Increase Your Hub Traffic with Backlinks
Intro
I've been on Hubpages for almost a year now, but have just recently really started getting in the weeds about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how to utilize backlinks to increase traffic to your articles. In this hub I explain the what, why, and how about backlinks. I also provide recommendations for my favorite backlink sites.
How to Check Your Backlinks
Backlink Checking Tips
If you follow the video above, you'll get some slightly skewed results. I suggest you follow this format:
link "your url" (with the quotes)
Example:
link "http://hubpages.com/hub/Mens-Locker-Room-Etiquette"
This provides the exact information on who Google shows as linking to my Men's Locker Room Etiquette article. Cool, huh?
What are Backlinks?
Backlinks are simply links from another site that link "back" to your article. For instance, if I go to digg.com and submit a new link to one of my hubs, this would be considered a backlink. The most common sites used for backlinking are known as social bookmarking sites. Social bookmarking sites are basically sites where any user can "bookmark" their favorite websites. All users can typically see other users' bookmarks and can "vote" on them if they enjoy the link. The more votes a particular link, or bookmark, receives the higher in popularity that link becomes, resulting in more traffic to the linked site.
Why Use Backlinks?
There is really only one reason to use backlinks -- to increase traffic to your hub/article!
How do Backlinks Increase Traffic?
Backlinks increase traffic in two ways:
1. Members of the social bookmarking site you are using to backlink to your site may see your "bookmark" (backlink) and find it interesting. This is basically "spreading the word" about your article. This is particularly useful for niche social bookmarking sites. For instance, if you have hubs about cute kittens, it would be beneficial to find a social bookmarking site that is tailored to pets or even cats. Use Google to search for a niche social bookmarking site. If you can't find a niche social bookmarking site for your particular topic, you can use a generic social bookmarking site. Just be sure to "categorize" your backlink and use "tags" (keywords describing your content) appropriately. This helps focus users with interests related to your article to your backlink.
2. Google uses backlinks to calculate your rank (how high you place in the order) in search results. Not to get in the weeds too much on page ranks, but basically, the more backlinks you have, the closer to the top of the list you'll place based on related searches to your article's content. Basically, Google figures that if a lot of other sites are "backlinking" to your site, then your site must be fairly decent. Also, Google doesn't view all websites equally - each website is assigned a "page rank." Basically, the higher the page rank, the more Google values the site. This generally means you are better off placing your backlinks on social bookmarking sites that Google has assigned a higher page rank. Page ranks rate from 0-10, with 10 being the best. In my experience, a lot of social bookmarking sites with high Page Ranks are overly crowded and they really didn't do much for my traffic. I don't want to get too in the weeds with this now though; I have my own philosophy, based on my experience with Page Rank validity in relation to increases in traffic. I plan to write an article on this topic in the near future.
Recommendations for Backlink Sites
- redgage.com- I really like this site. The cool thing about redgage.com is you can share videos, pictures, links (backlinks), etc. And, you get paid for all your content. For instance, I've shared a few pictures and have made a few cents on each picture over a couple days - that's not a lot, but it's still pretty cool. I've also noticed that the members of redgage.com seem the friendliest of any site I've joined, minus Hubpages! If you're curious about redgage.com's Page Rank, it is 4. I just verified using the Google Toolbar.
Google Toolbar
If you're interested in a site's Page Rank, download the Google Toolbar and use it to check the Page Rank. In my experience, a lot of people merely pass along unverified Page Ranks as being true. Check for yourself - get the Google Toolbar here.
- shetoldme.com- this is a relatively new site that you can use for backlinking and both Google Adsense and Chitika revenue sharing. For more details, read this article on shetoldme.com I wrote the other day. shetoldme.com has a Page Rank of 5. Again, I verified using the Google Toolbar.
- xomba.com- this is another cool site. I like the layout of this site and xomba.com also shares Google Adsense revenue with you. A backlink on xomba.com is referred to as a "Xomblurb." Xomba's Page Rank is 5, again verified with the Google Toolbar.
More Info
- Backlinking - excellent advice from one of HubPages' most thorough researcher, and HupPages Elite, darkside!
- Wikipedia's Backlink info - decent definition of backlinks and how they relate to search engine rankings
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Comments
I hate backlinking but it has to be done. Anyone try linkwheels?
I find this hub interesting and resourceful. Some very good discussions generated here to assist me compare and contrast the sites mentioned. In the meantime I can just go and check those sites out. My problem with xomba is that when I try to create a new post it says the excess is denied. Where am I suppose to post my article or links. Some one show me the way out. This is new to me and I have to be very honest here that I am confuse. Kea please clear this dust away from my eyes. I know you will. You wrote a great hub here. Thanks for sharing. Voted up.
Thank you for the idea of backlinking! I really appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing this one... Very informative and useful.
All the sites listed are cool, but my experience with Xomba is not something worth talking about.
Currently this site has made so much changes that I think will make many users leave their site; I've been blocked twice now; reason for posting bookmarks that violate posting TOS; I've tried hard to strictly adhere to the posting rules but to no avail I still get booted out each time I post something new.
From my experience, I'll recommend Redgage, squidstop and to some extent Shetoldme- but xomba no no no!;
Xomba does not even give my contents the exposure I thought they will give, but redgage especially has been really cool.
Thank you for sharing all of your ideas about increasing traffic to hubs. I know that I will revisit this article several more times.
One of my best backlink sources are - believe it or not - pillar articles on my blogs. They are longer than the usual blog posts, evergreen, and useful. I love backlinking my hubs to them!
kea- bravo and thanks for this one again awesome hub, it is great to be able to sit abck and simply read and comment-- for once! but this is an excellent and well written hub which has given me more ideas. many many tahnks for that!
- AUTHOR
@slimmedtony - thx for the comment. I'll check out your link. Cheers.
Thanks for the info.
I have tried these method I found in the net recently and it seems to work. Plus, it is FREE! Try..
- AUTHOR
@gramarye - thanks for the comment and I'm glad you found my hub useful!
Great hub. It took me ages to work out all of this, I wish I had read it a long time ago.
- AUTHOR
@tauros - thx for the comment! I did the same...starting doing a lot of research and stopped writing as much, but my more recent hubs are a lot better, as far as getting traffic and google rankings now! Thanks for the rate up and bookmark!
I will try to use all of those sites but it will probably take some time. I am doing a lot of reading and researching lately that I even don´t have time to write anymore. I hope I won´t get lost on my way. Great hub BTW. I´m rating it up and bookmarking it!
This looks nice! how did you get there?
- AUTHOR
@Dobson - thx for the comment! Glad another hubber linked to this hub...that's encouraging! Best of luck.
Funny how I was just aching to learn more about back links and got directed to this hub through another hubbers link to it. Kind of proves a point to how beneficial links can be for all involved.
- AUTHOR
@Lamme - thanks for the comment! Hope to see you on the other sites - my name on the other sites is "cheekykea" :) Cheers!
Excellent hub. I've already signed up for shetold me, now I need to follow up on the other sites. Thanks for all the great information.
- AUTHOR
Thanks for the comment, Patrick! I'm sure you'll enjoy your time on HubPages. Best of luck!
Great hub. I'm just a newbie here and articles like yours are a big help. Thanks. Pat
- AUTHOR
@hypnodude - thx for dropping by and for the feedback! I appreciate it. Yes, check out RedGage...it's pretty cool!
Actually the only one that I'm not using yet is RedGage, but I should check it. I like your layout and your being concise while giving the relevant information. Rated up.
- AUTHOR
christopheranton - thx for the comment...the google toolbar is great. cheers.
Thanks for the useful tips. I'll have to try Google Toolbar for myself. Everything helps.
- AUTHOR
@Micky Dee - thanks for the comment and for stopping by!
Very nice info. Thanks Kea!
- AUTHOR
vox vocis - thx for the great comment. Yeah, I've been doing more researching than writing recently too! Good luck. Cheers.
Dear kea, thanks for sharing such useful information. I will try to use all of those sites but it will probably take some time. I am doing a lot of reading and researching lately that I even don´t have time to write anymore. I hope I won´t get lost on my way. Great hub BTW. I´m rating it up and bookmarking it!
- AUTHOR
@Hello, hello - sure...follow this link:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/toolbar/ie/index.htm...
- Click on the "Install Google Toolbar" button
- Check both boxes on the next screen (to set google as your default search engine in Internet Explorer and to set as home page) - you don't have to check these boxes, this is just my prefernce.
- Click "Accept and Download"
- Select "Run" from the File Download box.
- Select "Run" again when asked Do you want to run this software?
- That should be about it. Let me know if you have any other questions.
@sheila b - yeah, I should have learned this stuff ealier, rather than try to play catch up on promoting my existing hubs! thanks for the comment.
Glad to know I'm not the only slow poke about doing whatever to increase traffic.
Thank you for your most helpful hub. I tried the Google Toolbar to install the other day but somehow I got stuck or lost between the wires. Would you be so kind and really describe how to do it? I would be so greateful and I am sure other would be too.
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