Should we Do Mostly "Naked" Linking ?

by momo3
16 replies
  • SEO
  • |
Should we avoid anchor text for more than half of our inbound links that we set up?

And instead, use the actual domain?

So make the actual domain be the clickable link?

I hear that this is more natural.......
#linking #naked
  • Profile picture of the author Bryan V
    99% of the links I see are anchor text of the keyword and not the domain. Upon analyzing a site's backlinks sometimes I will see maybe 5-10% of the anchors being the URL.

    I've also seen people rank with only using ONE anchor text and not mixing it up at all. Some others swear by mixing it up.

    If you think about it, I don't see why Google would punish you for not mixing up the anchor text.

    If a page was so focused on a topic that it's content/purpose was so clear that people linked back with the one phrase that would describe it, why should the site get punished? At the very least maybe some would probably "naturally" backlink to it saying something like "this site" or click "here".

    I don't think it matters that much, but you can mix it up if you want to be safe.
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  • Profile picture of the author momo3
    True, I hear you.

    But I think the most natural links are gonna be the written-out, raw domain.

    Heck, most non-tech people do not know how to even do anchor text.
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    • Profile picture of the author joetheseo
      75% Anchor Text
      20% LSI (And/Or KW suggestions)
      5% Full URL Link

      It just works and don't pay too much attention to the percentages, just do it.
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      • Profile picture of the author wmcfer17
        Originally Posted by joecrupie View Post

        75% Anchor Text
        20% LSI (And/Or KW suggestions)
        5% Full URL Link

        It just works and don't pay too much attention to the percentages, just do it.
        This would work fine with me because I am using this strategy but I only dot 60% anchor text and 40% full url link. But still it depends on what kind of back links
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        • Profile picture of the author dburk
          Hi momo3,

          My advice would be to stop worrying about trying to look natural and instead focus on being useful and relevant.

          If you are just spamming your links all over the place, it isn't going to help much trying to fool search engines by varying anchor text. They will devalue it no matter how "natural" you try to look. If you create useful content, to go with your anchor text, you don't have to worry about how many backlinks you are creating, or how natural they look.
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          • Profile picture of the author joetheseo
            Originally Posted by dburk View Post

            Hi momo3,

            My advice would be to stop worrying about trying to look natural and instead focus on being useful and relevant.

            If you are just spamming your links all over the place, it isn't going to help much trying to fool search engines by varying anchor text. They will devalue it no matter how "natural" you try to look. If you create useful content, to go with your anchor text, you don't have to worry about how many backlinks you are creating, or how natural they look.
            That depends on what you call "spam"... I fool the search engines every day, all day. Oh, and generally without "useful content" lol...
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            • Profile picture of the author orvn
              Originally Posted by joecrupie View Post

              That depends on what you call "spam"... I fool the search engines every day, all day. Oh, and generally without "useful content" lol...
              It's still spam even if it isn't detectable by automated systems.

              Just because you've found ways to fool search engine crawlers, doesn't somehow exclude your methodology outside the domain of the definition of "spam".

              Call me a crazy altruistic fool, but I actually try to create relevant, helpful and at times even interesting content.

              Traffic might not mean much to Google, as it can't determine how frequently a link is clicked, but it means something to me- the webmaster.
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            • Profile picture of the author dburk
              Originally Posted by joecrupie View Post

              That depends on what you call "spam"... I fool the search engines every day, all day. Oh, and generally without "useful content" lol...
              Hi joecrupie,

              Okay... that's good to know.

              I know that spamming often does work, on a temporary basis. However, you must know that webmasters, moderators, search engine anti-spamdexing teams and search engine algorithm programmers are all working around the clock to find and delete, or devalue, everything you are doing. Sure some of it will stick for a period of time, but isn't it a little like building a house of cards?
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              • Profile picture of the author joetheseo
                Once again that depends on what you call "spam". I don't consider what I do spam... I'm building links that are surrounded by relevant and unique content... Just really fast, and on a massive scale.

                I agree that you should try to always be helpful and relevant, but the current state of the Internet, it's LINKS LINKS LINKS...
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
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    • Profile picture of the author joetheseo
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      100% anchor text.

      The reason, you'll have natural links that will happen on their own as hxxp://www.domain.com
      Pretty obvious footprint using this method, I'd stick to my post.

      Now, if you're going after 3 keywords, absolutely 100% anchor text, just keep switching between those 3.

      But no variation is bad now a days, sorry bro

      Not many of our sites have received any natural domain URL links
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
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        • Profile picture of the author joetheseo
          Well natural backlinks are one thing, but you said URL backlinks. I would mainly just see auto-aggregator links that pulled the page Title as the anchor text... But then again, I don't really check backlinks anymore, I'd drive myself nuts.

          I still think a LITTLE variation could go a long way... Have you split tested 100% anchor text vs variation? I'm going to test this on the next set of high page sites we create.
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    • Profile picture of the author orvn
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      100% anchor text.

      The reason, you'll have natural links that will happen on their own as hxxp://www.domain.com
      I agree. Even if I try to aim for 100% anchor, full URLs seem to pop in regardless.

      People just enjoy linking to my stuff, I guess :rolleyes:
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      • Profile picture of the author joetheseo
        Well if you're working with an exact domain... The keyword is in the domain, which is just more anchor text links... Maybe not the best idea

        The best way might be to use variation on the Main KW homepage links and using 100% anchor text on the pages... I'm going to test this and see what happens


        FYI:
        I actually just read an interested post in another thread that's on topic.


        Anchor Text Link Strategy
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  • Profile picture of the author Craig McPherson
    60% keyword
    30% variation pf above
    10% URL

    works a treat for me
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