Competitor doing very well through reciprocal linking. Should I adopt it?
-
I've always heard that reciprocal linking is dead but my main competitor who is at number one for both my primary keywords has a link profile built up of mainly reciprocal links. Should I adopt this practice? I've only valued one way links up to now.
-
Samuel,
We have found other avenues to build links that are time better spent. We do not do reciprocal linking at all and get great results for our clients. Spend your time on other things like link baiting. The quality of your links will be better and you will eventually overtake your competitor.
-
Samuel,
Everyday (OK, at least some days, but it feels like everyday) in SEO I look at some competitor (typically of a client of ours) and one how in the h3ll they got ahead of our guy/gal. I peruse, I read content, I compare PA/DA, I look at links (quantity, quality, matching c blocks, etc.). I can see that obviously we have the better of them in 75% of the important areas. I scratch my head, curse (mildly), wonder, and complain. But, then it hits me. What's the point?
First, I cannot draw a conclusion from one set of data. You are trying to do that. If you are willing to give up a keyword and the two urls, you might be surprised at what a few mozzers can teach one another. For you, speaking solely of links, have you looked at internal vs. external, anchor text and anchor text distribution, C blocks, over use of internal links, too many unnatural links, absence of nofollows, etc, etc, etc. (That was purely off the top of my head after being up an hour and a half (0530 now). So, there is more than just the reciprocity factor in the links.
For me, one thing I have learned from mozzers I have come to respect on this Q & A is what I will call SEOP. Search Engine Optimization Perspective: You cannot point to my PR, PA, DA, Link profile is better, I should outrank. You cannot even do a thorough analysis and believe that you couldn't be missing some one small thing. On a forum like this for SEO the majority of those visiting regularly are in the top 30% of SEO conservatively (Yes, IMO). When we look out at those who claim to be gurus and originators and friends of Sergey and Larry, we are all struck by the wonderment of how they can pull it off. I literally am in an argument with someone around local search at a much larger firm than ours (national), that they cannot use same address of a business, same phone, different URL, and have it in Places, et. al. - they are a Local search firm..... So, it gives me a sense of being a bit too bright some times. I think if they are so stupid then I must be.... WOW!
So, what I do today is this: When I am truly perplexed at how we are being outranked by an inferior :0 and I have researched it as best I can I realize that maybe, today I am not the brightest guy in the room and I come over here to realize how smart others are and learn. I also realize that there are factors I cannot see: for that term, on that page, is there something they have done that is getting them an amazing CTR? Remember, what we do is much prettier, catchier, nuanced, etc. than the other guy....to us. Maybe show the page to two or three others and let them tell you what they see.
No, this is not likely the answer you wanted. So, for me, I will do an occasional reciprocal link if it makes sense with my content and my audience. No, I will not go to the wall with relationships like that as there is no end point that works, again, IMO.
So, I hope you work it out. I would look at content. I would really look at CTR (compare meta descriptions and ask yourself this question: Does yours answer the query better than any other meta description out there?) Then ask this, when they get to your page, will the page reflect the meta description and make them want to hang out? If all things are equal in SEO from one page to another, look there.
Best
-
Hi Samuel,
I will tell you the same thing as for a lot of clients when we have similar discussions.
First thing: don't try to "play the game" of a competitor. Instead try to come up with something new and better.
Second: Reciprocal links are less important nowadays. I look at websites as they would be real-life persons. And links they are votes they point out to each other on the anchor text niche :-). (Wow, Reading this sentanse even confused me But I still hope you get the idea)
So when two websites start to point to each other on a very similar anchor you get confused. (Think about Schwarzenegger and Stallone sitting at the same table telling people that the other one is the better action movie "star" of the '90s... )
So finally the idea is: try to deliver something new for your audience, try out new things in link building for your website and focus more on diversity, and you will win!
Gr.,
Istvan
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
When link building yourself where would you advise are the best places to add links?
Hi I am not having much success with SEO companies so am looking at link building and doing SEO myself. Where would you advise are the best places to add links? Also is it better to add links to specific pages or just to the home page? Thanks in advance
Link Building | | Briggzy0 -
External links - link to third party sites
Greetings! Actually, got an doubt on linking to external site. The thing, i have working for roof marketers site. They have covered roof products. Each of the products have a page along with major keyword. Actually, i do link from other pages[internally]. Meaning,if i see any main keywords in different page then will link that to corresponding page/product[internally].This is what i am doing to get page rank. Now, my doubt. Some of the pages are having link with main keywords which directs to the third party site those who are really producing the products. But, i remove the third party-link which has with main keywords. Since already the site/my client site having pages for that main keywords. But client really want that link. meaning the links which they have given to direct to third party[product producer] site. So what should i do at this case. Can i just past RAW link like [http://www.thirdpartysite.com] or what do i do. But my client wants that link to be in content area. Hope you would understand my long explanation and case Please help us. Thank you
Link Building | | Webworld_Norway0 -
Link over-building?
Hello all. One of the first things we do for our clients is to claim their local listings, include them on a set of selected directories (8-10), and blog directories (5), if applicable. Since they will all be linked to the client site, could doing all of this at once run us into problems with unnatural link growth? Thanks! Frank
Link Building | | FrankSweeney0 -
Reciprocal links
I've heard that reciprocal links don't count anymore. If i stop linking to a person that links to me, will that link to my website start counting? Do reciprocal links count at all in google? Anchor text? anything? Thanks in advance! Ron
Link Building | | Ron100 -
Is a reciprocal link the same value as a non-reciprocal
So I just started a few weeks ago doing some linkbuilding for my photography site at http://danielvaladas.com I started by adding my site to some of the business directories recommended by SeoMoz + some local and specialized directories I found myself and from my competitors. I also sponsored a local charity in exchange for a link on their PR3 website and I wanted to blog on my site about this sponsorship. I am wondering if it is better to link back to them or not. Is this one way link of more value if I don't link back to them?
Link Building | | valadas0 -
Linking Analyse
Hello, Im doing a research on the link-building analyze of 2 sites. What I want to know is whats the most important fact to analyze in the Open Site Explorer. And also can I see all the links connected to those sites in the Open Site Exporer or should I use other program to verify that? Tks in advance! Pedro Menezes Pereira
Link Building | | PedroM0 -
How might Google differentiate between an artificial link exchange and partners linking to each other?
Hi, All! Artificial link exchanges (contacting a vaguely connected site and requesting to exchange links to increase your PR) is, as far as I know, considered an outdated, not-so-smart technique, as Google might devalue them. Yet, for real business partners to exchange links seems to be an entirely accepted and encouraged technique. While that would be intuitive to a human who's viewing the pages. how might Google detect when two sites that link to each other are linking because they are trusted business associates (valuable) as opposed to when they are doing a link exchange (devalued)? Thanks! Aviva
Link Building | | debi_zyx0 -
Reciprocal linking with same niche in another country
I was wondering if it was still a viable strategy to pull up 'your keyword' on google.uk or google.au, and email all the top ranking sites or call them and personally ask them to reciprocally link to you. Do these links still hold any value in google's eyes? Or is this a well known strategy that no longer holds any weight and is a waste of time?
Link Building | | ilyaelbert0