Business Management Consultant - Stuntdubl Search and Marketing Consulting

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In seven plus years working as a seo consultant, I’ve learned that there’s only a few things that separate good consultants and agencies from great ones. One of the most important elements to greatness is being able to set realistic expectations and achieve them for satisfied customers over the longterm. In a marketplace that represents markets that are shifting like quicksand with a gaggle of dynamic inter-connected variables to search ranking, this becomes nearly mission impossible. One of the most unique skills that I’ve come to realize great SEO folks possess is the ability to analyze a link profile and set these realistic expectations for long term rankings based on a nearly psychic level of analyzing backlink profiles. Everyone has a unique toolset to get the job done, but disseminating the information into an actionable plan and commissioning resources within budgetary confines to make the project feasible are the most important aspects to this unique skillset of conducting search engine optimization at a high level.

Link development is tough. Not everyone can create amazing linkbait, as easy as the experts make it sound. It’s not an easy proposition to get people to link to your website if you’re a local realtor, mortgage broker, or holistic doctor for that matter. It is POSSIBLE though with the right approach to actually solicit and develop links that will help your search engine rankings. From LOTS of trial and error, here’s the process I’ve developed for training link developers to become true link ninjas that will hunt and pursue links that actually make a site rank high for targeted terms.

The fine folks over at Text Link Ads, have out done themselves again offering new services from both ReviewMe, and the mothership. ReviewMe now offers a service that gives more control to the advertiser while still giving the blogger 100% control over what review offers they accept. TLA is now offering post level text link ads, which should be a very nice addition as well. These are a fine addition to the SEO arsenal - just don’t blow your feet off;)

I like to buy links. In fact, I love to buy links. As powerful and relevant as possible. The more they are such, the more they will help search engine rankings. Search engine rankings help sales. I love to buy sales even more than I like to buy links. I love to scale this process too. I am a capitalist. Capitalist theory may have it’s downfalls, but overall it has served our country pretty well. I think a case could be made for just about any link on the web being purchased in one way or another. You can read my thoughts on not being a link communist here.

Rae had a great idea for a “round robin” of link development questions to a great bunch that does quite a bit of it. I’m still reading through it all, since no one got to see one another’s answer’s until it was posted.Eric Ward, of URL Wire, Rand Fishkin - The wizard of Moz, Roger Montti, the VP of Verticals at the world’s coolest directory - Best of the web, and of course Rae Hoffman of Sugarrae and SEO Class. I tried to find favorite parts, but seemed to enjoy most all of the 6600 words of it, and would be a disservice if you didn’t read the entire article anyhow.

If you can’t figure things out with Andy’s guide to linkbaiting, then you’re probably not gonna catch on. Notice it is not a guide - it is an ULTIMATE guide. The only thing I would argue in the article is that his link baiting service is probably 2nd best. Just to be fair - check out Brian P’s linkbaiters vs. linkninjas post too.

Linkbaiting is all about the bait. In the same way that you can’t catch a giant tuna with a bag of doritos - you’re not going to get the attention of important bloggers, journalists, or other folks with some garbage content or news. Do YOU really like reading press releases anymore? Wouldn’t you rather spend that time reading something fun, entertaining, insightful, interesting, or informational? Let’s take a look at the different hooks available to linkbaiters (or viral marketer’s if you prefer that school of thought), and hope that you can find an angle to approach link acquisition for YOUR business.