Penguin Are Backlinks Dead?

34 replies
  • SEO
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Hello,
I have heard that with the new Penguin algorithm that backlinks are not a good way to get keyword rankings. Then I also heard that they still are but you have to get backlinks on different kinds of sites such as blogs, forums, Web 2.0 and article sites. Can anyone tell me which is true are backlinks truly dead as a way to try and get rankings or is it not dead but have to mix them up on different kinds of sites?
Thanks
#backlinks #dead #penguin
  • Profile picture of the author GeraldNitram
    If creating backlinks is dead, then that would oppose the fact that links are needed to raise your PageRank. Remember that the formula used to find a particular page's PR requires some statistics from the links that you create. Having said that, take note that PageRank is also part of the factors that affect a site's rank in the search results. Although it's not really a major factor, it's still one of them, so I don't think that links should be disregarded even after the Penguin update has been rolled out.
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    • Profile picture of the author tbird165
      Originally Posted by GeraldNitram View Post

      If creating backlinks is dead, then that would oppose the fact that links are needed to raise your PageRank. Remember that the formula used to find a particular page's PR requires some statistics from the links that you create. Having said that, take note that PageRank is also part of the factors that affect a site's rank in the search results. Although it's not really a major factor, it's still one of them, so I don't think that links should be disregarded even after the Penguin update has been rolled out.
      Ahhh I see but since penguin came out some of my clients have dropped in keyword rankings for keywords they were before ranking high for. We do all white hate SEO and ya this stupid update from Google is playing havoc with me and just want to get a straight answer as to if backlink building is a waist of time thanks for your input.
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      • Profile picture of the author rises5544
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        • Profile picture of the author pers1t
          Anchor text divesification is very important after Penguin. So when you build backlinks make sure that you use at least 3 anchor texts. For example, If you want to rank for "dog training", I would choose the following anchors: "dog training" (about 20-30% of your backlinks), "dog training guide", "how to train a dog", "best dog training" and sometimes even "click here" to make your backlinks look natural.

          Also, from what I've heard, backlinks from similar niche are valued higher that just random backlinks. Haven't tested it though.
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    • Profile picture of the author chmae73
      Originally Posted by GeraldNitram View Post

      If creating backlinks is dead, then that would oppose the fact that links are needed to raise your PageRank. Remember that the formula used to find a particular page's PR requires some statistics from the links that you create. Having said that, take note that PageRank is also part of the factors that affect a site's rank in the search results. Although it's not really a major factor, it's still one of them, so I don't think that links should be disregarded even after the Penguin update has been rolled out.
      yahh back links are not dead you are right brother...great post...
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  • Profile picture of the author jaouadk
    Originally Posted by tbird165 View Post

    Hello,
    I have heard that with the new Penguin algorithm that backlinks are not a good way to get keyword rankings. Then I also heard that they still are but you have to get backlinks on different kinds of sites such as blogs, forums, Web 2.0 and article sites. Can anyone tell me which is true are backlinks truly dead as a way to try and get rankings or is it not dead but have to mix them up on different kinds of sites?
    Thanks
    There has been a debate about this recently.

    Penguin is essentially about link spamming and also the quality of pages you are getting backlinks from.

    The thing I would recommend is this: Anchor text diversity. And quality none duplicate articles that you use for link building.

    Don't use your main anchor text more that 30%, yes 30%, because have dramatically changed now.

    Use ultra spun content that is up to 80% unique for link building purposes.

    If I want to optimize for the keyword: Warrior forum
    I would use the following scheme:

    Warrior forum
    Warrior forum
    Warrior forum
    warriorforum threads
    Warrior
    forum
    Click here
    http://www.warriorforum.com
    http://www.warriorforum.com
    http://www.warriorforum.com


    So you will have your main keyword mentioned in 30% of your backlinks.

    This is the safest way to proceed.

    For a brand new website: Don't optimize for your main keyword for the first 3 weeks. use a mixture of 10 to 20 keywords.

    In Week 4. start your consistent link building using the plan above.

    Good luck.
    Jaouadk
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Cavan
      Originally Posted by jaouadk View Post

      There has been a debate about this recently.

      Penguin is essentially about link spamming and also the quality of pages you are getting backlinks from.

      The thing I would recommend is this: Anchor text diversity. And quality none duplicate articles that you use for link building.

      Don't use your main anchor text more that 30%, yes 30%, because have dramatically changed now.

      Use ultra spun content that is up to 80% unique for link building purposes.

      If I want to optimize for the keyword: Warrior forum
      I would use the following scheme:

      Warrior forum
      Warrior forum
      Warrior forum
      warriorforum threads
      Warrior
      forum
      Click here
      http://www.warriorforum.com
      http://www.warriorforum.com
      http://www.warriorforum.com


      So you will have your main keyword mentioned in 30% of your backlinks.

      This is the safest way to proceed.

      For a brand new website: Don't optimize for your main keyword for the first 3 weeks. use a mixture of 10 to 20 keywords.

      In Week 4. start your consistent link building using the plan above.

      Good luck.
      Jaouadk
      I can totally agree with this. There is nothing more important than changing up your anchor text while keeping in the same niche. Remember, it is better to have quality backlinks over quantity.

      Backlinks are not dead. If you do white hat seo correctly, then your postion should not have changed too much with this new update. Although, the tools I use are immune to Google updates in which I am never affected poorly for very long. My position always bounces right back to it's regular or better postion.
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      • Profile picture of the author petrdruker
        Originally Posted by Steven Cavan View Post

        I can totally agree with this. There is nothing more important than changing up your anchor text while keeping in the same niche. Remember, it is better to have quality backlinks over quantity.

        Backlinks are not dead. If you do white hat seo correctly, then your postion should not have changed too much with this new update. Although, the tools I use are immune to Google updates in which I am never affected poorly for very long. My position always bounces right back to it's regular or better postion.
        I aggree with you too. Don't need panic, Panda!!! Penguin!!! I think changing anchor name its right way now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Albas
    1- Provide Quality Contents To Users
    2- Make Quality Backlink For Google
    3- Focus Domain Authority
    4- Social Signals is most Important
    5- Avoid Keyword Stuffing in Webpage or others
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  • Profile picture of the author John Ac
    In my opinion there will be no update that will do this. You will never see the backlinks thrown away from G algorithm.

    The way your backlinks are analyze can change but they will never get the out of the algo.

    As all other said before me. There is a big change in the way G analyze your anchor text. The idea is that they look for a more natural way to build backlinks.

    So take a time to analyze the way you build backlinks to other when you surf the web.

    Let's say you find something that look interesting and what to share it on this forum. There is a low possibility that you will use as anchor the exact kw that the webmaster is targeting. So anchor text diversity is very important this days.

    And to come with more proof I will say it again.

    I have an offline business website that is targeting an 1 mil local search kw and the 90% of the backlinks are build with SB and I have used a lot of anchor diversity, this before the last update. I didn't do that because I saw it coming but for to get more visitors. Doing that after the update my website jump from page 6 to page 3 in one day and now is on the first page. And keep in mind that beside a few social bookmarks and a few directory submitting the entire campaign of building backlinks is based on SB. The point is that I build backlinks in a constant rate and extreme anchor diversity and most of the backlinks are build to internal pages.
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    • Profile picture of the author tbird165
      Thanks everyone for all your input. Ya I do anchor text diversity I always use 4 or more keyword phrase variations when I do backlinks for my clients. Got a lot out of all your replies and want to say again THANKS!
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  • Profile picture of the author rtysernd
    After Penguin, we should pay more attention to the diversity of the links. The more, the better.

    besides, backlinks from similar niche are valued higher that just random backlinks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr Lim
    If backlink are dead, Google causing alot of internet marketer to dead, it dread their shares as well.
    Why would he do that.
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    • Profile picture of the author ajajahmedshaikh
      1. HIGH PR Links
      2. Contextual Links
      3. Vary Our Anchor Text
      4. Each From Various Sources or diversity in links
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  • Profile picture of the author mosthost
    Millions of 'click here' links are being artificially create every day now. That's just funny
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  • Profile picture of the author GodMode52
    I always enjoy reading someone who's selling SEO asking such questions. You should invite your past and future clients to join this thread.
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    • Profile picture of the author tbird165
      Originally Posted by GodMode52 View Post

      I always enjoy reading someone who's selling SEO asking such questions. You should invite your past and future clients to join this thread.
      I am not sure what you mean by that but I am very experienced in SEO and other virtual assistant duties. Besides whats wrong with getting opinions and info from other SEO guys?
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  • Profile picture of the author Daones
    Of course they arent dead, its still important to get good backlinks. TO gain top rankings you often have to have high quality backlinks coming in.
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  • Profile picture of the author adam337
    I have heard that with the new Penguin algorithm that backlinks are not a good way to get keyword rankings. Then I also heard that they still are but you have to get backlinks on different kinds of sites such as blogs, forums, Web 2.0 and article sites. Can anyone tell me which is true are backlinks truly dead as a way to try and get rankings or is it not dead but have to mix them up on different kinds of sites?
    Backlink is not dead. But the spammy methods of backlinks are not working any more.
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  • Profile picture of the author kristeena
    Backlinks are still working. But the method of back-linking has changed.
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  • Profile picture of the author kayfrank
    Google will never tell us anything straight up. Backlinks must still count but it seems to be the quality of those backlinks, relevancy and anchor texty variation. Anything that looks natural is OK.
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  • Profile picture of the author logodesigni
    Backlinks are not dead. it is required to get pageranks. But instead of using your keywords for anchor text use nature text of atleast 3 words or "click here" , "visit here" etc as natural links.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mantasmo
    Backlinks are the only way to rank for keywords that matter (read: make good money). How you get those backlinks is a whole other discussion.
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    • Profile picture of the author pers1t
      Originally Posted by bnetwork View Post

      Backlinks are the only way to rank for keywords that matter (read: make good money). How you get those backlinks is a whole other discussion.
      Good point. As long as Google uses backlinks to determine your site authority you can't avoid backlinking. Old backlinking methods slowly die, Google constatly changes his algorithms but for June 2012 it remains the same: if you want to rank high, create backlinks.
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  • Profile picture of the author keyideas
    Building low quality back links can harm your website and drop your keywords ranking. After penguin updates better to get back links from good pr website having same theme and not more than 20-30% back links from only a single keywords. Targeting multiple keywords is the best way to optimize and rank a website in top search pages.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vija
    Quality backlinks still help to rank your site.
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  • Profile picture of the author echelon
    As far as I can tell backlinks are not dead. However, as far doing backlinks today, you may want to truly diversify your anchor text and include non keyword oriented terms.
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  • Profile picture of the author Leo Wadsworth
    There are TWO types of backlink diversity that are important post-penguin. The first has been covered pretty well here - anchor text diversity.

    The second type of diversity is where those links are located. You want a wide mixture of the types of links. If your links all are in blog comments, or blog threads, or article publishing, or wherever - that throws the red flag of "unnatural" linking.

    Some have also postulated that Google is discounting all links from sites that don't have anyone linking to them. I haven't been able to confirm this, but it certainly makes sense.
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  • Profile picture of the author GloriaBrandt
    In my honest opinion, back links are not dead. Overbuilding of them is dead. With Penguin update no-one is "allowed" to get back links from sites which have nothing to do with hie/her site just to get them. All our back links need to be from sites relevant to the site we promote. Simple.
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    • Profile picture of the author WealthyBlogger
      Originally Posted by GloriaBrandt View Post

      In my honest opinion, back links are not dead. Overbuilding of them is dead. With Penguin update no-one is "allowed" to get back links from sites which have nothing to do with hie/her site just to get them. All our back links need to be from sites relevant to the site we promote. Simple.
      While relevancy may be important, I don't think it's as important as some suggest. I'd take a link from drphil.com to any site, any day!
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  • Profile picture of the author sappire
    Backlinks will always be important no matter how google changes their algo.
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  • Profile picture of the author gearmonkey
    Backlinks are better than ever. Just avoid crap backlinks to your money site.
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  • Profile picture of the author RevSEO
    Backlinks work now, just like they always have.

    They are an integral part of Google's algorithm and it's the way that Google crawls and indexes the web (plus every other search engine)

    The key though in a post-Penguin world is to make sure you are diversifying while building links. Make things appear natural. Don't screw around with low quality Scrapebox blasts off Fiverr with one keyword to your money site. That just doesn't cut it these days.

    High quality, high pagerank, contextual homepage links are the cream of the crop in links. Then blend in other high quality links, and you've got a formula for success. Remember to blend in natural anchor text links, like click here, find out more, and naked URL links like url.com
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  • Profile picture of the author nashir
    Back links always live but want to make it Penguin friendly.
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    • Backlinks still are very important, but you need to focus on quality more than ever. The links you obtain should add value to your site. Try to get high quality backlinks from popular sites that are related to your website. Add meaningful content on your site or blog, and encourage readers to share your posts.
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