Affiliate Programs Forums - View Single Post - What % of SEO is Off-Site

freestuffheadquarters · 03-31-2009, 05:12 PM

Robert,

First, a tip: The biggest problem with Google is that they always change their algorithm as to try to foil the SEO practices of even the best experts. They pretty much try to dissuade you from doing anything to try to optimize for their search results. While they hold the prophetic future of your site in their hands, they pretty much say, "Pay no attention to us as we hold your prosperity in our hands!" That doesn't work. If someone is holding a thousand dollars over your head, and says, "I decide whether or not you can have this money, so you have to please me, but pay no attention to me," aren't you still going to pay attention to them? Google makes no sense to me.

As for SEO, a lot of it really is off-site. The percentage all depends on what you are optimizing for, and if you're all that worried about Google, who, as I said, is hard to please. I've read articles where some professionals claim off-site SEO makes up as much as 95%, and some say it's only around half. Either way, it's huge. You can only do so much on-site keyword stuffing and linking. Here are some proven off-site methods:

1. Links- Try to get as many relevant links back to your site as possible. Link exchanges are great. However, don't trade link exchanges with reckless abandon. If you have too many unrelated link exchanges, they will penalize you. Don't be afraid of links, but don't work so hard on them and anger Google. For instance, if you own a Britney Spears site (like anyone would really want a Britney site), don't exchange links with 72 home improvement sites. Only exchange links with related music and celebrity sites that you can call "affiliates". If those home improvement sites are going to link to you, let them do it out of the goodness of their hearts so Google doesn't blacklist you. Also, the anchor text used (text the link appears as) is important. Instead of linking to my site with the text "Free Stuff Headquarters", creating a link like the following would be better: The best directory of free stuff on the Internet. Google likes to credit you with related anchor text. It makes the link more relevant, and adds keywords to you.

2. Directory listing and forum/blog postings are great, and add links to those. Trackbacks to your own site from related forums and blogs are nice links too.

3. Some people claim success writing articles on article submission sites, including a relevant link with quality anchor text. Early on in the game, we did that, and it worked a little for Yahoo!, but it didn't seem to mean anything to Google at all. It's proven to work for Yahoo and probably MSN, ASK, etc. Just don't bank on it with Google.

Here is a summary: Links, links, and links. With a good mix of on-site and off-site SEO practices, you will find success with Yahoo!. Try your best with Google, expect nothing, and when you check them in a few months, if you have done well, be surprised, happy, and grateful.

03-31-2009, 05:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
freestuffheadquarters Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Free Stuff USA Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What % of SEO is Off-Site Robert, First, a tip: The biggest problem with Google is that they always change their algorithm as to try to foil the SEO practices of even the best experts. They pretty much try to dissuade you from doing anything to try to optimize for their search results. While they hold the prophetic future of your site in their hands, they pretty much say, "Pay no attention to us as we hold your prosperity in our hands!" That doesn't work. If someone is holding a thousand dollars over your head, and says, "I decide whether or not you can have this money, so you have to please me, but pay no attention to me," aren't you still going to pay attention to them? Google makes no sense to me. As for SEO, a lot of it really is off-site. The percentage all depends on what you are optimizing for, and if you're all that worried about Google, who, as I said, is hard to please. I've read articles where some professionals claim off-site SEO makes up as much as 95%, and some say it's only around half. Either way, it's huge. You can only do so much on-site keyword stuffing and linking. Here are some proven off-site methods: 1. Links- Try to get as many relevant links back to your site as possible. Link exchanges are great. However, don't trade link exchanges with reckless abandon. If you have too many unrelated link exchanges, they will penalize you. Don't be afraid of links, but don't work so hard on them and anger Google. For instance, if you own a Britney Spears site (like anyone would really want a Britney site), don't exchange links with 72 home improvement sites. Only exchange links with related music and celebrity sites that you can call "affiliates". If those home improvement sites are going to link to you, let them do it out of the goodness of their hearts so Google doesn't blacklist you. Also, the anchor text used (text the link appears as) is important. Instead of linking to my site with the text "Free Stuff Headquarters", creating a link like the following would be better: The best directory of free stuff on the Internet. Google likes to credit you with related anchor text. It makes the link more relevant, and adds keywords to you. 2. Directory listing and forum/blog postings are great, and add links to those. Trackbacks to your own site from related forums and blogs are nice links too. 3. Some people claim success writing articles on article submission sites, including a relevant link with quality anchor text. Early on in the game, we did that, and it worked a little for Yahoo!, but it didn't seem to mean anything to Google at all. It's proven to work for Yahoo and probably MSN, ASK, etc. Just don't bank on it with Google. Here is a summary: Links, links, and links. With a good mix of on-site and off-site SEO practices, you will find success with Yahoo!. Try your best with Google, expect nothing, and when you check them in a few months, if you have done well, be surprised, happy, and grateful.