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Other than b-links, what affects SERPS?

by Mike81
18 replies
  • SEO
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So, clearly there is much more to ranking than backlinks. All the time I see sites ahead of me with less backlinks. For example, let's say I have a new site with 15 backlinks. The guy a position ahead of me has 13. Why is he ahead? I look at his links, they are all profile backlinks, just like mine. His PR is 0, just like mine. His domain age, n/a. His content? Garbage, absolute scraped, spun, regurgitated garbage. Mine, original hand written, I won't say pristine, but let's say much better. So what gives???

#affects #blinks #serps
  • Profile picture of the author DPM70
    You sound as though you think it might be an exact science that is measurable by easy-to-find parameters. I can assure you that it's not. So many variables involved that even trawling here for years you might only guess a portion of the picture.

    However, I think you're half way there already. You've already mentioned in your post some of the main components and you are but one or two positions behind in the SERP positions. You've done a lot of the right work, right. Now carry on.
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    I don't build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build. - Ayn Rand
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  • Profile picture of the author trishworks4u
    His content may be "spun garbage" but have the proper keywords "on page" in the proper places. On page seo plays a part which involves a lot of different factors. Site load time as well. Does his site load up in .4 seconds and yours in 45 seconds? Big difference and it will affect your rankings.
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  • Profile picture of the author jayshankard
    Did you check things like EMD for the keyword? EMD=exact matching domain, Is there any .edu or .gov backlink? What is the PR of the backlink domain or the page the backlink is present on?
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  • Profile picture of the author DPM70
    The random element is there as I alluded to in my first post. What gives, exactly? Good question.

    I do think, in hindsight, and over a fag break and coffee, that a couple of authority backlinks in this theoretical scenario would win the day. That's the quickest route.

    Go for newspaper websites. A press release syndicated out. A (valid) wikipedia link for adding something new and verified to an entry. I think these are the last (relatively easy) authority links to get hold of. I'd beware of .edu / .gov links - but I've seen instances of those work, too.

    Edit: Damn - note to self "make sure you read the thread title again! (Sorry those were not other than b-links)"
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    I don't build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build. - Ayn Rand
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  • Profile picture of the author MrDay
    Here's a few things that can affect rankings:

    -Authority and how trustworthy your site is
    -keyword placement throughout content
    -originality and the value of content
    -time your content was published
    -type of links your linking to in your content
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  • Profile picture of the author AgentP
    Backlinks are part of the 'off page' optimization, you need to also look at your 'on page' optimization. If backlinks are the only gauge of being ranked by the search engines then only those with money to buy or create backlinks will be seen.
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  • Profile picture of the author msb1040
    ON PAGE SEO
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike81
      Okay, so on page SEO. Can we go over keyword placement? by that you mean, in the title, h1, h2 and throughout the text? How much is too much?
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      • Profile picture of the author msb1040
        Well if your using wordpress then definitly download allinoneseo plugin. Make sure your keywords are in your meta tags, and your H1 titles. Also i like to have authority sites on my blog roll, about 4-10 of them at the bottom. These are sites like wikipedia, google, ect, that are relevant to your topic. Google loves seeing this on your site. Just make sure these sites open in another window, you dont want people leaving your site
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  • Profile picture of the author Shiva
    Quality of content, specially after the Google Farmer update and good on page optimization!
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  • Profile picture of the author ocd
    I've seen sites ahead of mine that had very few backlinks and zero content.

    I have grown to hate google but she's the only girl at the prom so you gotta make her happy.
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    The link of great joy and happiness...but this one? This is the one that all window cleaning companies in the free world are inspired by. Hey, where did the sarcasm font go?
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    • Profile picture of the author Shiva
      Originally Posted by ocd View Post

      I've seen sites ahead of mine that had very few backlinks and zero content.

      I have grown to hate google but she's the only girl at the prom so you gotta make her happy.
      lol.. Yes well she is in demand, she has got the right to tease you especially when they are millions of dude here at the Prom!
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike81
      Originally Posted by ocd View Post

      I have grown to hate google but she's the only girl at the prom so you gotta make her happy.
      haha! well said, sir.
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  • Profile picture of the author William King
    SERP are based on the 200 factors!!! So stop thinking that seo is just a game of backlinks, it is far more than that. If you have 20 backlinks and your competitor have 10 but he has managed keywords perfectly on his site than he will rank above you because this is what search engines consider when showing the search results. Your onsite SEO!
    After that your social presence also matters, if you are receiving good response on your tweets, status, links etc companies in your niche are following you and have liked your facebook page.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike81
      Originally Posted by William King View Post

      After that your social presence also matters, if you are receiving good response on your tweets, status, links etc companies in your niche are following you and have liked your facebook page.
      Okay, so how do you get the social presence for a product affiliate site? Who is following review sites about toasters!? (for example)
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike81
    Okay, to experiment, I'm going to go to all the places this other %$$#@ site is getting links from, get my own from them and we'll see what happens in the serps.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Grant
    Over 200 other factors...
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