Content to Attract High-Quality Links

Posted on | March 21, 2006 | 3 Comments

This is part of an article I posted at SearchEngineWatch.com on content to attract high-quality links.

We have been hearing a lot about adding content to your site to increase the number of natural links as a long-term link building strategy. I believe there is a misunderstanding about the type of content that attracts links. Simply adding an article to a site does not constitute great content. A great resource that attracts links takes research and time. It solves a problem or answers a question. I suggest creating 5 â€œgreatâ€ pages instead of 40 â€œokâ€ pages.

Questions to Ask Yourself
-Does the article offer answers to a question?
-Are people actually searching for the answers to that question?
-Do I have to read 500 words to get an answer to something that could have been answered in 200 words?
-Does it solve a problem?
-Does it help your current users?
-Does this page deserve a link from a college?

Andy AtkinsKruger, President of Search Marketing Association UK (SMA-UK), adds

“I think it’s also worth writing about something you believe in – and even though initially it might be hard work – later you’ll find there is a community building up around you.”

Feel free to jump into the discussion with your ideas or observations!

Barry Schwartz, of Search Engine Roundtable and Search Engine Watch, also did two post regarding the topic.
Writing Articles That Get Links
Writing for Search Engines by Copying and Pasting

Category: Link Building

Comments

3 Responses to “Content to Attract High-Quality Links”

Shimon Sandler
March 22nd, 2006 @ 12:06 pm

I’m a recent reader of your blog. Great stuff. I subscribed to your feed, and I’ve been coming back almost daily. Love the link building:-)
Justilien
March 23rd, 2006 @ 5:52 am

Shimon,

Thanks! It is always great to hear from readers!
Jon Payne - Ephricon
March 27th, 2006 @ 7:46 pm

>> “I believe there is a misunderstanding about the type of content that attracts links. Simply adding an article to a site does not constitute great content.”

Excellent point. There’s too much junk out there from people who think they can just syndicate any thrown-together group of sentences and suddenly every site will want to syndicate it and link to them. Its about value, uniqueness. Purple Cow even.

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Justilien Gaspard is a SEO/M consultant with over 8 years experience in organic search marketing. Professionally he's a columnist for Search Engine Watch, speaker at SES Conferences and has authored 3 advanced courses for SEMPO Institute. Learn more about Justilien.