Advanced Link Building Strategy

We all know that getting quality links is an essential ingredient for top search engine rankings and generating targeted traffic. Traditional methods such as reciprocal links, directory submissions, article publishing etc still have their place and can still be effective if done correctly. However the growth of "Web 2.0", which is essentially websites with user-generated content, has provided webmasters with the means to generate quality, one-way links from "authority sites". These are high-value links and will not only boost your rankings in the search engines but deliver targeted visitors directly to your doorstep, by the bucket load!

There are hundreds of Web 2.0 or social networking sites out there just waiting for your participation. And "participation" is a key word here. Don't think of this as "using" these sites. I can tell you from lessons learned the hard way, these sites do not like to be "used". The benefits are there to be taken, but you must give as well as take.

Although it is possible to create links to your regular "static" websites it won't be possible to tap into the power of social networking without a blog. Blogs have evolved into highly effective content management systems, and search engines, particularly Google, just love them. You simply HAVE to have a blog. No need to abandon your existing website, your blog will funnel targeted traffic to it.

WordPress

Without a doubt, WordPress is the blogging platform to use. I've used Blogger as well as WordPress and WP outperforms Blogger by a country mile. Download the latest version of WordPress here. It's totally free.

NOTE: Don't use a "hosted" blogging service such a Wordpress.com. Buy a domain and set up your own hosting account or host it on your existing site. Choose a hosting company which provides a program called "Fantasico". This will make installation of WordPress dead simple.

The following WordPress plugins are essential:

• All in One SEO Pack
• ShareThis
• Simple Tags
• FeedBurner FeedSmith (if you use FeedBurner - recommended)

For more info on using WordPress, using plugins and Web 2.0 resources download Jack Humphey's free Authority Black Book.

OK, down to the nitty gritty. Here are my top resources for building links and traffic:

Hubpages

Top of the list is of course the site you are now viewing. Hubpages allows you create your own pages called "hubs" just like the one you are reading. Hubpages is similar in concept to Squidoo but in my view is a cut above. Squidoo pages can still rank well in Google but they have recently fallen from grace due to spam issues.

Hubpages tips:

• Create a profile page and link to your existing sites/blogs. Bookmark this page all the major bookmarking sites
• Add your blog's RSS feed to your hubs

Propeller

Owned by Netscape, a link from Propeller is a high-value link. With Propeller you submit a "story" which can be the URL from your blog post. Not only will this give your blog a boost in the search engine rankings, but you'll find your post on Propeller will rank highly itself. This is a common theme in many Web 2.0 sites. Because they are "authority sites" you can piggy-back on their authority and get links to your content ranking highly, even if your posts don't rank highly themselves.

Propeller tips:

• Propeller is a high-value resource. Don't overuse it or you could risk getting banned. Only submit quality, information-rich posts and not just your own.
• Add comments (with a link to your site/blog) to good quality blogs and submit that blog to Propeller as well.
• Bookmark your profile page with all the major bookmaring sites

StumbleUpon

StumbleUpon is one of the top Web 2.0 sites and is rapidly growing in popularity. SU helps you find web content which interests you, but unlike a search engine, it uses the power of social networking to deliver sites which other users have given the thumbs-up.

SU can deliver significant volumes of traffic. Visitors tend to stay longer than those from sites like Digg, and those vistors will often link to you and subscribe to your feed. This is advanced link building the smart way!

SU classes itself as a "discovery" website, helping people "discover interesting or informative Web content that they wouldn't have thought to search for". Search engines like Google are webmaster oriented. Webmasters optimise their sites and build links from other sites to satisfy what is basically a computer program, in order to have their sites presented in a list, which searchers may or may not click on. For all that, when a searcher lands on that site they may well say "I don't like it. It's not what I wanted".

SU is different. Using smart technology SU learns what sites you like. When you "stumble" you are taken to an actual site (not a list) based on your preferences and the voting patterns of other users like you (it's quite uncanny). Don't like it? Just click the thumbs-down button and the system learns not to deliver that type of site again. It's actually quite addictive and fun.

To gain the most from SU you simply need to use it often. The more you use it, the more links and traffic you will generate. And SU users tend to be quality, targeted traffic.

StumbleUpon tips:

• Download the SU toolbar
• Bookmark your profile page with the major bookmarking services

Zimbio

Zimbio is a story submission site that not only allows you to submit your own content, but lets you decide how your content is used. You can create your own "Wikizines" and publish your articles to them, or publish your articles to other author's wikizines. You can populate your Wikizines by simply importing your blog posts. Once you submit your RSS feeds your posts will automatically be made available to publish.

Zimbio is one of my favourite Web 2.0 sites. A top resource.

Zimbio Tips:

• Use targeted keywords to name your Wikizine
• Bookmark your Wikizine and member profile page

MyOpera

MyOpera was created for users of the Opera web browser. You can not only create a profile page but a links page with free, one-way, nofollow-free links to all your sites, feeds and blogs - from a high-authority domain - Opera.com!

UPDATE: MyOpera have removed the My Links section from your membership pages. Oh well...it was good while it lasted! You can however add bookmarks. Not as good as the links page, but still useful.

Digg is a very high-authority news submission site that mainly focuses on tech issues. It has been said that getting your story on the front page of Digg can crash your server from the traffic. It has also been said the the traffic does not stay long and will be unlikely to generate any income for you.

The problem with Digg is they do not like you submitting your own content or content which has any whiff of marketing intent. Digg is NOT a friendly community in my view. Many of its users (the so-called "bury brigade") take delight in "burying" your submissions and getting you banned because they don't agree with your viewpoint. Censorship in action.

I guess I just don't like Digg. Yes, I was banned. Frankly, I don't give a rat's. There are MANY other digg-like sites whose members are far more enlightened and will welcome your submissions.

If you can manage to get your content onto Digg, and keep it there, then great. My advice would be to stay under the radar by submitting good quality stories which aren't your own, vote and comment on other stories and ensure you have a complete profile. And then occassionally submit your own story. Your experience with Digg may be completely different to mine, but if you do manage to get banned, don't worry, you're not alone. Personally, I believe there are far better resources to focus on, e.g. StumbleUpon.

The sites I've mentioned above are just a drop in the bucket. There are many more being created all the time, and once you know what to look for you'll find new resources popping up every day. Just search Google for your targeted keywords and notice how many Web 2.0/bookmarking/content submission sites are showing up in the results. Your competitors are doing this, right now! The affiliate marketing crowd have been on to this for ages. Try searching for a review of a popular info-product in Clickbank and I guarantee you will find the sites I've mentioned and many other Web 2.0 sites.

If you're like me, you'll find Web 2.0 marketing rather addictive and fun. No longer is link building a chore. Just remember to play by social networking rules - submit good content (not just your own), participate and network with other users. Vote on stories other than your own and add comments. Give and don't just take.

If you're link building for SEO purposes bear in mind that not every link from a social networking site will carry weight in the search engines. Many use the "nofollow" tag, which tells the engines to not put value on the link. You can tell if this is happening by viewing the source code for the page your link is on. Select Edit/Find from the menu in Notepad and enter nofollow.

However even if the site does use the nofollow tag, humans do not. They will follow your links and recommendations once you have become a trusted member of the community. And when that happens they will link to you, subscribe to your feeds and make comments. Your ultimate goal however is targeted traffic, not just search engine rankings.

Here are few other Web 2.0 sites to help kick off your advanced link building campaign:

• Blogmarks
• BloggingZoom
• SpicyPage
• DropJack
• Flixya
• Shout
• BlogCatalog

The Authority Black Book by Jack Humphrey is probably the best resourse I've discovered for link building with Web 2.0. What's more...it's free! Highly recommended.

Social Power Linking is a recently launched membership site for Web 2.0 marketing. I'm a member, and if you're serious about building tons of traffic with social marketing, you should be too. You won't believe the info and resources in here. Trust me, the info I've presented above just scratches the surface. SPL is the most comprehensive resource on Web 2.0 marketing I've found.

I've posted a full review of Social Power Linking here.