at writing you may want to consider outsourcing the writing to freelancers.

Some people employ spamming techniques, however you must do massive quantities and continue it indefinitely since those types of links are frequently deleted by webmasters or devalued by the search engines.

[tjcocker]

With a cheaply outsourced virtual assistant anyone can keep on "comment spamming" indefinitely, so don't hope they will just go away.

That's not a perfect long-term strategy in my opinion either, but as lots of people scramble around doing things and wasting time to have a "balanced combination" of pure white hat techniques, other people will do only what it takes. When google changes things on them, they will adapt and change with it. It's a reactionary approach, but I can see the appeal of less work. Some people may get all high and mighty about it, but being a slacker is also rewarded commensurate with the effort the slacker puts in. Just because you/we would never do such a thing doesn't mean a ton of other people wouldn't be totally fine with it, and make enough money to make them happy about it.

Anyway... I don't mean to get all deep about it. Nothing is fair. My point is: comment spam back at them and outrank them. It's working for them, so make it work for you. Are you too good for that? Incoming links are theoretically out of your control, so you won't get penalized.

Think about it clearly without your own judgments, and you will see the answer.

[hallm]

Thanks for the info. I would have thought most blogs would be using 'nofollow' by default by now. I'm surprised these tactics are still so effective.

I guess the more things change...... the more they stay the same.

Would directory links be as effective as comment links?

[tjcocker]

Just from my experiences directory links don't do anything at all. A few years ago they worked, but lately I don't even see any when I check my backlinks. Maybe other people know of good directories, but 99% are a waste of time.

[Daniel Harken]

Yeah, it seems like the directories have been a complete waste, at least for me. I don't know if directorybot has better directories than the ones I've tried, but I have yet to see more than a few show up in my backlinks.

[bigcat1967]

welcome back...

I'm finding that article directories are really working the best w/ me. I'm also finding success in sig links - but not a whole lot - I keep a limit on it.