How is your success with traffic without backlinks?

38 replies
Just out of curiosity I have built a few larger sites post penguin panda and all other google updates. I basically pick a niche do proper keyword research and write multiple articles( like over 30) as I add more content I tend to rank for several longtail keywords and haven't built one backlink just simply pinged each quality written post. Has anyone else had any success without doing anything besides on page seo and writing quality content?
#backlinks #success #traffic
  • Profile picture of the author havplenty
    Indeed, you can get a decent bit of traffic without doing backlinking. I get an average of 200 uniques a day across a few of my autoblogs and those just do one thing: gobble up internet.
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    • Profile picture of the author higherluv
      Yes and no.

      These days I lean away from any type of SEO. But of course, I have to build it using other methods. I don't just let it sit there.
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      • Profile picture of the author Webdesign353
        I have always been skeptical about autoblogs and tend to just put out qaulity content. I also hate doing backlinking as I really don't ever see results. The farthest that I have gone is to social bookmark my sites
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    • Profile picture of the author Webdesign353
      Originally Posted by havplenty View Post

      Indeed, you can get a decent bit of traffic without doing backlinking. I get an average of 200 uniques a day across a few of my autoblogs and those just do one thing: gobble up internet.
      How old are these autoblogs that you have? Also what type of autoblogging plugin do you use? I have always steered away from autoblogs due to people getting thier adsense accounts banned? Do you have success with adsense on your site?
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      • Profile picture of the author havplenty
        Originally Posted by Webdesign353 View Post

        How old are these autoblogs that you have? Also what type of autoblogging plugin do you use? I have always steered away from autoblogs due to people getting thier adsense accounts banned? Do you have success with adsense on your site?
        My oldest has been functional as an autoblog for about a year. It used to get 500 uniques a day until I installed a CPA gateway; somehow Google didn't react well to that and now I am lucky if 50 people show up each day. I use WP-Robot and no, I don't put adsense on my autoblogs for the reason you've pointed out. To date I have lost 3 adsense accounts and so the account I have now will be used for 'whiter than white' websites.

        Good luck
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  • Profile picture of the author GailTrahd
    You are right you can get traffic without back links. The question is - how much more traffic can you get when you do have back links from social sites, forums, press releases, videos etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    Originally Posted by Webdesign353 View Post

    How is your success with traffic without backlinks?
    You can get plenty of traffic without backlinks. If you have an article syndicated to a major, high-circulation newspaper or magazine, giving your url at the end, you can get huge numbers of visitors from it, all of whom are "type-in traffic". You don't need a backlink at all, to do that. (You need an unusually good, well written and interesting article, though).

    Or you can do the same online in a high-circulation ezine, sent by email to its targeted subscribers (in which case they won't be type-in traffic, of course: they'll be link-clicking traffic, but you still don't need a backlink).

    You don't even need any on-page SEO, to get any of that traffic. And it's often really targeted, responsive, buying traffic, too.
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  • Profile picture of the author mbartlett23
    If you truly have quality content, a nice design, and of course good on-page SEO, than theoretically you'll never have to build a single link (other than social media). That's easier said than done, but it is absolutely possible. You'll have to do a little social media networking, but it will take off from there.
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  • Profile picture of the author dreamtoreality
    If you're relying on traffic from Google, then backlinks are a must. But as Alexa said, there's many other ways to get traffic, namely through article syndication. Personally, I wouldn't dream of never building backlinks, as I rely on Google for traffic.
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  • Profile picture of the author ejullya
    I believe that despite what many marketers say, you need backlinks. If you don't have them you will eventually get organic traffic but it will take a long time. I should say though that it also depends on your niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author Malcolm Thomas
    I have several sites in several different niches and I don't build backlinks at all to none of them. All I focus on doing is writing unique high quality content and interacting on popular forums and blogs related to my niche. If you can do that, write unique high quality content, interact with social media, and stay consistent, them you will never have to build a single backlink.
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  • Profile picture of the author reneesbertrand
    You can get some traffic from just doing the basic on page but if you need more traffic eventually you'll have to start building back links but you can work on them slowly
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  • Profile picture of the author lior199
    I have few sites that i didnt build backlinks to them.I used youtube videos to get traffic and solo ads.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
    I've read that most people need exactly 76 "backlinks".
    Really, despite what many marketers say, these organic links are important.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimK06
    No I'm afraid you're introducing something I never considered I love backlinks, I use them in video sharing as well as social media posts, but this was interesting and does provide quite a bit of food for thought.

    Thanks for sharing
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  • Profile picture of the author Nail Yener
    Originally Posted by Webdesign353 View Post

    Just out of curiosity I have built a few larger sites post penguin panda and all other google updates. I basically pick a niche do proper keyword research and write multiple articles( like over 30) as I add more content I tend to rank for several longtail keywords and haven't built one backlink just simply pinged each quality written post. Has anyone else had any success without doing anything besides on page seo and writing quality content?
    I have a website that I started a while ago targeting a physical product niche, monetized via AdSense and Amazon. I am focusing only on adding content and improving the site as much as possible, always asking this question to myself:

    "Would I stay on this site or visit it again if I was looking for information about these products?"

    I didn't build any backlinks or such, the site's traffic is increasing each month as I keep adding content. The income is negligible but as long as the traffic keeps increasing, the income will also increase eventually. This is a long term process and I definitely prefer adding content and improving the site over wasting all my precious time on backlinks which will sooner or later lose their effect.

    Create good websites and good content and let your visitors build your backlinks naturally.
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  • It depends on the niche. In a not too competitive niche with many keywords, where people use all kinds of search phrases (weight loss, health etc.) your site can be on top of many (unique) search terms. Even without or only minimal backlinking.
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    • Profile picture of the author andrewkar
      It works well for me also. I do detailed search for some long tail keywords. When I get something interesting then I use that keyword in title, maybe some H tag and one time in copy, that's it (maybe it's suitable for images, videos etc.).

      In general I don't care about number of local searches. Even if it's less than 10 I will grab it IF it make sense to write article around it. But usually I do full research before site is live so I have already all keywords incorporated into site structure.

      Often no need for lining at all... SEs will pick it up anyway and internal linking makes sure that page gets good ranking. As a part of bigger structure page gets more points than for example page targeting the same keyword but from small blog or some shady overoptimized network.
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  • If you're going to go for competitive terms, with no intent on using any other traffic methods, then yes, there's no other way around it.

    If they are low-competitive terms with lower search engine traffic, good content and optimization is sufficient.

    Alternatively there's paid traffic, syndication, forums, blog comments (for clickthroughs not backlinks), solo ads, blog carnivals, video, podcasts, how-to's, social media, paid reviews and more...

    Take your pick, or do them all one by one
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  • Profile picture of the author Vikram73
    What about paid traffic? The fastest way to get traffic is to pay for it - Solo Ads, Banner Ads, PPC etc..

    Use your budget carefully and start off somewhere easy - Bing/BuySellAds and you'll be fine.

    I mean do SEO and have natural organic rankings etc. but for me it always starts off with testing the keywords and that means paying for the ranking.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pete Lauder
    I think you should take a look over Matthew Woodwards website.

    The site is a blog, that is based upon an experiment, to see how well he can rank the website, without any backlinking.

    It is ironic, because Matts sites content is pure SEO, and SEO tools, but he has had some startling results.

    If you click around the top nav bar, you will see income reports, this is a very novel idea, where Matt openly posts his traffic, social, posting, and income stats.

    Also, it appears that future rankings will be shaped by your Google+ efforts. This is still in its infancy, but I think people should revisit their profiles, and get things up to date, at least.
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    • Profile picture of the author MatthewWoodward
      Originally Posted by Pete Lauder View Post

      I think you should take a look over Matthew Woodwards website.

      The site is a blog, that is based upon an experiment, to see how well he can rank the website, without any backlinking.

      It is ironic, because Matts sites content is pure SEO, and SEO tools, but he has had some startling results.

      If you click around the top nav bar, you will see income reports, this is a very novel idea, where Matt openly posts his traffic, social, posting, and income stats.

      Also, it appears that future rankings will be shaped by your Google+ efforts. This is still in its infancy, but I think people should revisit their profiles, and get things up to date, at least.
      Hi Pete,

      Thanks for sharing my site =D

      But yes he is right I have had great success with out any link building.

      I'm ranking #1 for a range of term, including Buy SEO
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  • Profile picture of the author bhuvananichi
    Any help for my website pls, it has also facing the same problem
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  • Profile picture of the author jgant
    It really depends. I do a mix of traffic generation. For some sites I do limited link building to web pages that convert and earn money from search engine traffic.

    For other sites, I've built up email subscribers and loyal readers who link to the site and visit on their own accord. I don't bother building links to those sites.

    I have one Adsense-focused site (I wanted to see if I could create an Adsense site that earns $50 + per day ... only at $8+/- per day at this point) where I don't do any link building and instead publish interesting content. I think I've built 5 to 10 links over many months, but it's not a focus at all. I'm happy with long tail at this point.

    If you're going for the search engine traffic to a review or another article/video designed to convert targeting a buyer keyword, you'll likely need to build some links.

    I also do some local marketing where I do some link building because the sites are built strictly to promote my clients and make the sale from search engine traffic.

    I'm by no means an SEO expert. I do some guest posting, infographic syndication (which is working very, very well ... just started this a few weeks ago), press releases and commenting for links just to get things rolling.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarvyDery
    thanks for sharing all these helpful tips. When i don't build backlinks, I rely heavily on onpage SEO and social bookmarking
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  • Profile picture of the author MktCoach
    Traffic without backlinking?

    Sure - with direct referrals (e.g. when someone types in your URL into the browser, etc)
    Another option: paid traffic

    Apart from that, it's like asking if you can get traffic with only on-page SEO. And the answer is: "yes - but WHY?"

    You can indeed drive TONS of traffic with SEO - but it's a PROCESS. And you won't be able to do it overnight by any means.

    SEO involves an on-page and off-page combination. Both NEED to be there.
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  • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
    Quality content targeting low or no competition long tail keyword
    phrases (one page of content for each phrase) will usually rank high
    very quickly.

    Just creating a ton of quality content...tens even hundreds of page...
    each targeting a low competition keyword phrase is going to get
    your site seen as a resource of information.

    Then you'll find it much easier to get ranked for keyword phrases
    that have more competition.

    Also you don't have to worry about the next "google slap".

    All the search engines love quality content...the people using
    search engines love quality content.

    When you give the search engines what they want...a quality
    experience for the people using their service...you don't have
    to worry about getting "slapped" in the future.

    No funny tricks, no black hat...just dominating the search engines
    for a pile of keyword phrases for years to come.

    I have some pages that have been at or near the top of google for 6 years
    or longer with no more effort than putting them up.


    Incidentally once you've mastered this one simple strategy it's quite
    easy to sell the service to brick and mortar businesses as a way to
    get them traffic and sales.

    If you start targeting long tail keyword phrases that target products
    or services they sell where they get a high net profit or the sales are
    huge you can be making businesses some serious money and charging
    some serious fees for the service.

    It's amazing how the value of your skills can increase dramatically
    if you just provide them to a business that is already doing
    substantial turnover and has an infrastructure that makes it very
    easy to create more sales (staff, a physical location, skilled sales
    people, stock, machinery etc.)

    Kindest regards,
    Andrew Cavanagh
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  • Profile picture of the author ezplr
    Of course you can get traffic without backlinks, backlinks just makes the process 10x easier. You can get short and long term stream of traffic if you have enough of them.

    Backlinks are the way to go!
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  • Profile picture of the author nasuryono
    Yes, I see that happening on some of my sites too.

    But remember, Google is still on the testing phase of their algorithm, things can change again.

    If I were you, I'd build my list right now so that I don't have to rely on Google in the future.
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    • Profile picture of the author bhuff85
      Originally Posted by nasuryono View Post

      But remember, Google is still on the testing phase of their algorithm, things can change again.
      Google isn't in a "testing phase". It is always changing and evolving. Things will and always do change, which is why I rely less on shifting SEO tactics and stick with article syndication instead.

      In my eyes, it is much easier to build an audience through other trusted experts in my niche than rely on SEO tactics to "get me by" until the next major shift happens and everyone scraps their stuff in favor of the next "big thing".

      My advice - get in it for the long-haul. Build a site that you and your visitors will LOVE. Create content that people fall in love with and can't live without. When you're able to do that, everything else will start to fall into place.
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  • Profile picture of the author sparkah
    My favorite way to get NON google traffic is to just

    1. Write a "HOW TO" blog post.

    2. Set up a Facebook and Twitter filter for "anybody know how to do _______"

    3. Send them my blog link.

    if anyone wants to see my video about how I do that: http://sparkah.com/guerrilla-marketi...ll-get-banned/

    There are thousands of people per hour all over the world asking questions that your website answers. Make filters that pull them up for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author astronomynerd
    Exact Match Domain + Good SEO + Low Competition (Long Tail) Keyword should equal good rankings.
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    • Profile picture of the author mdan287
      Originally Posted by astronomynerd View Post

      Exact Match Domain + Good SEO + Low Competition (Long Tail) Keyword should equal good rankings.
      EMD :confused: well, what about quality content?
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    • Profile picture of the author MatthewWoodward
      Originally Posted by astronomynerd View Post

      Exact Match Domain + Good SEO + Low Competition (Long Tail) Keyword should equal good rankings.
      I think that approach has less than 12 months left in it.

      You know this thread is about success without SEO/backlinks though?

      I believe we are moving towards a Google where links will still play a role but no way near the role they do at the moment.
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  • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
    I have 1000's of uniques to a few websites where I have not explicitly focused on backlinks, but rather have produced content and shared with social networks as part of overall social networking strategy.

    Of course there are now backlinks - some of these come from the those who have linked back to me after finding us from the social networks, others have come to us asking to syndicate our content (which we often allow given they link back), other links come from affiliates, etc...

    All part of producing good content and sharing/participating with your marketplace...link building does not have to be painful.

    Jeff
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