Links seem to be the one thing that everyone wants to get their hands on. There are many misconceptions surrounding link building methods, so how do you know which way is best?
No matter what tactics you’ve heard, relevant content is necessary to keep the common denominator of SEO alive. You also have to network and do your research. All of these factors cannot be rushed or fabricated. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news…but it’s actually good news!
Patience is a Virtue, Blah Blah Blah
The crackdown on spam-like linking and poor quality SEO can actually help your site rank better by sifting out sites that only contain paid links and irrelevant content. Even if your site has been hit by recent algorithm updates, you can work your way back up in the search engines by paying more attention to link diversity, where your links are going, and who is linking back to you.
There is no shortcut to this.
For a law firm, building links should be a gradual, natural process. Any industry wants to see results fast, but attorney website link development – that is effective and lasts – can’t happen overnight. You have to take the time to look at each link and if you don’t have the time, then find a SEO consultant that has a solid track record and is trustworthy.
You’re Not the Only One Who’s Picky
When it comes to developing links, you don’t want just any website to link back to your site. You want the best of the best to link back to you. Have you seen any great legal blogs lately? Is there a lawyer website out there that you’ve actually learned something from by reading? It may not be easy to receive constructive criticism from yourself, or anyone else for that matter, but how can you make your blog or website something that other lawyers and Internet users want to share and link back to on their sites and other platforms?
Don’t oversell. Provide information in a clear, concise way that your target audience would actually find helpful and interesting. Don’t create content for the sake of having content. Readers and search bots see right through this.
Take a Closer Look
If you feel stuck in your link building plan, it helps to take a step back and do things little by little. Use the resources you have and find new ones. Get creative but don’t venture into the black hat SEO zone for fear of your site getting penalized by Google. Look at the big picture. What effects links? Just about almost everything, BUT content is an excellent place to start in your evaluation process of what to rewrite, toss, and replace. You should be proud to share what you’ve written and others will recognize that it’s above par.
Next time you find a website or blog that you really like, ask yourself, “Why?” What do people say about your website and blog? If you don’t know, it’s time to find out. It might be easier to start off with close family and friends. See what areas you can improve, and then start fixing them. Working with your Internet marketing team on this can make a world of difference. If your marketing team knows that you care, they’ll care even more than they already do – the same thing goes for your target audience.