If it sounds spammy, it's probably not a good long term strategy. This probably should be common sense, but many people do things because the crowd, herd or their friends are doing it. Not because there's logic behind actually doing it..
And then they wonder why at first they do really, really well with the strategy and then they fall out of the SERPs. Their rankings go into the toilet.
Let's analyze this a bit more.
I have many sites that have delivered solid, consistent, targeted, action taking, traffic for years.
What didn't I do?
Focus on Non-Value Techniques
I avoided things that didn't add value to the web in general. For example:
- I didn't spam forum profiles; just building them to add one of my links.
- I didn't spam blogs with pointless, no added value, comments to get links back to my site..
- I didn't go out of my way to find and join linking schemes..
- I didn't join linking communities or buy links in general.
Or anything else that didn't add value to the web.
What did I do?
Automation and Outsourcing
I did use automation tools. Just tools that speed up what I was already doing; normal stuff.. submitting to directories of different kinds.
I have outsourced a ton of work. Again, just speeding up what I was already doing. For example, I have used Article Submission services and such.
A good rule of thumb, I think, is if you do something that you would normally do yourself, but you are getting someone or something else to do it for you faster, that's not a bad thing. If you think about it, that's how the world was built right? People innovated and kept doing things better and faster.
Most of you don't walk down to the river to fetch water; it comes out of your tap. Better.. faster..
Most of us don't wash our clothes in a sink like they did in the old days and then hang them out to dry. We use an automatic washer and dryer. Better (debatable).. but certainly faster!
Companies use other companies to do the market research for them.. online many of us use software.
If you are using software or outsourcing to a company that can do a service for you, then that's better... faster..
Everything in Moderation
I have never built thousands of links in a day for example. Instead my focus is a consistent and steady effort over months and years. Don't rush it.. be natural about it.
Quality, Quality, Quality
Take pride in your work and your business. Don't throw crap up. Create a Quality experience for your visitors, create Quality content and seek out Quality relationships and traffic in your market.
There is no substitute if you want a more stable, long term business online.
Don't Fall into the Speed Trap
Speed and getting there faster doesn't necessarily equal a good, long term, safe, thing to do. Do you get swept away by a new fangled technique or strategy? Of course, many of you do. Because they are sold well.
But be cautious.. again, if it sounds spammy, it probably is.
In the end, from my experience, I've never needed more than doing the traditional methods - just better and faster. ;)
-Matt Levenhagen
Search Engine Optimization - Link Building
