For an offsite link
building campaign, is it still useful post Panda and Penguin to leave
comments on blogs for building backlinks (providing its a relevant.
quality blog)?? For example, making a comment on google blogger
platform, and then getting a backlink by using the dropdown menu
Name/URL option - get a backlink linked to your relevant web
page?Leaving a comment on a related blog, one that's relevant and
adds to the conversation, and then linking to your site will be more
effective at getting visitors than that single backlink. If a
relevant keyword or keyword phrase can be naturally placed in the
content of the blog, it is still considered a valid link by Google's
bots and spiders. You are also correct in saying that it must be a
quality blog.
You referred to the
desired blog as a relevant, quality blog, and also mentioned that
some people say it's "still worthwhile provided it's on blogs
relevant to your website". This is a misconception that has been
spread for years, and is still being spread today. Although the blog
article must be relevant to your website, the blog itself does not
necessarily have to be. Think of it this way - every link you get is
considered an endorsement of your website. If you are a used car
dealer, do you only sell cars to people in industries related to
cars? Of course not - you can sell a car to anyone, as long as they
have the money, or can get the financing, to buy one. And every one
of them can provide an endorsement if they wish. Links to your
website are treated the same way. If you only get links from websites
related to your business, it looks artificial, and is therefore
suspicious to Google's bots and spiders. But, if you get links from a
variety of sources, it looks more natural, and is more favorable.
Let's take the investing
blog as an example. If the person writing the blog has a meeting with
investors from a foreign country, he might mention that he was
considering "language training" to learn the language to
help him relate to the investors, and "language training"
(or the phrase you are pursuing) would link back to your site. Keep
in mind, although the blog itself is not related to the website, the
links in the particular blog post that are linking to your site have
to look, and sound, natural. Otherwise, Google's bots and spiders may
be suspicious of them as well.
Blogging and leaving
comments on blogs has become an interesting topic.Something that
seems to be consistently overlooked is the value of the traffic, just
because a site has a lot of traffic, doesn't mean its doing well. If
the traffic isn't converting, who cares? Building a readership takes
time and patience, but if you do it right, it will happen naturally.
I also believe that that SMM is an important part of an overall
search engine marketing strategy as well - Social Signals do matter.
I am not big on these either and I would bet there are many others.
However, as SEO offline changes (SEM / SMM), I believe we must evolve
to be found. Many Copywriters and Syndicators will benefit and
delight in the change. Small businesses will have to really work
their blogs to keep shining. There isnt going to be an easy path to
promote, as I see it.
Some Closing Thoughts On Offsite Link Building
Offsite
Link building is a tough job and a lot of
hard work, but it can pay great dividends. You need to remember that
quality is as important as quantity. Be careful of where and how you
are building your links. Keep balance in your link profile with a
variety of types of links. Try to build a little each month. Stay at
it and you will see results.
