Catch 22 with Ranking in Your Niche

6 replies
  • SEO
  • |
Let's say I want to rank in a specific category of Arts.

I'm looking to overtake all the websites currently in there, and a number of my posts are already competing for the first position with authority websites.

Now SEO rules say to "link to websites in your own category/niche".

But wouldn't linking to those websites in my category (that I am competing against) give them a boost in SEO/PR/traffic/whatever and therefore put me in a disadvantage? I also don't want to link to unrelated websites.

I can't wrap my head around this approach. Any tips?
#catch #niche #ranking
  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Maguire
    Originally Posted by TLondon View Post

    Let's say I want to rank in a specific category of Arts.

    I'm looking to overtake all the websites currently in there, and a number of my posts are already competing for the first position with authority websites.

    Now SEO rules say to "link to websites in your own category/niche".

    But wouldn't linking to those websites in my category (that I am competing against) give them a boost in SEO/PR/traffic/whatever and therefore put me in a disadvantage? I also don't want to link to unrelated websites.

    I can't wrap my head around this approach. Any tips?
    LOLZ That made my Day...
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    • Profile picture of the author TLondon
      Originally Posted by Kevin Maguire View Post

      LOLZ That made my Day...
      I'm happy it amuses you.

      Any tips?
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  • Profile picture of the author pdrs
    I think you've got it backwards

    You want sites in your niche to link to you...

    Not that there is anything wrong with linking out to a few other authority sites in your niche, it's good for your users, the engines like to see it (so says some), but linking out is not a strategy to improve your own rankings, not sure where you picked that up.
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    • Profile picture of the author TLondon
      Originally Posted by pdrs View Post

      I think you've got it backwards

      You want sites in your niche to link to you...

      Not that there is anything wrong with linking out to a few other authority sites in your niche, it's good for your users, the engines like to see it (so says some), but linking out is not a strategy to improve your own rankings, not sure where you picked that up.
      What do you mean? You link to other websites to make your website a user-friendly part of Google's search engine. You can't have a closed off website when it's the final destination. You need to link out!

      SEObook, SeoMoz, Yoast, other SEO experts say it's always useful to link to websites in your niche. Last week's article from Moz linked to some post from SEO expert (can't remember) saying it was best SEO advice, and the big thing what was focused on is linking to websites within your category. I would find it, but I can't be bothered.
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      • Profile picture of the author pdrs
        Originally Posted by TLondon View Post

        What do you mean? You link to other websites to make your website a user-friendly part of Google's search engine. You can't have a closed off website when it's the final destination. You need to link out!

        SEObook, SeoMoz, Yoast, other SEO experts say it's always useful to link to websites in your niche. Last week's article from Moz linked to some post from SEO expert (can't remember) saying it was best SEO advice, and the big thing what was focused on is linking to websites within your category. I would find it, but I can't be bothered.
        I believe that is exactly what I said...

        "Not that there is anything wrong with linking out to a few other authority sites in your niche, it's good for your users, the engines like to see it (so says some)"

        There is nothing wrong with linking to a few authority sites in your niche... but it's certainly not going to do anything to improve YOUR rankings. For that you need to get other people to link to you.
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  • Profile picture of the author RedClickSeo
    What your referring to is that google wants your site to appear natural. Natural sites link to other sites in the industry, that's just how it works.

    In my personal testing ive found that linking to authoritative sites in the sidebar (wikipedia, government sites, etc.) have overall helped my ranking.

    But linking to other sites in your industry goes farther than just the SEO value. You can form relationships with the webmasters of the other websites and share traffic.

    Don't compete with them, collaborate.
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