Link to the #1 ranking site as an SEO strategy?

[PROFRBcom]

https://moz.com/blog/20-illustration...on-of-links#13

The TLDR; of that link is that linking to "authority" sites can actually help a page's rankings. What is more "authoritative" than linking to whoever currently ranks #1 for TERM X.

In almost all cases I would be more than thrilled to rank #2 for TERM X, so if linking to whatever website holds rank #1 helped me get #2, I think I would do it.

Anyone ever tried this strategy? Or seen research on it?

(anyone want to try it? I have some very stable #1 rankings lol - alternatively if you outrank me for some competitive term and hold rank #1, I would entertain testing it out with a fellow GPWA member)

[wonderpunter]

I used to do it years ago,,, Now i dont do it and hold better rankings

[PaulEchere]

Well, I usually try to link to "authority" sites from my pages, especially in places where that can be naturally done and makes sense in context of my content. Now linking to websites, that rank higher than me for KWs, that I am targeting is rather counter intuitive, but I might just try it.

[gm2891]

I thought everyone knows about this old thing! haha

I am not sure if it will help one get to number two or three if they are currently at number 10.

But if one has good content but no links and sits somewhere between 30-40 —

linking to a main competitor from the 1st page with an exact keyword they target can bring him to the 2nd page.

I've done it a few times previously, and Google put me on the 2nd page for PayPal Casinos and Bitcoin Casinos keywords.

But once you're there, you need to keep updating that page content weekly and add a backlink or two at times;

otherwise, you'll start sinking.

I simply linked to my competitor with the exact keyword and also some decent videos on Youtube, and that was it.

But if a website becomes authoritative itself,

there is no need to link to competitors anymore because the site in its niche for this keyword is authority itself.

[PROFRBcom]

I used to do it years ago,,, Now i dont do it and hold better rankings

Chicken or egg?

Now linking to websites, that rank higher than me for KWs, that I am targeting is rather counter intuitive, but I might just try it.

Yes, exactly... it is counter-intuitive!

I thought everyone knows about this old thing! haha

I surely didn't!

I am not sure if it will help one get to number two or three if they are currently at number 10.

Probably not, but going from 10 to 8 would be good enough for some KW. Any white-hat boost is a good boost IMO.

But if one has good content but no links and sits somewhere between 30-40 —
linking to a main competitor from the 1st page with an exact keyword they target can bring him to the 2nd page.
I've done it a few times previously, and Google put me on the 2nd page for PayPal Casinos and Bitcoin Casinos keywords.
But once you're there, you need to keep updating that page content weekly and add a backlink or two at times;
otherwise, you'll start sinking.

I simply linked to my competitor with the exact keyword and also some decent videos on Youtube, and that was it.

Thanks for sharing that anecdote!

But if a website becomes authoritative itself, there is no need to link to competitors anymore because the site in its niche for this keyword is authority itself.

I understand what you are saying, but if there is value in doing the linking, maybe if things are close between two competitors, and things often are close between ranks 1,2,3, maybe rank 3 could leapfrog into rank 2 by linking to whoever is ranked #1?

Ever try it?

[universal4]

If linking out to a site from a page makes sense and fits well with the point you are making within the content, then yes it certainly can help and makes sense for the VISITOR provided it is not overdone and choosing a site or page that is considered an authority on that content or topic of the article fits.

Google always had that idea from the beginning, and what was always supposed to add value to linking.

Obviously most of us know what happened many moons ago when incoming links started carrying the weight they did and how much links have been all about manipulation ever since.

Rick
Universal4

[gm2891]

Chicken or egg?

Yes, exactly... it is counter-intuitive!

I surely didn't!

Probably not, but going from 10 to 8 would be good enough for some KW. Any white-hat boost is a good boost IMO.

Thanks for sharing that anecdote!

I understand what you are saying, but if there is value in doing the linking, maybe if things are close between two competitors, and things often are close between ranks 1,2,3, maybe rank 3 could leapfrog into rank 2 by linking to whoever is ranked #1?

Ever try it?

You probably don't understand my outlandish English, .

What i meant regarding PayPal and BTC pages is :

If there is a ****-shop sitting on page 6 and selling the Best Adidas Trainers 2021 and not linking out to anyone---soon it will end up on page 7!

But if they write great articles about Adidas and their trainers and link to their top competitors, they'll soon get noticed.

Google simply will start to understand what this ****-shop is trying to sell and give them a bit of rank.

Like some say; It makes you look connected: a 'player' in your field!

Once they grow bigger, they can remove the links.

In my case, I had H1 saying PayPal Casino: Best Online Casinos that Accept PayPal.

And right in the first paragraph, I put a do-follow link to one of the best sites ranking for this keyword (visitors looking for a casino to play at generally click on buttons, not links).

It sounded something like that; "On this page, we present our visitors with the best PayPal casinos that offer an outstanding casino slot and game selection and provide PayPal as a method for deposits and withdrawals".


I also took a couple of PayPal's videos from YouTube and added them to the page.

And Google chucked this article on the 2nd page, allowing me to get at least a hand full of visitors.

That was like 4 years ago, but i guess it can be done now too.

There is actually a better way of doing it and without linking directly to the competitor's site, but i won't say it here.

However, i would definitely recommend this method to new sites sitting on the 7th page, not linking out to anyone and waiting till pigs start to fly...

In most other niches other than gambling, people link to quality others content naturally, and that's how useful information gets spread around.
-------------------------------------------

For moving from position 3 to 1 for high traffic keywords when linking to a direct competitor; i guess it's a different story. There must be a thorough out plan on how not to slip down but keep standing and growing. I see some tops update their homepage's content almost daily.

However, eBay and Amazon do funny things to each other
Title: ebay.com - Amazon.com.

[gm2891]

Should You Link Out to Your Competitors? Neil Patel: not my favourite one, but here we go (a video of 2017).

[Scorebetting]

You don't have to link to your competitors. Just link to relevant high DA sites...

[gm2891]

You don't have to link to your competitors. Just link to relevant high DA sites...

Yeah agree too, however, very important is to make sure that the site you're linking to has traffic.

If it's DA is 40, 50etc, but barely has 100 monthly visitors, this metric means absolutely ZERO.

DA is not a Googles metric and has nothing to do with it and should not be taken literally.

Here is info from guys with a better knowledge, if anyone interested: Craig Campbell SEO on DA Metric

[PROFRBcom]

Yeah agree too, however, very important is to make sure that the site you're linking to has traffic.

If it's DA is 40, 50etc, but barely has 100 monthly visitors, this metric means absolutely ZERO.

DA is not a Googles metric and has nothing to do with it and should not be taken literally.

Here is info from guys with a better knowledge, if anyone interested: Craig Campbell SEO on DA Metric

Yes, DA is very easy to manipulate it seems. I just learned of a new way today to manipulate AHREFS by spamming it with 700+ DA 90+ links in order to artificially increase one's DA score. It does absolutely nothing for search, but to someone who only looks at DA, the increased DA that those links bring would look great.

[bingoreviews]

Just to point out, it was Matt Cutts saying that and he left google many years ago so i'd be a little wary that they haven't worked out it could be used for gaming their algos

[gil.langelaan]

Wow, thanks for posting this question and everyone for sharing their opinions.
It was very interesting to read and helpful too.

About my opinion:
Personally I always tried to avoid linking to competitors as it seems to me it would improve their rankings, not mine. And I think lots of depends on the content. If it's a research than yes, it's okay and even necessary to link to it but if it's general SEO-page I'm not sure.

Probably now I get a great reason to think and even run a test.

[Juan Roman]

An interesting strategy indeed. Like others, I have avoided linking to competitor sites, but might be an option for articles that are nowhere near page 1 at the moment. Don't think I would do that if my page were already ranking well.

[PROFRBcom]

Wow, thanks for posting this question and everyone for sharing their opinions.
It was very interesting to read and helpful too.

About my opinion:
Personally I always tried to avoid linking to competitors as it seems to me it would improve their rankings, not mine. And I think lots of depends on the content. If it's a research than yes, it's okay and even necessary to link to it but if it's general SEO-page I'm not sure.

Probably now I get a great reason to think and even run a test.

An interesting strategy indeed. Like others, I have avoided linking to competitor sites, but might be an option for articles that are nowhere near page 1 at the moment. Don't think I would do that if my page were already ranking well.

I have lots of #1 ranking poker search terms if you guys wanna run the test with me... since I sparked the idea and all

[ddm]

lol.

[popopdc]

Authority is always good to improve, but in my experience, linking to the #1 ranking site is not necessary to be successful. Plus, who that is can change frequently in a lot of niches, as Google is always shuffling results around.

[PROFRBcom]

Authority is always good to improve, but in my experience, linking to the #1 ranking site is not necessary to be successful. Plus, who that is can change frequently in a lot of niches, as Google is always shuffling results around.

If a site falls from #1, it rarely falls very far.

I had some of my rankings, for terms I held #1 for for years, fluctuate in the recent 3 core updates, but then pop right back to #1 (where they belong) with no extra effort/links/page updates/or anything done to the pages.

Google knows what good content is and so long as someone is linking to the legitimately best content, and not some spam site temporarily holding position #1 (like some PRNewsWire **** that makes it short-term to the top spot), then who ever is linking is doing themselves a favor IMO.

[magnusbrand]

#1 ranking site and authority site may be different depending upon keyword selection. For example: For a long tail keyword, even a small niche website may rank for No. 1 spot but that does not mean that it is an authority site.

Usually authority site would imply a site with 100's or 1000's of posts with high traffic for a particular niche.

Sometimes it may be counter productive to link to #1 site as that would make the backlink profile of the #1 ranking site more strong and you will find it hard to replace it with your own website if you too are competing for the same keyword.

[PROFRBcom]

#1 ranking site and authority site may be different depending upon keyword selection. For example: For a long tail keyword, even a small niche website may rank for No. 1 spot but that does not mean that it is an authority site.

Usually authority site would imply a site with 100's or 1000's of posts with high traffic for a particular niche.

Sometimes it may be counter productive to link to #1 site as that would make the backlink profile of the #1 ranking site more strong and you will find it hard to replace it with your own website if you too are competing for the same keyword.

I am not talking about linking to the #1 ranking site for obscure long-tails.

I am talking about linking to the #1 ranking site for a large multi-thousand word keyword. A site that we would be unlikely to outrank, EVER. Something like competing against AskGamblers perhaps, or Casino.com. Something we would be happy to have rank 2 for some day.