What Types of Links Help With My Google Listings?

While many sites have been affected by the most recent Google algorithm change, affectionately known as Penguin, we know that links are still an important factor in improving your results on the search engines.

1. Local Directory Listings - Local directories are key in promoting your local business. Having listings with the sites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and Insider Pages not only shows that you are a reputable company, but provide your clientele with the opportunity to rate their experience with your business. As more people are relying on researching a company before going to them and online reviews, sites like these become more important for your site to be listed in and generating positive reviews from your consumers.

2. Press Releases - Newsworthy articles that are promoting what is new in your business, products and services are still very relevant and can harness a lot of traffic and views for your site.

3. Links From Reputable and Relevant Sites - Having links back to your site from organizations that you work with (charitable organizations that use a .org domain), associations that you are a member of and schools that you attended (sites with a .edu domain) are all very credible links to have coming into your site. Companies that work within the same industries as you, that have relevant content topics, are key to your success as well.

All of the above links, when done appropriately, provide the search engines with votes of confidence for your website.  The sites that have been negatively affected by this recent update have generally been using "black hat" techniques to get their sites to show up higher in the results.

If you have questions about what is a good link or have been approached by another company to exchange links, please contact your Internet Marketing Consultant to review and determine what the next course of action should be.

~Shannon Montoya, Director of Account Services