Producing quality content does not generate backlinks!

by jxam69
57 replies
  • SEO
  • |
How many times have you heard people around here say this - "quality content doesn't generate links" and they often follow it with some unpleasant comment about Matt Cutts for advising us to create quality content to get links.


I was just checking how many backlinks Google picked up pointing at our most popular site in the last 30 days of data provided in Webmaster Tools.

The answer is just over 1,300.

How many of these links did we build?

The answer is 0.

This is a typical month for this site.

If you want to check this for your own sites you'll find the data in Google Webster Tools > Traffic > Links to Your Site - then click on the "Download latest links" button. This will download a spreadsheet with link URLs in one column and the date Google found it in the next column.

So next time you're creating new content for your site, ask yourself this "Would I spontaneously link to this? Would I tweet it or post it on Facebook?".

If your answer is "No" then change something about how you produce your content if you want people to link to it.
#backlinks #content #generate #producing #quality
  • Profile picture of the author Anil Kint
    If anyone is creating superb quality content then what you are saying is true. But when things go into automatic mode and there is money involved with creating quality content that where the problem is.

    It difficult to keep producing quality content again and again with out effort/money. That when people fail and fall back to spun content.
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    • Profile picture of the author jm22
      It will happen when you put some effort into producing high quality content .
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    Quality content can attract backlinks...
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  • Profile picture of the author jxam69
    I disagree that it takes money to make great content - here's my list of required ingredients:
    1. The writer must be passionate about the topic
    2. The writer must be talented - or follow a system developed by talented writers
    3. The content must be edited well

    These are skills you can learn.
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    • Profile picture of the author gearmonkey
      Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

      I disagree that it takes money to make great content - here's my list of required ingredients:
      1. The writer must be passionate about the topic
      2. The writer must be talented - or follow a system developed by talented writers
      3. The content must be edited well

      These are skills you can learn.
      Don't underestimate the importance of pictures. Also creating detailed and "fun" videos is important as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author jovykhan
    Gaining backlinks from quality content needs people that are watching your content. If you don't have followers I don't think you get backlinks. Or at least you promote this to social media sites.
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    • Profile picture of the author jxam69
      Originally Posted by jovykhan View Post

      Gaining backlinks from quality content needs people that are watching your content. If you don't have followers I don't think you get backlinks. Or at least you promote this to social media sites.
      This is very true - your content only works when people see it.

      So you need to market your content.

      Here's some of the things I do to market a brand new site (in no particular order):

      Join in the existing conversations on the main subject of the new site in non-competing services like Reddit, Twitter, Facebook Groups & Pages. Do not use signature links - maybe a profile link but nothing else. Do not mention the site -just have fun talking with and helping people where possible. The goal is simply to build a trustworthy reputation at first - once accepted by the community then let them know about your site. This usually takes a month or two. BTW - I sometimes start this weeks before the site is launched. If you are working by yourself target only one place like Reddit so you can keep up with the conversation easily.

      Make contact with opinion leaders in the market - seek their advice. This works not only as a networking tool - you also learn more about the market/niche. This works best if you can talk with them over the phone or skype. A great excuse for starting these conversations is to interview them - you learn AND you get content you can publish.

      Write keyword researched articles that are soft targets to begin with. This way you can begin hitting the front page of Search Engines quickly and start to build a reputation both with your audience and Search Engines at the same time. (Pro tip - even important and difficult to reach people Google their own name or company name - don't be afraid to target a researched article at a single person if they're important in your niche).


      I do a lot of other things as well to market new sites and new content - but these things are a great way to start and can be done on a very low budget.
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  • Profile picture of the author SEO Haven
    Definitely some good advice man. The difference between "good" content and "great" content is huge indeed. If you manage to make only a single post go viral, that means tons of social shares, which equals good, white-hat SEO.
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  • Profile picture of the author jxam69
    I'll give you an example of an article targeted at an audience of just one company.

    The exact industry and type of product has been changed from the actual article I wrote - but you'll get the idea.


    I wanted a link from one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world.

    This company is active online and communicates with its market through a blog on their website.

    I spent 4 days researching and writing an article which was an April Fools prank - the article was about this company's secret new project to launch a 'wheel-less car'.

    I published it at 1 minute after midnight on April Fools day.

    Then I went around a dozen blogs and posted comments about the new wheel-less car with a link to my article on my site - all the links were no-follow, they were about seeking publicity NOT gaming search engines.

    The next day the car manufacturer posted an article on their blog about my April Fools prank with a link to my article.

    I got the link I wanted, AND I got heaps of traffic.


    You can do this on any budget - you just need great ideas and execute them well.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nathaniel Hunter
      Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

      I'll give you an example of an article targeted at an audience of just one company.

      The exact industry and type of product has been changed from the actual article I wrote - but you'll get the idea.


      I wanted a link from one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world.

      This company is active online and communicates with its market through a blog on their website.

      I spent 4 days researching and writing an article which was an April Fools prank - the article was about this company's secret new project to launch a 'wheel-less car'.

      I published it at 1 minute after midnight on April Fools day.

      Then I went around a dozen blogs and posted comments about the new wheel-less car with a link to my article on my site - all the links were no-follow, they were about seeking publicity NOT gaming search engines.

      The next day the car manufacturer posted an article on their blog about my April Fools prank with a link to my article.

      I got the link I wanted, AND I got heaps of traffic.


      You can do this on any budget - you just need great ideas and execute them well.
      This is the most brilliant idea I've ever seen posted on this forum - It's funny because most reading it will just pass it off and go back to spinning articles. It's doing things like this that separate the men from the boys in terms of making real money from your blogging efforts. While everyone else is buying crap courses on how to game the search engines - and losing money while doing it - the real winners are the big thinkers who are integrating killer (and free) ideas to their blogs like the OP did.

      So many forget that we're supposed to be Internet MARKETERS. In order to be successful you need to bring awesome marketing ideas to the table. Thanks for the idea jxam - I will now steal it and apply it to a few of my blogs
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    • Profile picture of the author jfambrini
      Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

      I'll give you an example of an article targeted at an audience of just one company.

      The exact industry and type of product has been changed from the actual article I wrote - but you'll get the idea.


      I wanted a link from one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world.

      This company is active online and communicates with its market through a blog on their website.

      I spent 4 days researching and writing an article which was an April Fools prank - the article was about this company's secret new project to launch a 'wheel-less car'.

      I published it at 1 minute after midnight on April Fools day.

      Then I went around a dozen blogs and posted comments about the new wheel-less car with a link to my article on my site - all the links were no-follow, they were about seeking publicity NOT gaming search engines.

      The next day the car manufacturer posted an article on their blog about my April Fools prank with a link to my article.

      I got the link I wanted, AND I got heaps of traffic.


      You can do this on any budget - you just need great ideas and execute them well.
      Wow. What a great idea and what a great story. Since I'm a car dealer I would love to come with such an idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

    How many times have you heard people around here say this - "quality content doesn't generate links" and they often follow it with some unpleasant comment about Matt Cutts for advising us to create quality content to get links.


    I was just checking how many backlinks Google picked up pointing at our most popular site in the last 30 days of data provided in Webmaster Tools.

    The answer is just over 1,300.

    How many of these links did we build?

    The answer is 0.

    This is a typical month for this site.

    If you want to check this for your own sites you'll find the data in Google Webster Tools > Traffic > Links to Your Site - then click on the "Download latest links" button. This will download a spreadsheet with link URLs in one column and the date Google found it in the next column.

    So next time you're creating new content for your site, ask yourself this "Would I spontaneously link to this? Would I tweet it or post it on Facebook?".

    If your answer is "No" then change something about how you produce your content if you want people to link to it.
    Nice click-bait title. LOL.

    I absolutely agree...link bait works far better than manually building links I have found.

    To be totally honest, I don't even build links actively anymore...all passive...all user driven...

    This allows me to focus on content quality and conversions.
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  • Profile picture of the author Terry Kyle
    In my experience, the best kind of content in terms of link-bait is:

    1. Detailed case studies
    2. Tutorials/how-to walkthroughs (could be video)
    3. Software tools (web-based)
    4. Lists (top 10 this or that relevant to a niche)
    5. Something controversial (but not for the sake of it - should have a genuine point)
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  • Profile picture of the author gotlinks
    I concur man, good quality content just in turn generates traction / backlinks.

    However for real seo rankings you do not need GREAT content. Just unique content that is somewhat of a joy to read.

    The engines are not real specific.

    If you do not believe that then do some searches on stuff like cell phones.

    Half the sites ranking on the front page were made by non-english speaking writers.

    Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

    How many times have you heard people around here say this - "quality content doesn't generate links" and they often follow it with some unpleasant comment about Matt Cutts for advising us to create quality content to get links.


    I was just checking how many backlinks Google picked up pointing at our most popular site in the last 30 days of data provided in Webmaster Tools.

    The answer is just over 1,300.

    How many of these links did we build?

    The answer is 0.

    This is a typical month for this site.

    If you want to check this for your own sites you'll find the data in Google Webster Tools > Traffic > Links to Your Site - then click on the "Download latest links" button. This will download a spreadsheet with link URLs in one column and the date Google found it in the next column.

    So next time you're creating new content for your site, ask yourself this "Would I spontaneously link to this? Would I tweet it or post it on Facebook?".

    If your answer is "No" then change something about how you produce your content if you want people to link to it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Berkinb
    The problem with most people today is that they think writing a 1,000+ word piece means "quality content".

    Here's a little hint: writing quality content starts with reading! You need to research and read a lot about your niches if you want to produce A grade content that will attract visitors and links.

    "No one links to quality content" is like a lullaby helping the lazy sleep at night.
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    • Profile picture of the author gotlinks
      Originally Posted by Berkinb View Post

      The problem with most people today is that they think writing a 1,000+ word piece means "quality content".

      Here's a little hint: writing quality content starts with reading! You need to research and read a lot about your niches if you want to produce A grade content that will attract visitors and links.

      "No one links to quality content" is like a lullaby helping the lazy sleep at night.
      Very good point.

      Quality content is something that creates traction all its own. Literally.
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      • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
        Originally Posted by gotlinks View Post

        Very good point.

        Quality content is something that creates traction all its own. Literally.
        Yeah, but my tinfoil hat says Matt Cutts is always lying about that "quality" stuff.
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        • Profile picture of the author gotlinks
          Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

          Yeah, but my tinfoil hat says Matt Cutts is always lying about that "quality" stuff.
          You know I totally agree with the fact that Matt Cutts / Google have preached and preached quality content and its completely stupid.

          However you cant beat the facts that a well written article that people just Naturally want to link to wont help rankings you know?

          I am sure their is a reason for everything but I have noticed on my own blog that the posts I spent Extra special time on have gained me far more exposure and generated more back links naturally without doing anything then those that I just put out quickly.

          I have to say I am a semi believer in good quality stuff from that perspective. (you actually just gave me the title for my next post on my blog).
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        • Profile picture of the author jfambrini
          Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

          Yeah, but my tinfoil hat says Matt Cutts is always lying about that "quality" stuff.
          It cannot be a coincidence that Google ad revenue is hitting the sky after all these updates. More and more businesses are being forced to buy ads with Google. Quality control be damned it will gladly point you to non-quality content if you pay them for it.
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          • Profile picture of the author gotlinks
            Originally Posted by jfambrini View Post

            It cannot be a coincidence that Google ad revenue is hitting the sky after all these updates. More and more businesses are being forced to buy ads with Google. Quality control be damned it will gladly point you to non-quality content if you pay them for it.
            Finally someone willing to speak the truth (I pray google and matt cutts himself doesn't see that post and nail you to the wall for it).

            But seriously. Google is in the business to make money. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. However SEO's (who know what they are doing) are the middle man try to reach for the riches and Google is like a dominant king that wont let anyone touch royalty.

            Its stupid but hey what you gonna do. Oh thats right. Be your own king of your own Niche/Kingdom
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          • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
            Originally Posted by jfambrini View Post

            It cannot be a coincidence that Google ad revenue is hitting the sky after all these updates. More and more businesses are being forced to buy ads with Google. Quality control be damned it will gladly point you to non-quality content if you pay them for it.
            You need to think things through to their conclusion. I just had this debate with someone else last week.

            Google makes it's money via AdWords.


            QUESTION: Where are those ads shown?

            ANSWER: Along side of the organic results.


            QUESTION: What happens if their organic search sucks?

            ANSWER: People stop using it


            QUESTION: What happens when people stop using Google search?

            ANSWER: Nobody clicks on ads


            QUESTION: What happens when people stop clicking ads?

            ANSWER: Google loses money.


            Stop being short-sighted and trying to make it out like Google is directing everyone to PPC (they aren't).


            QUESTION: What happens when one site drops out of organic search results?

            ANSWER: Another one replaces it.


            QUESTION: What happens if that site that replaced the first was using AdWords since it couldn't rank naturally?

            ANSWER: It stops using AdWords and Google loses income.


            See? Just follow things through to their "logical" conclusion.
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            • Profile picture of the author gotlinks
              Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

              You need to think things through to their conclusion. I just had this debate with someone else last week.

              Google makes it's money via AdWords.


              QUESTION: Where are those ads shown?

              ANSWER: Along side of the organic results.


              QUESTION: What happens if their organic search sucks?

              ANSWER: People stop using it


              QUESTION: What happens when people stop using Google search?

              ANSWER: Nobody clicks on ads


              QUESTION: What happens when people stop clicking ads?

              ANSWER: Google loses money.


              Stop being short-sighted and trying to make it out like Google is directing everyone to PPC (they aren't).


              QUESTION: What happens when one site drops out of organic search results?

              ANSWER: Another one replaces it.


              QUESTION: What happens if that site that replaced the first was using AdWords since it couldn't rank naturally?

              ANSWER: It stops using AdWords and Google loses income.


              See? Just follow things through to their "logical" conclusion.
              I agree.

              However am I the only one who has noticed that PAID ads are generally way more RELEVANT and on topic then the free results?

              Its like Google is encouraging us to click the adwords.
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              • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
                Originally Posted by gotlinks View Post

                I agree.

                However am I the only one who has noticed that PAID ads are generally way more RELEVANT and on topic then the free results?

                Its like Google is encouraging us to click the adwords.
                Well you have to remember that AdWords advertisers tell Google exactly what terms to trigger the ads on. Organic search relies on an algorithm (imperfect).
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                • Profile picture of the author gotlinks
                  Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

                  Well you have to remember that AdWords advertisers tell Google exactly what terms to trigger the ads on. Organic search relies on an algorithm (imperfect).
                  Right. But by that logic would people really stop using google when the paid ads would actually be even more relevant? No. They would still use it.
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                  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
                    Originally Posted by gotlinks View Post

                    Right. But by that logic would people really stop using google when the paid ads would actually be even more relevant? No. They would still use it.
                    That's assuming the entire first page is paid. Could we get there? Maybe / maybe not. The entire validity of the search engine would get called into question if it became 100% pay-to-play.
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                  • Profile picture of the author Berkinb
                    That's subject to debate and depends on what people are searching for. If I search for a product review and end up getting nothing but paid product ads from Google, I may end up using another search engine.

                    Google can only go so far with paid ads in SERPS in my opinion. But like Wolf said, we shall wait and see

                    Originally Posted by gotlinks View Post

                    Right. But by that logic would people really stop using google when the paid ads would actually be even more relevant? No. They would still use it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Berkinb
    We are not trying to produce good content for Google mates. We are doing it for the consumers and customers on our niches. The better the content, the more people will be interested in it, that's as simple as that.
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  • Profile picture of the author jfambrini
    Google may gets its way in the short run but by banning and downgrading millions of sites its search results are full of crappy sites so this will backfire and Google may end going the way of Altavista near its end. Bing will gain ground at its expense.
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  • Profile picture of the author phuongle
    I'm sure content is a king, this is most powerful method to get more quality backlink and relevent, too . This is real natural backlink strategy as other webmaster find the content useful and they are willing to mention .
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  • Profile picture of the author jxam69
    I think I should start a thread about the "inverse square law of threads" in this forum.

    It states that every time the number of posts in a thread doubles, the probability that the thread goes off track increases by the square of the number of posts.

    Some people in this thread have missed the point - complaining about Google is not a business strategy, it won't get visitors to your site, it won't generate links or conversions.

    If I had the choice today of complaining about Google, or thinking up an idea to improve my website... well you get the idea - you haven't seen me complaining about Google.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
    Though I agree with your post about 90% I 'll play Devil's advocate. How many days of the year besides April fools day did you have ideas that didn't work? Why does great content have to be gimmicky as well? Because a lot of the time, lets be honest, link bait is about a gimmick or novelty not just the quality of the content. Some of the stupidest low quality stuff has gone viral

    The one big problem with link bait is that it is hit and miss and many times it has nothing to do with quality. Plus I submit to you that you are being a bit selective. Seems to me you did build some links . How do you refer people back to your article or site without linking?

    Link bait is also niche specific as to effectiveness. Some niches it works more for than others.

    All in all though you are completely right. Google content can and very often does lead to links. You should always write content that if it is promoted would get at least some natural links. However we could certainly do with a better system to advertise quality than what we have. A writer can be brilliant - write detailed articles that helps lots of people - if he doesn't come up with something like the nice piece you did around the novel of April Fools day the site will still have crickets. Plus its not a level playing field. Big companies and deep pockets get far more traffic from their link bait because through media channels they can afford or influence they can get their content out there much easier.
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    • Profile picture of the author jxam69
      Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

      Though I agree with your post about 90% I 'll play Devil's advocate. How many days of the year besides April fools day did you have ideas that didn't work? Why does great content have to be gimmicky as well? Because a lot of the time, lets be honest, link bait is about a gimmick or novelty not just the quality of the content. Some of the stupidest low quality stuff has gone viral

      The one big problem with link bait is that it is hit and miss and many times it has nothing to do with quality. Plus I submit to you that you are being a bit selective. Seems to me you did build some links . How do you refer people back to your article or site without linking?

      Link bait is also niche specific as to effectiveness. Some niches it works more for than others.

      All in all though you are completely right. Google content can and very often does lead to links. You should always write content that if it is promoted would get at least some natural links. However we could certainly do with a better system to advertise quality than what we have. A writer can be brilliant - write detailed articles that helps lots of people - if he does't come up with something like the nice piece you did around the novel of April Fools day the site will still have crickets.
      Ok, I'll dance with the Devil

      The specific example I gave wasn't so much intended to be a lesson in link baiting - it was an example of targeting a researched article at a narrow audience as a way to market your site (as opposed to targeting extremely competitive terms).

      How many days do I have ideas that don't work? Almost never - that's because the ideas that don't improve my business are lessons learned that I benefit from going forward. BTW this only works if you are constantly measuring your results and learning from them - if not then you're just having expensive bad ideas because you keep repeating the same mistakes.

      In the 30 days where I got the 1,300 links mentioned at the top of this thread, I had lots of bad ideas, a few average ones, and only one or two good ideas. Most of the new links didn't even come from the work done during that 30 days - constantly working on good content has a snowballing effect. For example, one of the new links was to a page that was 10 years old and the person who made the link said that this page helped him enormously in his career - I had completely forgotten about the article he linked to.

      Good content doesn't have to be gimmicky - the vast majority of my content is very serious, laser targeted, and hopefully well produced.

      Yes I did build a few links in the April Fools example - but they were all no-follow and targeted exclusively at humans - I don't call this type of thing link building, I call it Marketing - and there's no automated software for doing this.

      I almost completely disagree that link baiting, inbound marketing, whatever you want to call it, doesn't work in some niches - you just have to be creative.

      Here's my challenge to you - name 5 niches that you say marketing/link baiting doesn't work in and I'll provide 5 ideas to get you started.
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      • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
        Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

        How many days do I have ideas that don't work? Almost never - that's because the ideas that don't improve my business are lessons learned that I benefit from going forward.
        In that case any and everything works including blasting sites

        , I had lots of bad ideas, a few average ones, and only one or two good ideas
        There ya go . That was my only point

        I almost completely disagree that link baiting, inbound marketing, whatever you want to call it, doesn't work in some niches - you just have to be creative.

        Here's my challenge to you - name 5 niches that you say marketing/link baiting doesn't work in and I'll provide 5 ideas to get you started.
        :rolleyes: I would but you are disagreeing for no good reason. Go back and read what I wrote I never said at any time it doesn't work in some niches I said

        Some niches it works more for than others.
        I know how to do linkbait. I have talked about it as far back as 2 and half years ago on this forum but its just kidding yourself to think you can consistently be just as effective in linkbait in a niche selling plastic forks as you would be in one selling The latest fashions in dresses. Does it not work at all.? No never said that. Is it less effective? Of course. That should be obvious. People are not as interested in plastic forks and theres only so many gimmicks you can come up for it to be of interest certainly as compared to the fashion industry.
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        • Profile picture of the author jxam69
          Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

          :rolleyes: I would but you are disagreeing for no good reason. Go back and read what I wrote I never said at any time it doesn't work in some niches
          You were playing Devil's advocate so I took a little latitude - that's all.

          I think we probably agree on more than we disagree.
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          • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
            Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

            You were playing Devil's advocate so I took a little latitude - that's all.

            I think we probably agree on more than we disagree.
            LOL. I like your style and yes We agree 90% plus. I just wish google would be more proactive. The world's best content is many times not written by people good at marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author rahmanpaidar
    Statistically for getting 1300 natural backlinks over 30 days, you need more than 20.000
    unique and NEW visitors to your site daily (if the backlinks are not blog roll or site wide links).

    If you have such that number of unique visitors a day, then without doubt you had
    already an authority site.
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    • Profile picture of the author jxam69
      Originally Posted by rahmanpaidar View Post

      Statistically for getting 1300 natural backlinks over 30 days, you need more than 20.000
      unique and NEW visitors to your site daily (if the backlinks are not blog roll or site wide links).

      If you have such that number of unique visitors a day, then without doubt you had already an authority site.
      Interesting, where did you get that metric from? I can't see how this correlation, even if it exists, is conclusively causal - but I might be wrong - please provide more info.

      I will say you're on the right order of magnitude about our new visitor numbers, but other than that I won't get specific on my business stats.

      You are correct - this site is indeed an authority and every single one of our competitors link to us. Our biggest competitor (who are bigger than us) even link to us in one of their main forum FAQ sticky posts - that's what I call genuine authority.
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      • Profile picture of the author rahmanpaidar
        Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

        Interesting, where did you get that metric from? I can't see how this correlation, even if it exists, is conclusively causal - but I might be wrong - please provide more info.

        I will say you're on the right order of magnitude about our new visitor numbers, but other than that I won't get specific on my business stats.

        You are correct - this site is indeed an authority and every single one of our competitors link to us. Our biggest competitor (who are bigger than us) even link to us in one of their main forum FAQ sticky posts - that's what I call genuine authority.
        20.000 x 30(days) = 600.000 (visitors)

        Of these 600.000 visitors, one out of 500 unique visitors to your site
        will statistically like your content and links to your site.

        600.000 / 500 = 1.200 Links

        Note that if your site is not a brand, then the number is even much less
        than that.

        I think 500 is so good and optimististic. The probability of a user to link
        to your site might be as follow:

        - He/She comes to your site
        - Likes your site.
        - Has a website
        - Give a link to you (most people even don't link to you even if they
        like your content because of laziness or whatever reason)

        so 1 out of 500 visitors can be so high optimistic probability.
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        • Profile picture of the author jxam69
          Originally Posted by rahmanpaidar View Post

          Of these 600.000 visitors, one out of 500 unique visitors to your site
          will statistically like your content and links to your site.
          ....
          I think 500 is so good and optimististic. The probability of a user to link
          to your site might be as follow:
          ....
          so 1 out of 500 visitors can be so high optimistic probability.
          Thanks for answering, but you didn't address my question - where did you get these numbers from?
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          • Profile picture of the author rahmanpaidar
            Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

            Thanks for answering, but you didn't address my question - where did you get these numbers from?
            There are ways that allows calculation of those numbers with good approximation.


            1- Compute total number of all external links on entire web.
            2- Compute total number of internet website hits on entire web (through ISPs or others...)
            3- Divide those two numbers


            You don't need to be scientist to compute that division
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            • Profile picture of the author jxam69
              Originally Posted by rahmanpaidar View Post

              There are ways that allows calculation of those numbers with good approximation.


              1- Compute total number of all external links on entire web.
              2- Compute total number of internet website hits on entire web (through ISPs or others...)
              3- Divide those two numbers


              You don't need to be scientist to compute that division
              I don't know where you get the values of 1. and 2.

              In your original post further up the thread on this you also talked about visitor numbers and ratios of linkers - I think you're stringing way too many uncertainties together to get meaningful answers.
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              • Profile picture of the author rahmanpaidar
                Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

                I don't know where you get the values of 1. and 2.

                In your original post further up the thread on this you also talked about visitor numbers and ratios of linkers - I think you're stringing way too many uncertainties together to get meaningful answers.
                Seriously if you don't realize that what I wrote yields directly to the
                average percent of linkers out of visitors to a website, then you should think
                twice. There's no uncertainty in all my posts to this thread including
                original post. If you have studied math and probability, you would
                agree with me.

                Studying Large-Scale community such as web and visitors, is not done
                without the help of statistics and probability science. If you call them
                uncertainty, then I have to say you are deadly wrong.

                You asked where I got 1. and 2. numbers. Search the web. Those are
                information that are not hidden to the public.

                I can not give you an exact detail where and how I got exactly that estimation.
                But I can make you sure that the number of linkers are much lower than
                the factor 500 for brand new sites or simple websites that most of us
                having here in this forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author replicontimesheet
    This is what I have been saying on many discussions.

    When you have a thought or came across something interesting that others would love, just write about it in common words and share it on your blog.

    Blog posts are something that people would love to bait. When your link is bitten, you get a backlink.

    Get automatic links from quality websites is in your words and content. When you post an interesting thread, share it on your social networking profile and people would get to know about it quicker.

    Moreover, when you write something professional, something like a tutorial or on a topic that is the current trend, try writing differently and try including pictures.

    I would recommend to make a post with many images compared to the content, when your intent is to get external links.
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  • Profile picture of the author pluto1
    I was little confused by the thread title. Agree with your OP. Quality content always wins, hands down.
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    • Profile picture of the author twilightofidols
      Yeah "produce quality content to get backlinks" is the biggest baloney in the world.

      People linking to your site because it's just THAT awesome is the EXCEPTION not the rule. Of course it happens if they have enormous incentive to do so.

      If you've got a PR-5 blog webmasters know a link on their site is worth money many don't just give them away for free because your site is cool. That's ludicrous. It happens yeah, rarely.

      Here's a question for you. If it was an article about curing a yeast infection that saved you a doctors visit would you happily share it on your facebook profile?

      You can create the best content in the world, but unless you promote it via backlinking nobody is going to see it.

      Google doesn't read and understand content.

      Here's the truth. While you're waiting for your awesome article with groundbreaking information to get links, your competitors are building crazy links to their low quality spam pages which will always outrank you.

      If you want to get backlinks, you have to build backlinks. Quality content is to establish trust and authority with your visitors and help generate sales.
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      • Profile picture of the author jxam69
        Originally Posted by twilightofidols View Post

        People linking to your site because it's just THAT awesome is the EXCEPTION not the rule.
        Actually it's the rule for all the other Authority site owners I know, but then again, that's part of the definition of Authority site in the first place.

        Originally Posted by twilightofidols View Post

        If you've got a PR-5 blog webmasters know a link on their site is worth money many don't just give them away for free because your site is cool. That's ludicrous. It happens yeah, rarely.
        Actually, I doubt the vast majority of sites engage in link selling. Your views are possibly skewed by what you read on sites like this. I have several PR5+ sites and don't sell links either. I sell a lot of advertising to large internet businesses who do not want to be associated with anything that goes against the Google webmaster guidelines - and I make a lot more money doing this than what link selling would bring in.


        Originally Posted by twilightofidols View Post

        Here's a question for you. If it was an article about curing a yeast infection that saved you a doctors visit would you happily share it on your facebook profile?
        Well very few people will share links to sites like Yeast Infection Treatment however many do share links to authority sites like Yeast Infection (Candidiasis) Causes, Symptoms, Treatments - they just don't share links to the embarrassing pages as much.

        Originally Posted by twilightofidols View Post

        You can create the best content in the world, but unless you promote it via backlinking nobody is going to see it.
        I provided 3 examples for content marketing above that did not involve backlinking - scroll back up and have another read.


        Originally Posted by twilightofidols View Post

        Here's the truth. While you're waiting for your awesome article with groundbreaking information to get links, your competitors are building crazy links to their low quality spam pages which will always outrank you.
        Only my weak competitors are doing this - they occasionally manage to outrank me for smaller terms, but on the whole I leave them in my dust, and every time a Penguin or EMD update comes around, quite a few of them disappear. And from time to time, with no update, they get all their MNS's slapped down simultaneously from what appear to be manual penalties.

        My strong competitors are building links through similar methods to me - they are the ones I consistently do battle with on the front page of Google.

        My experience, and that of many other website operators I know, is completely the opposite of what you are claiming.
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  • Profile picture of the author nik0
    Banned
    Quality content does not generate back links.

    Traffic does, and good quality content helps to increase the ratio.

    Kind of 1+1 = 2 right.

    So yeah get good quality content, get traffic from other sources, and you might not need to build links yourself. However there are soooo many niches that are just not interesting to link to. I mean who the hell is gonna link to some local electrician.
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    • Profile picture of the author jxam69
      Originally Posted by nik0 View Post

      I mean who the hell is gonna link to some local electrician.
      Here are some that will:
      - The local electricians' guild/union/association
      - Local schools and charities he donated time/services/money to
      - The local newspaper
      - Other local non-competing trades people like plumbers etc.
      - Local electrical goods suppliers

      Now, that wasn't hard was it?
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      • Profile picture of the author nik0
        Banned
        Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

        Here are some that will:
        - The local electricians' guild/union/association
        - Local schools and charities he donated time/services/money to
        - The local newspaper
        - Other local non-competing trades people like plumbers etc.
        - Local electrical goods suppliers

        Now, that wasn't hard was it?
        Agreed but this are links created out of knowing / doing business with people and often only come in very limited numbers. Unless you start to donate like crazy in which cases hiring an SEO is probably cheaper. I mean:

        - How many unions etc are there? Will they always link? No
        - How many local newspapers are there? Will they always link? No
        - How many supplies are there? Will they always link to their dealers? No
        - How many plumbers / roofers etc do you know

        If it would be that easy I wouldn't have an SEO company outsource 40+ clients in that specific niche. Perhaps you'll rank with the above in some small city but for the larger cities in the US you need a bit more then that. (still pretty easy but getting at #1 does require a bit of work).
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        • Profile picture of the author jxam69
          Originally Posted by nik0 View Post

          Agreed but this are links created out of knowing / doing business with people and often only come in very limited numbers Unless you start to donate like crazy in which cases hiring an SEO is probably cheaper. I mean:

          - How many unions etc are there? Will they always link? No
          - How many local newspapers are there? Will they always link? No
          - How many supplies are there? Will they always link to their dealers? No
          - How many plumbers / roofers etc do you know

          If it would be that easy I wouldn't have an SEO company outsource 40+ clients in that specific niche. Perhaps you'll rank with the above in some small city but for the larger cities in the US you need a bit more then that. (still pretty easy but getting at #1 does require a bit of work).
          You are exactly right that my approach to SEO is about people.

          From reading between the lines what you appear to be saying is that my approach doesn't work for your business model - that's perfectly fine, do what works for you.
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          • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
            Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

            You are exactly right that my approach to SEO is about people.
            Well here is where I get to tell you you have been reading around here too much. Outside WF and Internet marketing getting in touch with webmasters and asking for links is exactly what link building is about and you are building links. NIk has a point that was kind of what I was alluding to before

            Some sites and niches just are not going to get the natural links that others get. Purists try and ignore this but its just a fact. Plus its totally unreasonable to tell a fantastic electrician that he also has to be able to write entertaining content, get fun videos etc etc. This is why no matter how Google and purists whine about it paid links will never go away. Its the way of the world in business. Theres no other medium in the world where paying for exposure is seen as wrong and Google is the last to talk as if their search engine is excluded because for any person being sane and rational the fact is obvious

            - They SELL the first three positions from the top in the browser window display and they do it to give those who pay them greater exposure. All this hokie poke about organic listings and ads being different doesn't change the fact that the top three positions in your browser window ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR'

            Google has just done a really good job at brainwashing purists into thinking the pastel color block at the top makes it right that the top positions are bought. If Google kept the paid ads at the right like they started out doing they could claim this but the ads were put in the same column as organic for the absolutely indisputable reason that people would click on it more if it was at the top (and they must know as everyone does that non savvy searchers in great numbers click those links because they are at the top)

            Its actually a joke with that fact in mind that you have purists running around claiming how wrong it is that people buy links to get higher exposure. Whats the moral law that states Google gets to sell top positions and people are wrong for trying to get their sites higher?

            I tell you what - I will take the top position after the present ads if Google will put my listing in pastel color too (and with a little notice of it being an ad) and not call it ranking in the organic serps. I promise I will never do link building ever again - Deal?
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            • Profile picture of the author jxam69
              Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

              Its actually a joke with that fact in mind that you have purists running around claiming how wrong it is that people buy links to get higher exposure.
              You are addressing the wrong person - I never said it was wrong to buy or sell links, I just said that I don't do it.

              But seeing as how you raised the topic - here's where I stand:

              If you want to do it - go ahead - it's a business decision like any other.

              There are risks and benefits - weight them up and make the decision that will return the highest Expected Value for your situation.
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              • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
                Originally Posted by jxam69 View Post

                You are addressing the wrong person - I never said it was wrong to buy or sell links, I just said that I don't do it.
                Because I mention something in a post where I start out quoting you hardly means that everything in it is addressed to one person. Thats not how every post on a forum works. As we discuss several points can come up in any post

                I will say specifically to you that you have a very limited definition of building links. Your points are strong when you are comparing your process to automated link building or spamming but link building goes way beyond that. The fact that a SEO does not place a link physically themselves doesn't mean they are not building links. Often times they built that link by negotiating. The formality of the webmaster then placing the links to fulfill the negotiation is just a technicality - its still link building. So when you write this

                My strong competitors are building links through similar methods to me - they are the ones I consistently do battle with on the front page of Google.
                You are only guessing at what they do or don't do because in several scenarios a link can look 100% earned when in fact it was negotiated. Since this is a standard practice in link building theres very few competitive serps where some of that is not going on. Content should always be good or even great but link building goes well with that.
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                • Profile picture of the author nik0
                  Banned
                  You know what's funny, most already know that, that people/webmasters donate money to get a link at the donation page. Sure it's for a good cause but that has nothing to do with the reason that they make the donation
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  • Profile picture of the author Lex820
    Hi
    Noob here, what is the web address to use those Google Webmaster Tools? I did a search but can't seem to find them?
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    • Profile picture of the author jxam69
      Originally Posted by Lex820 View Post

      Hi
      Noob here, what is the web address to use those Google Webmaster Tools? I did a search but can't seem to find them?
      You'll find it at: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/
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  • Profile picture of the author OmarNegron
    For me, quality content or a quality site come from ideas and topics you are passionate about it. The thing simply is that most people online find what is hot and profitable and write about it. But who can write quality content on some stainless steel colanders haha.

    I mean seriously =-) Of course the smartest way to do it is to do a story type of content talking about your experience with a colander etc but still there are just so many people going for certain type of keywords online that it is tough to write a great piece of content unless you are passionate it about.

    Not impossible of course but definitely not an easy task. I am not in any way supporting spammy spun content but I don't judge those who do because I know how tough it is to write some quality content. =-)

    Great post!

    -Will
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