#MyBlogGuest Self-Linking Rules Update

Those penguins are so cute..

Today’s #myblogguest chat was “special edition”: We were talking about the recent Google update and our revised self-linking rules.

Last week’s Google update was not a surprise but we had to take measures because of the increased publicity and FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt).

The key: our rules have not changed. MBG has always preached “quality” and “non-made-for-links” content.

However since not many people get *guest blogging* we now have to keep a closer eye on our main rules being observed.

Updates!

• Read the full transcript of the chat here
• Bookmark and read this *awesome* article on “Panic at the Zoo” @SEOmoz  -> especially the points on what to do and what NOT

Linking Rules:

Let’s list our linking rules first:

• You don’t build links with guest blogging -> you *earn* them by providing quality
• Links should be relevant to content. That’s NOT writing about apples to link to apples BUT staying in the same line. For example, apples & SEO => NOT relevant; apples & recipe apps => relevant
• No more than ONE *self-serving* link (total!) per article (that’s NOT about linking to relevant tools, news & stats sources, etc). You are free to link to your social media profiles, resume pages, G+ pages, etc as well. +++ Google seems to treat brand links with less suspicion, so when in doubt, use them!

The main RULE: Your links should be useful and relevant. They must make perfect sense -> No link-dropping!

The Tips

• For relevancy -> Please re-focus your content. Here are some essential tips.
• For making things natural -> Do add other (not yours) links to useful “further reading”, apps, image credits, etc
• Vary your self-linking: Link to your brand properties outside your domain (sm profiles, etc) -> own branded search results

For publishers -> Mind your own editorial guidelines. Make sure you are linking to relevant and useful sites

I understand it’s getting more difficult to get links, but it’s not worth taking the risks.

Get more creative! Vary your self-linking: Link to your brand properties outside your domain.

• There are video sites that allow dofollow links, or resume sites that allow dofollow links, etc. Link to them from your guest posts from time to time: build platforms that accumulate your link juice.
• Link to your Twitter and FB pages -> This will help to own search results for your brand name.

Join us next week 3 p.m. GMT / 11 a.m. EDT for more guest blogging tips and help!

cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Hot Rod Homepage

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