Sorry this site requires JavaScript to be enabled in your browser. See the following guide on How to enable JavaScript in Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox and Safari. Alternatively you may be blocking JavaScript with an advert-related or developer plugin. Please check your browser plugins.

Eric has some good points here that are worth sharing. 14 years of building links and promoting websites - when the Link Moses talks it’s good to listen.
Comments9 Comments  

Comments

Avatar
from AdamAudette 1652 Days ago #
Votes: 0

Yes, I’m commenting on my own sphinn. But this quote from Ward is juicy goodness: "Every linking scenario can be good or bad, depending on multiple factors that, like it or not, most people simply do not want to hear. They want absolutes. This is bad, this won’t work, this is spam... It isn’t that easy."

Avatar
from tamar 1652 Days ago #
Votes: 0

You’re totally allowed to comment on your own Sphinn. :)

Avatar
from AdamAudette 1652 Days ago #
Votes: 0

okay good :)

Avatar
from Tuf 1651 Days ago #
Votes: 0

Good reflexion but he should have mix it with recommendations that "most of the times" work and explain why and when it doesn’t.

Avatar
from AdamAudette 1650 Days ago #
Votes: 0

@Tuf: agree that would be nice, but also think that’s part of his point. even though there are "most of the times" with linking there’s the "it always depends." in fact that’s what Eric says in a previous issue of LED when referring to his contribution to the excellent SEOmoz Google Ranking Factors piece: "In my gut, and in my link building experience, "It depends" is the best answer. It’s just not very helpful :)" http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/1790/190/

Avatar
from iBrian 1648 Days ago #
Votes: -1

"Link Moses"? I don’t think he has the faintest clue about the playgrounds most contemporary link developers have to play in these days.

Avatar
from linkmoses 1648 Days ago #
Votes: 1

iBrian - I really mean it when I say no offense, but for you to say I haven’t the faintest clue about contemporary link dev is about the stupidest thing I have read in my life. I work requesting links for clients every day. I am exactly the contemporary link builder you reference. Today I have sent over 50 link requests for two different clients. Tomorrow I will do the same. Just as I have since 1994. Every minute of every day I study, test, read, execute linking related strategies and campaigns. Frankly, I am as contemporary a link builder as anyone you will ever see. Tell me one freaking thing you know about the details of the link dev work I have done in just the past month alone. I’m a laid back guy, but attack me and the years I’ve spent busting my as*, and you can expect return fire. Eric

Avatar
from iBrian 1648 Days ago #
Votes: -1

Ah, damn - that’s teach me to post late at night. :) No personal offence intended Eric - my apologies for that. Point is, I figure you work in a very different environment to a lot of the link devs reading sphinn. I doubt the majority have a record representing Fortune 500 companies, as I’m under the impression you have. Therefore the environments are different for link dev work. That doesn’t mean to you say you don’t understand the field - you obviously do - but from your columns I read a lot of risk aversion that newer link devs often have to take on board. Partly it’s because their clients don’t have the same level of brand equity, resources, and budget, that you have. That means I don’t think you necessarily appreciate the live challenges newer link devs have to, and the levels of creativity they have to tap into. I think that’s probably the more diplomatic way of restating my original comment. :)

Avatar
from linkmoses 1647 Days ago #
Votes: 0

Thank you for commenting back. I’d say about 50% of my clients are in the "easy linkin" category. It’s true, obtaining links for PBS.org content ain’t exactly like doing trigonometry. But the other half of my clients are just like anyone else’s - in competitive niches with no brand equity and nothing but good content to use for link seeking. I’m told my fees are absurdly low, and I keep them that way on purpose. I’m one guy with zero overhead. Why overcharge? So what if I’ve been at it forever. The real truth is it isn’t me that gets the links, it’s the content on the site I work on behalf of that EARNs the link. I’m just a conduit implementing strategies based on the site I have to work with. And I often do not have the success I want to have, and have to try again and again. One thing I am guilty of is putting those big name clients on my homepage. I do that because when you live in the middle of nowhere working alone from an office over a garage, it’s one of the only ways I have to validate I actually exist :)

Upcoming Conferences

Search Marketing ExpoSearch Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.



Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

Upcoming Webcasts

Search Marketing Now Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include: