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Content Optimization in Plain English
It happens all the time. Bloggers exchange links on their blogrolls. Small and midsized firms swap links on each other’s websites. This is good search engine optimization, because inbound links, especially from high authority sites, lift your website or blog in search engine rankings.
But you are under utilizing these valuable inbound links if you don’t pay attention to the anchor text.
Here’s what I mean. Let’s say Susan Miller has a blog called the Susan Miller Productivity Blog. Her specialty is personal productivity coaching for new parents. She’s found a great niche, but she needs people to find her on Google. One day she gets a power blogger to link to her blog. Great news! Which link do you think will help her the most?
- Susan Miller
- Susan Miller Productivity Blog
- Productivity Coaching for New Parents
Assuming “productivity coaching for new parents” is a good search term, it’s no contest – #3 will help her the most. When the anchor text includes the keywords you’re optimizing for on a given page, the page will do better for searches on that term.
Clash of Online Ideologies
All this is an example of when content optimization and web etiquette come into direct conflict. It’s up to the linker to decide what text is right for their blog or website. It could be that Productivity Coaching for New Parents looks out of place in a blogroll that’s comprised of people’s names. Perhaps the text is too long for the allocated space. Maybe the linker doesn’t want to open the door to any and all requests for customized anchor text.
You’ve got to consider the linker’s point of view. You can ask, suggest, discuss – but never demand. Otherwise, you will end up with no link at all – and that’s definitely not going to help your SEO.
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You know, I never even thought of suggesting search engine phrases for inbound links – I’m usually just tickled to be linked
I have used specific seo phrases for links in paid posts, but that’s more straight marketing at the request of a client. This is a great idea, though, and it would really work well for companies who have search engine terms within their business name.
Merrys last blog post..Chicago Business Networking For Entrepreneurs And Small Business
Hi Merry, Most bloggers (myself included), fall into the same category. Every once in a while it’s good to review who’s linking to you and see if they would be open to altering the anchor text.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Keywords in Anchor Text Produce SEO Power
Hi Brad,
Like Mary, I had never thought about the use of keyword search terms in inbound links, nor even heard about the search term ‘anchor text.’
From the linker’s point of view, I would have thought that they should use whatever anchor text fits most appropriately within the context of the discussion concerned (or within their blogroll if they are linking through a blogroll).
In terms of the question of which text is most valuable, if you are linking to a blog discussion, then in many cases, I would have thought that the title of the discussion concerned would make a pretty decent option. The title of a post will often contain some keywords for the linkee (at least keywords for that particular discussion) and will also usually provide a good description of the discussion concerned from the point of view or readers.
Andrews last blog post..Animal testing – a positive EU proposal to eliminate unnecessary suffering
The SEO services that service providers are mostly in this pattern. You can always maintain one provider for you to make sure that your website will be continually watched and improved. Internet ranking is unstable. You will really need SEO services from time to time. This success is also made visible in the sales that you receive since they took charge.
Hi Andrew, In theory, blog post titles should have built-in optimized text. However, this brings up another issue – whether to write post titles that are keyword dense and dry, or write titles that are flashy and provocative to capture the attention of human readers. That’s a topic for another day – titles are really important for a whole lot of reasons.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Keywords in Anchor Text Produce SEO Power
Brad, great discussion on inbound links. I am more conscious of this when I’m stumbling someone’s site but guilty of not doing it when linking from the blog roll or within a post. If your site has a page that addresses pitches and queries, it might be worthwhile to include some info about your link preferences too (nicely of course). Hmmm, as I’m making changes, I may do this too!
Karen Swims last blog post..Writing 911
Hi Karen, Brilliant idea about mentioning link preferences. I imagine most companies may not care to do that, as it would reveal their search strategy, but for entrepreneurs – maybe it would do more good than harm. Fascinating concept!
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Keywords in Anchor Text Produce SEO Power
Do you think this works better when you are linking deeper into a site – to a specific post for example? I actually went back and forth on this in my last post, but names seemed more appropriate because I was discussing comments made rather than the home sites.
Fred H Schlegels last blog post..Physics, Ideation, Community & Entanglement
Hi Brad,
You’re always ahead of the curve, giving us ways to make ourselves better and more out there.
Thank you!
Lennie Roses last blog post..Chicago Business Networking For Entrepreneurs And Small Business
Hi Lennie, Thanks, and don’t think I didn’t notice your nice optimization in the title of your last post. It’s a very good post, too.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Keywords in Anchor Text Produce SEO Power
Why thank you, Brad. The conversation about defining an accomplished entrepreneur came up when Michael Keating asked me what I meant by the word accomplished– money? success? And I said, neither because those are just the trophies. True accomplishment is being loved by your clients because you do exceptional work, because you go the extra mile and keep adding value. Fine people make fine companies and then the money and success follows. Accomplishment takes time, care, effort and dedication. And you know what, there are MANY fine and accomplished business owners and entrepreneurs out there. I’m proud and humbled to be in their company. And you want to know what else???? You are one of them!
Lennie Roses last blog post..Chicago Business Networking For Entrepreneurs And Small Business
Lennie, Gee, thanks. Obviously the feeling is mutual. It takes a lot of courage to launch a new business AND a new business model. We’re all on a journey, we entrepreneurs. Some days the road looks long, but who knows what might be around the bend?
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Keywords in Anchor Text Produce SEO Power