Links vs Content

[PioneerRalph]

Hi all, I'm a bit new to this so i was wonderin if anyone can give me a little advice on the importance of backlinks vs content for SEO in a post Penguin world?

 

[Jaz]

I don't think Pandas, Penguins and all the other critters have changed the importance of content vs links that much. Instead it seems that fresh quality content and quality links on newly published pages are becoming more and more important by each update while content scraping websites, and autoblogs as well as spamlinks, that is links from blog comments, spammed article directories, forum profiles and even blogrolls, are losing value.

As search engines can only get better and better as they always have and always will, the recent developments should not come by surprise.

quality > quantity = a long term SEO plan

 

[bingofind]

Hi,

This is a very broad question, but the simple answer here is that you need both, if you are looking to use Google to drive traffic to your website. Backlinks is one thing, content is another thing. You need to have links from high quality sites, within your niche and outside your niche, in order to rank high for your keywords. On the other hand, you also need to update your website with fresh content. It helps with getting repeat visitors and it helps with Google as well.

 

[AidanLCFC]

you need both, both come hand in hand

 

[PioneerRalph]

thanks both for you advice, much appreciated

 

[Tyrkir]

You need some content so that you can build links to something, but the "content is king" thing is hyped up IMO.
You don't need to have perfect articles, but you absolutely do need quality links, so my advice is to concentrate on quality links for SEO.

 

[PioneerRalph]

any suggestions on link building? i take it directories aren't great? i heard that relevance is key nowadays

 

[AidanLCFC]

whatever you do don't spam, keep it relevant and keep it natural

 

[Simmo!]

You need some content so that you can build links to something, but the "content is king" thing is hyped up IMO.

I don't think it is hyped up so much as just misunderstood. Most people think "content is King" means you need a certain quantity of content on a page whereas it's authoratative content that's the key.

As an example:

Casino XYZ is a Playtech casino with over 200 games and offers new players a signup bonus of $200. The games are graphically superb and the lobby offers a wide range that will suit any casino player including slots, roulette and blackjack. (POOR CONTENT)
Casino XYZ doesn't request ID before £3,000 of cashouts are requested (GOOD CONTENT)

Why? For several reasons that are probably obvious but primarily because 100+ websites spin the first one but only a handful (or less) of websites tell you the second. It also of course tells the player you have done your research, with the added advantage that Google, Bing etc are ultimately looking to present the user with authoratative resources (long term) so boilerplate content supported by linking strategies have a limited lifespan IMO.

I agree that links are still important but only certain types of link and in some situations you don't need many - if any - links. Plus they are getting les important as the algorithms get better at establishing authoritative signals from on-page content and user behaviour. So it depends how close you are to the 1st or 2nd examples above in my opinion.

Good luck in this niche though Ralph. It can be great fun too

Cheers

Simmo!

 

[WCD Admin]

You need good converting content. Traffic is nearly worthless usually if you don't have your audience's attention. Quality first, then good related links will come naturally. People will want to get on your site. If you have poorly written content getting good links is harder. (imho)

 

[PioneerRalph]

Thanks very much for your advice guys.....it's much appreciated

 

[Tyrkir]

Casino XYZ is a Playtech casino with over 200 games and offers new players a signup bonus of $200. The games are graphically superb and the lobby offers a wide range that will suit any casino player including slots, roulette and blackjack. (POOR CONTENT)
Casino XYZ doesn't request ID before £3,000 of cashouts are requested (GOOD CONTENT)

My content is clearly of the first type (just like 90% of all sites), and I don't see myself ever being able to produce a site full of type#2 content. So I guess only link building is left for me

 

[Guard Dog]

My content is clearly of the first type (just like 90% of all sites), and I don't see myself ever being able to produce a site full of type#2 content. So I guess only link building is left for me

Not true. Content is content. Everyone has their own concept of such. Players also don't want to read a BOOK when they look at your site, so while it might be good for Google - it isn't *great* for conversions. Try to have a happy medium and create content you think the player would want to see. In the meantime, yes, link building helps.

BTW - did you put your website into our system yet? Nope... That is a high quality link. It is also very SEO-beneficial if you do it right. Click 'My Websites' in your LINKS panel at the top of the homepage. (lower left side of the AGD panels in the header)

 

[PioneerRalph]

Thanks Guard Dog, have now added my websites to that section!

 

[cassaon888]

With Google's latest Penguin and Panda updates everything seems to gravitate around quality content. We're busy cleaning up our site and removed all the bad links. I believe if you focus on well-written quality content it will stand you in good stead in the long run.

 

[Tyrkir]

BTW - did you put your website into our system yet? Nope... That is a high quality link. It is also very SEO-beneficial if you do it right. Click 'My Websites' in your LINKS panel at the top of the homepage. (lower left side of the AGD panels in the header)

Thanks for the tip! Will add it soon.
A serious system once again

 

[DealTheNuts]

Quality content always drives everything else; visitors want to read it and return for more, resulting in increased traffic, other websites wish to link with you, spreading the name and as traffic grows, conversions follow.

The structure of the website will always help the process, by making access easier and more appealing, but if there is nothing to see behind the perfect design and attractive home page, visitors will not return and conversions will suffer in the long term. However if the home page is so bad it drives people away, they never see the quality content and that is obviously not a outcome for short or long term success.

Therefore it is a combination of quality content behind a home page that is appealing to visitors and a website structure that is very easy to navigate that brings conversions and long term success.

Google can keep changing the approach to crawling websites, but if you focus on the above combination you will never go too far off the correct path.

 

[sasa]

Content is very important and when you write an article split it in phrases and paste every phrase to google search to check are there similiar blocks of text allready indexed by SE. Also try to build links very slow and pay attention on diversity of anchor text.

 

[Roulette Zeitung]

pay attention on diversity of anchor text.

That's the key, i think. Keywords mixed with whole sentences and non keywords anchor text like "here", "click here", "website" and links withour anchor text! Only the url.

Leopold