Successful Blog

Ignore Stinky Backlinks

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Ever check out a backlink and find yourself on a page that’s totally bogus?

In checking Letting me be . . . random wandering and philosophy
I have found backlinks on pages that are

  • a collection of sites with the word wondering in the title
  • a collection of sites with the word letting in the title
  • a page advertising a pet store, and one about bears–go figure!
  • a spam blog covered with links that had mine next to an explicit link for an adult site

I didn’t put them there. The first bunch were of no concern.

That last link was a problem. It occasionally came up in search engine listings with the name of my blog next to that explicit text, which made it look like my blog had adult content. Luckily it was a blogspot blog. I flagged it for removal.

If you find yourself with bogus backlinks, it’s usually best to ignore the little stinkers. The only way most can hurt you is if you return the favor and link back to them. Search engines know you can’t control who links to you.

Pretend you’re a rock star, who can’t pick your fans. Keep walking to your limo.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

deep dark blue strip 570

Nextweek: More on Links and Blog Design

How to Find Homes for Your Links

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It’s easy to get people to do what you want, just show them why it’s to their benefit to do it.

If what you want is a link from me, then your challenge is to persuade me. Show how it’s in my best interest and that of my readers to give your link a home on my blog.

Speaking of homes, you should also make sure that you want me to have your link. A link represents a vote from you. You want to find blogs with quality content, blogs with like-thinking writers who will value your relationship. Here’s how you might do that.

  • Get to know me and my blog.

    • Don’t become a stalker, but do make a project of finding out who I am and what I care about. Study my blog and my readers’ comments. A little reconnaissance and you’ll get a good idea of where or whether your link is a good fit.

  • Think about where your link would add value.

    • No one needs a link on their blogroll. Find a reason that I need your link. Do you have a post that ties well with one of mine? Do you expand on a topic that my readers have shown an interest in? Have you covered a subject I’ve missed, or does your content compliment mine, offering my readers a change they might enjoy? Once you’ve found a compelling answer to a question such as one of these, then you’re ready to talk to me.

  • When you talk to me, be personal and persuade me.

    • If you want my attention talk to me, not sir or madam, and let me know how you see your link improving my readers’ experience. That will surely get my attention. Persuade me. I want to feel there is a compelling argument for your link. That way I won’t see myself as someone who gives away links to anyone who asks. I’ll see myself as a person who was lucky to have met a clear thinker like you–someone who knew exactly how to improve my blog.

If I refuse you, you’ve lost nothing. You’ve probably picked up a few things by studying a blog. You’re not likely to research too long on a blog not worth linking to. If I agree, you’ve made a connection to quality content. Hopefully my blog will grow into old age with you. Then we can spend our days together complaining about those misbehaving young blogs.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Don’t Buy that New Domain Name Yet

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How to Blog Series

Sean Si of SEO-Hacker.com wrote a post about Google with regard to what is being called the “aging process.” He shared his thoughts and experience on the logic of buying a used domain or “aged” name rather than starting out with a spanking new one.

I Have a Name Already. Thank You.
I’m sure you do, and I’m sure it’s a fine one . . . or maybe it isn’t. As culturally literate members of the community, we should know why old domain names are in such demand. Besides, one day you or a friend will face the question of whether to change a blog’s name, and we need to know everything that comes with making that decision.

Spammers Ruined Things for Everyone
In order to combat spammers, Google algorithms have added values biased toward long-timers.

  • bypassing the 6-8 month aging delay
  • having a headstart in page rank
  • positioning bonuses, such as listing in the search indexes and key directories

Oh and remember if you don’t come back soon, I might be out finding a new, old domain name for Successful Blog. After all, it is a way of social climbing. Change your name and get what comes with it. Let’s see. Hmmmm . . . I wonder if IvanaTrump.com is available yet . . . not that one. Okay then . . .

Be irresistible.
ME “Liz” Strauss Work with Liz on your business!!

Are You Up for a Posting Marathon?

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It’s a Marathon

The blogger at It’s So Fantastic has decided to do Darren Rowse’s list of 20 Blogging Post Types one better and do a marathon, posting one of each type for 20 days running. She’s invited all comers to post with her and leave a link to their posts.

Are you fit and ready? It’s a great way to make contacts, hone new writing skills, and get some links. You can find the details and the list of types at her site link above.

Good luck. If you participate, let us know how it goes.

As Darren said, “Great idea! Wish I had thought of it.”

ME “Liz” Strauss

Successful Blog Community News

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Great Discussion

If you weren’t able to join us back stage after Brian Shih’s article on sidebars, you might check out the comments section that follows it. We had a great discussion on sidebar design with several people bringing in examples of a variety of design options to use while making a point about what works or doesn’t work.

It was hands-down the best example of community discussion in action I’ve ever seen. Way cool! We’ve got something really special happening here.

Thanks to everyone who participated. It really was fun as well as enlightening.

Can we do that again soon. Huh? Can we? Can we? 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

10 Things Google Wants per Liz

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In March 2005, Google’s patent document for their search engine was made public. This is the abridged Liz version.

10 Things Google Wants

Think of Google as a kindly caretaker who only wants the best for the blogging community. Google wants your blog to

    1. Put down roots. Google values blogs that last. If you can make it your own domain. Quality takes time, but spam occurs with a wink.

    2. Be a valuable citizen. Add value to the community by developing quality content. Content is what Google users go searching for and that leads to Google selling more ads. Google likes that.

    3. Grow like an oak, not like a weed. Authentic relationships take time to form naturally. Young blogs gather links over time like trees branching out, and grow with them. Fewer, slowly-acquired linking relationships impress Google. Too many links coming too quickly make Google wonder whether something hokey is going on.

    4. Know beauty is nice, but brains always win. Quality, relevant fresh content is king, queen, prince, princess, and all of the Google information kingdom. There is no substitution and in the end nothing can beat it.

    5. Ignore hangers-on. Cultivate quality friends. Google knows you can’t control who links up to you–that you’ll find backlinks of the most dubious sort. Care about who you link to so the community becomes stronger because of your links. Not every link needs to be reciprocated. Reciprocate those that serve your blog, your readers, and your niche community.

    6. Keep your address and your name. Everyone knows that spam blogs make name changes suspicious. Name changes also make re-indexing issues. Keep your name and domain. Then Google won’t have to worry about losing track of you, and you won’t have to wait while Google finds you again.

    7. Be popular among readers and among your peers. Google watches clicks–clicks on searchs and clicks from referrals–to see what draws visitors to your blog.

    8. Show up with fresh, new content–often and consistently. Posting fresh, new content often is important. Even more important is posting consistently. Google likes a nice steady pattern to your posting. It’s better to post only Tuesdays and Thursdays, than to push out ten posts all on one Saturday.

    9. Keep your visitors interested and know which doors they use. Google is interested in how long your visitors stay, where they came from and where they go when they leave you.

    10. Keep clean and tidy–and that includes spelling. Google is a bit anal about design, code, and spelling–things that make spiders trip. No dusty corners, broken tags, no misspelled words please.

Are these all of the things that Google cares about?
Of course not. That would be like listing all of the things that your mother wants you to be.

Which of these does Google care most about and in which order do they rank?
If Google told us that, then we’d know, wouldn’t we?

ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles:
Check Google Backlinks Through Yahoo
Google Homepage–Got Yours Yet?
Google–Do You Have Something to Tell Me?
Google Zeitgeist–Will Make ME Millions