A or B: Which Plan is Better?

by PBMax
11 replies
Strategy A: Traditional route. Getting a myriad of "spammy" links to create a mass of backlinks to my moneysite (and subsequent tier levels) that may or may not be contextual. Think: SenukeXCr.

I'm not knocking the past - or present - successes with this method.

Strategy B: Perhaps, seen as more white hat. Add a "blog" subcategory to the website. Write - or hire copywriters to write - compelling and niche-specific articles (one per week) with pictures or graphs or whatever. Toss in a keyword for Google SERP love.

Get the article indexed and socially shared quickly - sharing is the key here. Forego the spammy links. Rely on social sharing (to get direct, hopefully viral-driven traffic) and hold on to Google's promise that it loves new and great content.

Which is a better way to go?

PS: I know this isn't 100% "social media specific" but since I'm leaning towards B, I think it fits here.
#plan
  • Profile picture of the author brutecky
    I dont think having all those random back links is very relevant anymore. Quality is more important than quantity.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207851].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PBMax
      Originally Posted by brutecky View Post

      I dont think having all those random back links is very relevant anymore. Quality is more important than quantity.
      I was thinking the same thing. Are we to continue SEO'ing as if Google is a company full of idiots OR that they know exactly what we're doing - getting truckloads of links to pretend our sites are popular (when those links don't even make sense for our sites) in an effort to usurp the serps.

      I was toying with the idea of real social shares for unique client blog articles being the new goal. The people speak and Google has to listen because if it doesn't give the people what they want, they will go elsewhere.

      That's the whole idea behind the personalization of SERPS per Google+ accounts going on right now. People tell Google "I like this" so Google shows them results accordingly.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207939].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ReferralCandy
    B. Do stuff that's genuinely useful and helpful to everybody, please. Google knows when you're dicking around. And general spamminess is just ugly.
    Signature

    Measure, manage and incentivize customer referrals with ReferralCandy.

    PS: Looking to get more repeat customers for a physical store? Check out CandyBar's digital loyalty cards!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8209675].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rickdangelo
    My two cents...
    I'm an SEO reseller and I've had could-have-been clients who wanted some speedy spamming done for them. Naturally I had to turn them down. I rejected money at this type of economy, yes. But if my business and my named landed in hot water just because of two quick black hat deals, that would have a lot of long-term repercussions not just for the business, but for the family, too because we depend on the business. So before this old man rambles any more here lol... I recommend strategy B.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8210265].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author alphaomegalady
    Why not combine those two strategies? With more careful with the strategy A.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8210388].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Hapningnow
      Originally Posted by alphaomegalady View Post

      Why not combine those two strategies? With more careful with the strategy A.
      I agree. Providing valuable content and relevant links will go a long way to establish credibility and a solid foundation.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8210502].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author 1209media
    B: quality is better than quantity
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8211024].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author hsbinmarket
      Originally Posted by 1209media View Post

      B: quality is better than quantity
      Dear 1209media
      I just more than 100% agree with you.

      --Hasibul
      Signature

      Do not put the links to a malware-infected site back in your signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8211273].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author PBMax
        Oh! I forgot to add that I do favor niche-related biz directories. Those help local SEO in my opinion as well. All else though...potential waste of time.

        Unique blog articles, social sharing, niche-related biz directories. The Big 3.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8211470].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Willy
    I would rather choose B. Spammy links won't work anymore, as Google may easily find you out for this. Remember, quality prevails over quality. It's better to have few high quality links than trillions of spammy and inappropriate links.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8211104].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PBMax
    Thanks everyone. I am severely leaning towards B since I've been doing SEO for about 2 years now (rookie, I know) and I have noticed a pattern:

    Non-contextual backlinks have never boosted one of my clients. The only links that ever stuck around were ones that made sense. If it wasn't niche-specific, it didn't matter.

    When I originally started, all I was doing was writing articles and dropping them into SEOLinkvine - which has since, I believe, crash landed. However, the articles, giving Google something to eat, was working. It wasn't until I was introduced to SenukeX that my rankings started becoming turbulent, then fell off completely.

    I know being white hat(ish) is the way to go, but patience is key because results take longer and then there's the whole idea of having to deprogram our clients from thinking "backlinks, backlinks, backlinks..." and re-wiring them to believe that social and direct traffic is what really matters.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8211256].message }}

Trending Topics