Linkbuilding help - where to start

[GaGaGirl]

So I've been reluctant to post this question on here, because, really, this field is so competitive, why would anybody want to help me!

But I thought, the worse that can happen is that nobody answers! So here it goes

I'm kinda stuck with linkbuilding for my gambling sites. Because of Googles constant changes, I prefer to do "white hat" SEO, which maybe is stupid on my part. And maybe NOT something I should be doing for my gambling sites?

So I don't spin articles. And I don't buy links on sites that aren't relevant. But everything else for gambling seems so spammy or completely pointless. I just have no idea where to start for link building.

This is what I know:

1. Social Bookmarking - probably doesn't help that much. But I guess it won't hurt? seems a bit spammy, I only have 5 top bookmarking sites that I do this for. Also are no follow.

2. Link exchange - I've gotten some traffic from this from my non gambling sites. Not sure how well it really works, or if people are even up for it for my small site.

3. Press release - I have nothing to write about and don't want to pay for this right now. I know there are free sites. Is it worth BSing?

4. Internal Linking - I think I need to do more of this. My competitors seem to have mostly internal links!

5. Directories - it seems my competitors have these, but maybe that is old? I wonder how much this helps.

6. Guest blog posts - Again, I assume that most affiliates in this industry don't want to help out other affiliates in the industry, so not even sure if this is possible. Maybe a good start.

7. Forum signatures - Again, i don't like to be spammy, so prefer relevant forums. And again, most relevant forums don't allow signatures, or?

8. Blog comments - Same as above?

So am I just being super pessimistic? Should I just go for it? Anybody nice enough to give a noobie advice? Or should I hire a consultant? Ooo, or maybe there are some affiliate managers that are nice enough to help

Thanks in advance for replying!

[universal4]

1) Social bookmarking does help a little, but should be part of an overall plan.

2) Link exchange still does work but be careful with this one, do it in a much MUCH smaller scale then years ago and be sure to change up anchor text. Also some no follows and some do follows.

3) Press releases or articles, again a very small part but ok to do here and ther once in a while.

4) Internal linking, this one is important, but do this for the VISITOR when it makes sense.

5) Directories, not very important, but ok when launching a site etc...but not recommended to do much.

6) Guest blog posts, some like them some don't I think they are good if on topic, unique posts and done in moderation over the course of time.

7) Forum sigs, like #6 some like em some don't. Ok if done in moderation.

8 ) Blog comments. Like above, this only makes sense when on topic and acceptable by the blog owner. The problem with this one (others too but certainly when dealing with blog posts and comments) if the blog allows just anyone to make posts or comments it will turn very spammy pretty quick.


Like I said some will agree with my answers and some will not. On any of them, do it in moderation, and only when the content or niche is a match or at least similar.

In each and every case, no one thing is the be all or end all and should be part of an overall plan that fits together.

Rick
Universal4

[GFPC]

My take and just my opinion based on trying them all over a period of time.

1. Social Bookmarking - useless - most of it is spam

2. Link exchange - more useless

3. Press release - used to be great and can still be ok if used correctly.

4. Internal Linking - pretty important for visitors

5. Directories - avoid at all costs lol

6. Guest blog posts - if done right very powerful

7. Forum signatures - will get you slapped from google imo

8. Blog comments - useless as useless can be.

Sent you a pm by the way

[TravG]

I will first say you will find people here always willing to help. I use to think the same, why would my competitor help me? Ask questions here and you will be amazed how helpful everyone is.

With that said, everything you stated counts. As also said be careful with link exchanges, you dont want to get caught with a link from a bad site. I forum post, blog post do press relaeses and write articlues. One thing I find helpful is I own quite a few sites and use 75% of them only as suppport sites ofr 2 or 3 that I really focus on in each industry. I really just started doing Facebook and Twitter but have already noticed with FB is it is almost like a newlatter that you do not need to maintain. Just make a 1 comment and all your followers receiove the info. Much easier than sending mass e-mails (in my opinion)

[casinomegamall]

My take and just my opinion based on trying them all over a period of time.

1. Social Bookmarking - useless - most of it is spam

2. Link exchange - more useless

3. Press release - used to be great and can still be ok if used correctly.

4. Internal Linking - pretty important for visitors

5. Directories - avoid at all costs lol

6. Guest blog posts - if done right very powerful

7. Forum signatures - will get you slapped from google imo

8. Blog comments - useless as useless can be.

Sent you a pm by the way

Thanks for this. In the end i have the same question which process is good to make backlinks if these 8 steps are useless.

[baldidiot]

Everything in moderation - you want a nice varied backlink profile, so do a bit of everything (except the real crap, like blog comments - stay far away from that crap).

Other points to bear in mind, in no particular order...

Link exchanges can work, but not 'resource pages' where it's just a list of links - it needs to be links within your content (eg: if bob links to your roulette site from his page about roulette, you link to his slots site fro your page about slots).

Directories can be ok for the occasional link but not generic free ones - stick to high quality niche directories (ie: gambling only).

Avoid free press releases - these get done to death and I doubt there's any value left. Paid press release sites still hold some value, but don't overdo them. You can do an initial 'site launch' release, but don't bother doing any more unless you actually have something to say.

Guest posts are great, and there are a few places to get them - you just have to look around.

As for forum sigs, google have just come out saying that they're going after sigs with anchor such as 'best san diego pizza' - so try to stick to using your brand as anchor and don't go overboard.

[GFPC]

The main directories which can bring in a bit of traffic and be ok (not great) are IMO dmoz and Botw - dmoz is free but it can take years to get approved. I have got one approved after 18 months a while back and the others been waiting 4 years now - LOL

Botw is pretty good and IMO i would stick to brand name there and try to find a topic which is littered with 100 sites.

Press releases - I would contact Connie from Burnstein Group - she does some nice ones which are really nicely written and they are on paid services..

A couple of effective ways to get some space are offering your writing services - especially to new webmasters or new sites which are adding content.

Offer a service of a few great articles for them and in exchange ask for a LB to your page or site. I guess you can look around the web and mail out several sites - its hard work and from what i have scene 1/20 may take you up on it.

Siggy links - OMG those have to go - IMO they are absolute killers - me personally i would even stay away of brand names in those...

I do keep my BELOSERS siggy here for people here to read the site and help webmasters but I can tell you I used to rank page #1 and now its gone for the term "bwin" - haha cant find it anywhere.. And i use this siggy everywhere... LOL

[poker-freerolls]

- create value & let people know about it - links will follow.
- create a tool / widget. get attribution.
- be creative and different (like a purple cow).. e.g. I see you've got a leprechaun themed site. surely you can do something imaginative using our lucky Irish friends to garner links / likes /shares via social. I know paddy power would be all over this type of thing with cleverness, for example.
- I would personally avoid sig links. they are next on google's hit list IMO.

You can get links from non-commercial sites [forums/blogs etc] quite easily by reading, writing something on your own site (creating something of value/which answers a query which was posted) and going back there and linking to your 'answer' ..
other ideas for links = Q&A sites like yahoo answers, quora to help build the authority and relevance traffic which will build you links in the long run.

good luck

[universal4]

You can get links from non-commercial sites [forums/blogs etc] quite easily by reading, writing something on your own site (creating something of value/which answers a query which was posted) and going back there and linking to your 'answer'

I want to caution everyone about this one.

Too often over the yearts we see people come here and create accounts and make posts asking a question just so they can later come back with an answer and a link.

Sometimes they will even do it under accounts so it looks more like the person answering and the person asking are not connected, but be VERY careful with this.

We call that shilling, and if we suspect that is taking place we take a pretty hard line AGAINST it.

Shilling is such a manner at any forum or blog can easily get you banned (it most certainly will here).

Yes, answering questions at forums or blogs and linking to those answers, as long as the content does contain value for the reader is a good way to get a link, as long as shilling was not part of that process.

How can you tell? Difficult, but if the only reason for the post or response is to shill the link don't be surprised if the ban hammer comes down.

Rick
Universal4