Comments on: Answering Difficult Link Marketing Related Questions

By: Wiep

Wiep — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:49:05 +0000

Ramon, a bad tv commercial probably won’t cause your brand to get banned on national tv.

I agree with you on the second part, though ;)

By: Ramon Eijkemans

Ramon Eijkemans — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:15:37 +0000

‘it’s funny to see that lots of companies don’t see the value of their established website. Some companies literally put millions at stake by using questionable tactics.’

That is not really odd, now is it. We see that all the time, for instance with tv commercials (tv ads are not so well measured as internet ads, but still many millions more are pumped into this kind of advertising)

But anyway. This isn’t really a question of technology, or linkbuilding in particular, but more about the kind of advice you wish to give as a consultant. In my experience, it usually means choosing long term startegy for established websites for corporations that are not willing to risk a lot of money

By: Wiep

Wiep — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:06:33 +0000

“Just because your competitors are doing it doesn’t mean you have to rise to their level of mediocrity. I mean, if they started producing crap products would you do the same just to keep up?”

I couldn’t have said it any better, Debra. Also, like you said, it’s funny to see that lots of companies don’t see the value of their established website. Some companies literally put millions at stake by using questionable tactics.

By: debra mastaler

debra mastaler — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:34:38 +0000

I simply point out and say there’s far too much at stake to risk losing an established money making site for a get quick link scheme. Throw away domains yes, no problem but a main corporate website? Just because your competitors are doing it doesn’t mean you have to rise to their level of mediocrity. I mean, if they started producing crap products would you do the same just to keep up? It’s interesting to note a company doesn’t consider it’s good name and established web presence a viable asset worth protecting. :)

By: Wiep

Wiep — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:21:45 +0000

Great input, Eduard, thanks. I couldn’t agree more with you.

By: Eduard Blacquière

Eduard Blacquière — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:06:01 +0000

Good post and I think a lot of questions are frequently asked in competitive markets.

First I think everyone involved in the project (also the non-SEO people) should know all the pro’s and con’s of the different SEO options ranging from white to black.
That’ll lead to one of several important choices: are you – and mostly the client – willing to risk a ban?

Secondly I think that SEO should have a long term approach. Rankings don’t change overnight and that’s a good thing.

Furthermore I think that a focus on gaming the search engines – and therefore not focussing on your most important stakeholder: the visitor – isn’t a wise strategy.

In the end I think the search engine always wins and figures out how to block the short term black hat tricks.

So my advice is – also to my clients – focus mainly on the user and provide them with quality content which is of value for them. The search engines will sooner or later find a way to translate the user value into rankings. And the user value is much more than a short term value of high rankings.