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
Joseph
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Debarup Mukherjee
Its very useful for bloggers who publish articles into their blogs through MBG, its clear to us now…
thanks MBG
Karen @ Pledging for Change
Gr8 chat today 🙂 And some great info many thanks. I am going to set a few days next week to go through all of my guest blog posts to RE ALIGN any links that look non relevent into a sentence or phrase that will have more relevancy. It’s going to be a big job I know that but as you say we had best be safe and keep within the new Penguin guidelines.
Ok that a panda, a penguin maybe next time will be a walrus?????? Any guesses guys?
JImmy Simond
Ya its true, we should post relevant articles in our blogs, and remember the link must be relevant to the content. Even I too follow this rule, and within a few months my blog got PR.
Shannon
LOVE this post Ann. As always, your brain amazes me 😀 You always have fantastic and helpful ideas.