It is common knowledge that search engine algorithms are shrouded in secrecy. As a result, certain myths and misconceptions have cropped up over the years, leading businesses to adopt ineffective strategies. In todayโs world, SEO techniques are constantly evolving, and one needs to be aware of key trends in order to gain a competitive edge over others. However, due to the rise of popular myths surrounding link building techniques, most of us are not able to chart out an effective link building strategy. Here are some fallacies associated with link building that you should completely disregard if you wish to excel in the SEO realm:
1. Backlinks Are A Top Google Ranking Factor
This particular myth dates back to a certain Google Q&A, wherein Search Quality Senior Strategist Andrey Lipattsev states that links, content, and RankBrain constitute Googleโs top 3 ranking factors. However, this is a gross misconception - if it were true, a wide range of factors like user experience and query intent would be completely disregarded. Google employs dynamic algorithms while determining the results of queries for varied user intent. Although backlinks play a crucial role in Google rankings, it does not solely determine the same.
2. The Penguin Penalty
First, it is important to grasp the fact that Penguin is not a penalty, but an algorithm. Google does not warn you about the devaluation of your site due to its backlink profile - in order to recover from negative SEO caused by faulty link building, one simply needs to disavow the links qualifying as obvious spam. Penguin should not be a concern for those pursuing solid linking strategies, and even if your site has been hit by Penguin, it is not impossible to recover.
3. Link Quality Can Be Defined by DA/PA
While it is difficult to discern how search engines define link quality, it is an absolute misconception that Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) influence the quality of links - they are merely barometers for site comparison. DA does not offer us a comprehensive insight into how qualitative a website is in terms of link building, and it is problematic to rely on a single proprietary metric to justify junk link campaigns and charge clients. A good link must include a contextual anchor text, wherein the website has an editorial process for content in place. Also, the linking domain must offer business-relevant content, along with a high traffic value.
4. High Link Velocity Contributes to Manual Penalties
There is a certain fear associated with building tons of links to a single piece of content, as most people believe that it might affect keyword ranking negatively. This is not true - it would be impossible for search engines to index the entire web and identify expansive trends. Moreover, a web page with original and valuable content should be able to exponentially generate backlinks on its own. Your content visibility increases every time someone links to your content, paving the way to acquire additional links.
5. Guest Posting Contributes Negatively to Link Building
Numerous articles on the internet claim that guest blogging SEO does not contribute positively to link building. This misconception has been debunked via various reliable sources, as guest posting brings forth indirect benefits for digital marketing by increasing brand visibility and traffic flow. However, guest posting done just to build links does not count as an efficient link building strategy.
In conclusion, while you should avoid spam in order to pursue impactful link building, it is futile to forgo positive opportunities in the pursuit of DA or appeasement of algorithms. Also, it is vital to broaden your horizons in terms of identifying facts from fallacies, and follow the finest link building strategies for the best results in your marketing campaign.
