When I was first introduced to linkbuilding I was presented with an array of resources of how to build links. The assembly line work of SEO.
These are what I like to call SEO to SEO (S2S) linkbuilding:
- link buying
- guest posts (with crappy unrelated author bios)
- Directories
- reciprocal link trades
- etc
This stuff works, for the most part, but if you do too much of one thing Google will see your pattern and you’ll get a fatty penalty.
You could come up with a plan to diversify your links, do some link buying, a little reciprocal trading, while putting out some crappy guest posts where the author bio sound like it was written by someone who just learned how to speak English… you get the point.
The problem with these tactics is there is no sustainability, it provides no value for your customers and the long term benefit is non-existent. If you want this model to work you will have to have a full time staff constantly guest posting, submitting, and trading their way into SEO oblivion; only to have Google figure out your grey hat SEO ways and force you to change your model. But there are other ways!
This is what I like to call SEO to Consumer (S2C) linkbuilding:
- new site features
- infographics
- contests
- givaways
- etc
In other words, as Will Reynolds (right) from Seer Interactive states, “real company sh*!”.
The rule of thumb is: if your SEO campaign doesn’t include getting in front of your audience, in some way or another, then it is not going to be sustainable. A sustainable SEO campaign will elicit the behavior in your consumers to link to your site over long periods of time (S2C). The alternate is only compelling other webmasters to link to you if there is something in it for them (S2S).
Free information deserves a share!