Debunking Link-Building Myths

In the world of search engine optimization (SEO), link building has recently been getting a lot of flack because it’s considered a controversial technique for increasing web site traffic. This is in large part due to the fact that numerous myths have arisen about this otherwise useful and noble SEO practice. To prevent yourself from missing out on all of the benefits of implementing link building techniques into your SEO practices, it’s important to know what these myths are, how they were manifested, what makes them false, and how they affect you. As a prominent SEO company that serves the Mississauga area as well as other parts of the GTA, Numero Uno Web Solutions is fully equipped to debunk all of these unfounded misconceptions that are related to link building.

Myth #1: Link Building Is Becoming Extinct

On the contrary, link building has actually retained its status as a fairly common SEO practice with the intent of increasing the number of meaningful leads on your web site. It just depends on how it’s implemented. For instance, as long as your leads are coming from a reputable source that’s somehow relevant or related to the content on your web site, then link building is a highly effective method. The only way it could ever become extinct is if web developers were to stop using it altogether and the chances of that happening any time in the near future are slim.

Myth #2: Reciprocal Linking Will Get You Penalized

The only way you’ll be penalized for practicing reciprocal linking methods is if you do it with an obvious malicious intent or strictly for solicitation purposes. Spontaneous reciprocal linking is a perfectly acceptable and even commendable practice, though. This entails reciprocating linking to a site that’s linked content on your web site because the two things are mutually relevant to one another. In many ways, it’s almost like an unspoken honour to have someone link their content to your web site and it only makes sense to return the favour if their content is also significant yours.

Myth #3: Outbound Links Are Detrimental to Rankings

This is not always the case. As long you refrain from excessively using outbound links that are irrelevant to the content featured on your web site, then there’s no reason why using an abundance of quality links will either positively or negatively impact your overall rankings. As long as your intent is noble and in the name of providing your site visitors with insightful information that complements the content on your web site, the outbound links won’t necessarily hurt or elevate your rankings. That said, following this guideline will help to create an overall positive user experience in the end because it proves that you have great integrity when it comes to sharing valuable resources and information.

Myth #4: Asking for Links Is Immoral and Pointless

Once again, this is one of those grey areas in SEO marketing that can easily have a negative impact on your rankings and web site traffic if it’s immensely misused. The only time when asking for links can be considered an immoral or pointless practice is if you’re doing it for the sole purpose of gaining more leads, regardless of whether or not they’re actually relevant to your business or the content featured on your web site. However, asking certain online directories or blog sites that actually pertain to your industry to link to your page makes a lot of sense and isn’t something you should be penalized for.

Myth #5: Links Are Always Permanent

Not to sound too cynical, but the only certainties in life are death and taxes. Everything else is only temporary and this includes backlinks on web sites. Never believe anyone who claims that the link they’re providing you with is permanent because there are so many unforeseeable occurrences that can take place to contradict this. First of all, if links aren’t updated on a regular basis, they can easily become outdated or broken. Also, it’s possible that the site can break down or be shut down without notice, or the link is unexpectedly removed by the site owner. Therefore, you need to understand that the link building process is an ongoing, complex endeavour that has no end and there are never any guarantees when it comes to how they’ll affect the success of your web site.

Myth #6: Google Will Penalize You For Quickly Obtaining Links

The only time you need to be concerned about being penalized by Google for obtaining links too quickly is if you get caught engaging in suspicious online activity or SEO practices. Google has certain formulas that are put in place to prevent prominent web sites from tricking users into clicking on web sites that are considered spam. In other words, Google might monitor the speed with which you acquire links as well as the types of links you acquire at any given time, but they won’t penalize you strictly for getting too many links within any given period of time.

Myth #7: Using Multiple Links from the Same Web Site Is Useless

Some so-called SEO experts are under the mistaken impression that using multiple links from the same web site is useless or a waste of time and resources, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Think about it: if all or the majority of the content from another web site is somehow relevant to the type of content you want to produce, then it makes sense to keep using them as a reputable source as long as their contently adequately supports yours.
Numero Uno Web Solutions provides expert SEO services to clients in Toronto, Mississauga, and the rest of the GTA as well as to companies that are based in the United States. We pride ourselves on having a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a qualified team of SEO experts in Toronto that are fully capable of helping our clients build and maintain strong web site content that’s relevant to the search queries of their potential customers. To learn more about our company and the SEO practices we employ, please contact us.