Local SEO and Blog Networks

[Xebekn]

I use to be of the opinion that building backlinks (besides backlinks from search directories) was a "no-no" for local SEO. The potential irreversible damage to your clients' websites was just too great in my mind. I mean, we're not talking about affiliate marketing here, where if your website goes down, you just make another one. We're talking about Local SEO, where if any of your client's websites go down, it could mean their business. Who wants to be responsibly for that?

However, I'm starting to be tempted a bit with blog networks. Does anyone have any opinions?

[NEseO]

Just don't do anything stupid like blasting a site with profiles and blog comments. You should always look at building links to keep at the top of the big G.

You are right about the worry of getting a site hit if it is the bread and butter. You should be experienced and know what will generally not get your site tanked, although it is difficult when things change all the time.

[Mike Anthony]

Originally Posted by Xebekn

We're talking about Local SEO, where if any of your client's websites go down, it could mean their business. Who wants to be responsibly for that?

However, I'm starting to be tempted a bit with blog networks. Does anyone have any opinions?

Thats the point I have tried to make to blasters who claim that a site jumping down and in and out of the serps is not normal. You can't have a business going and disappear from the serps for months at a time. They can't get that you can actually do linkbuilding that doesn't do that. Anyway it depends on what your client pays. If its not a high paying client then for home page backlinks you will probably have to go with a blog network but if they pay well enough and you are worried about the quality of the networks then you could go ahead and get some aged domains yourself and build your own little network.

its one or the other but whatever you do as suggested never be tempted to do a senukeX or xrummer blast on a real business site.

[kposs]

Yes, I have great success using blog networks to build links for local sites. Since the competition is generally so low, I can often rank a local site for 200+ variations of their keywords and city/state designation.

[transcriptionservices]

Understanding proper keywords strategy and how its affective for your ability to increase targeted website traffic is supreme for your local SEO success.

[dotgirish]

Having your own blog network is a bit expensive. You can try syndicating articles using ALN, BMR kind of services. This will give you the taste of blog networks. If it works fine then go ahead and build a network of blogs. But again its risky and expensive. Also try creating blog networks if you have at least 15-20 sites to promote (at a minimum).

Regarding blasting sites using forum profiles/ blog comments, do it in a different way, rather than using it directly on your money site, try it on your first layer of backlinks. It gives you a good result.

[maymorgano]

Stay relevant. You can build many links from directories, classifieds, reviews sites, coupon sites.
Also, you can create a video and build links from video sharing sites.

[refinancepro]

It does not take many backlinks to help rank you for Local SEO on maps. Make sure you have submitted to business to every directory possible and make sure the site/places is optimized and then its a matter of waiting. Good backlinking can speed the process up but focus on backlinks from content such as articles, videos and things of those nature, that way its not spammy.

[tylerjaysen]

yeah it doesn't take alot to rank local sites for local search. Blog networks are awesome though...but the caveat is the quality of the network. Some of them are crap...and you should do your due diligence on searching for them. I like jonathan legers blog network because he is legit and knows SEO. But using them shouldn't penalize any rankings you currently have on any of your sites.