Search engines use links to determine how pages are related to one another. Over the years, the algorithms by which search engines, like Google and Bing, use to evaluate the strength that one site linking to another have dramatically improved.
There are scores of factors that determine your website’s rank and links are only one portion, albeit significant, of the determination.
Most of our search engine optimization plans include link acquisition, frequently called link building.
Here are some of the factors that are used in determining how we craft your link acquisition campaign:
Popularity
A site that is trafficked by millions of people each year will pass along stronger relevance to your website than one that receives a handful of visitors. Examples of highly trafficked sites are Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp and LinkedIn.
On Topic
A link gathered from a site that is specific to your industry or market tends to be more powerful than one that is not. For example, if you run an ice cream shop in Baltimore a link from the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce’s website will be stronger than a link from a website about auto detailing.
Anchor Text
If your site gains many links that point to a page on your site using hyperlinked keywords, like “best froyo“, your page stands a higher chance of ranking well for that particular term.
Credible Sources
Links from government and university websites (.edu and .gov) tend to carry more strength than dot-com websites.
Bad Neighborhood
If the website where you’ve gained your link is a known haven for spammy links, the power of your inbound link will be diminished.
Hot ‘n Fresh
While that inbound link from your 1998 Geocities website may have significant maturity, it’s likely been indexed by the search engines a few times. Inbound links from new websites can oftentimes overpower that Clinton-era link.
Social Signals
If your website is shared on social media platforms, like LinkedIn and Google+, the search engines have been known to rapidly pick up on the gaining popularity of your shares.