What do search engine marketers think about reciprocal links?

There are three main factions:

• Group 1: reciprocal links have no effect at all on the position of a website in the search results on Google.
• Group 2: reciprocal links work just like any other inbound links.
• Group 3: there’s a threshold value. For example, you shouldn’t have more than 33% reciprocal inbound links.

Which group is right and should you use reciprocal links with your website or not?

Is there a threshold value for reciprocal links?

Webmasters in group 3 think that a high number of reciprocal links is a red flag for search engines. The idea behind this is that links should not be trusted if (for example) 100% of a site’s inbound links are reciprocal.

However, this is not really a good indicator. If high quality websites do link to each other, they won’t harm their rankings in any way.

For some sites, it is normal to have a high reciprocity percentage

Link building expert Eric Ward recently did a test. He found out that there are websites for which it is perfectly normal that they have almost 100% reciprocal links.

The more specific the topic of a website is, the more likely it is that it will have a high reciprocity percentage. As an example, Eric Ward used the website of “The Southeastern Bat Diversity Network”, an organization with a goal to “conserve bats and their habitats in southeastern North America through collaborative research, education, and management.”

The top sites in that subject are all linked back and forth to all other websites that write about bats. This is not surprising and it shows that a high number of reciprocal links can also be a sign of high quality. It depends on the topic of the website.

If the websites were about different topics, then the reciprocal links would look suspicious.

Should you use reciprocal links for your website or not?

You don’t have to worry if a link is a reciprocal link or not. That does not matter. Reciprocal links are neither good nor bad. They are just links and it always depends on the individual link whether it is a good link or a bad link.

If a link comes from a website that is related to your website then it is a good link. If the other website is related to yours then you can link back and this won’t cause any problems. As long as you make sure that the links make sense to your website visitors then everything is okay.

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While it is relatively easy to optimize the content of a website, it is more difficult to get good inbound links. A relatively easy way to get inbound links is to submit websites to Internet directories.

But do these Internet directory links still have value when it comes to search engine rankings? Can you increase the position of your website in Google’s search results by submitting your site to Internet directories?

A case study

An internet marketer tested three pages that were orphaned within the normal navigation structure of the website. These three pages were created to provide valuable content to search engines.

The three pages were submitted to some high quality paid directories (Yahoo, BestOfTheWeb, Joe Ant) and free directories.

About 45 days after the paid directory links went live, the web pages had increased visibility on search engines. Visits and conversions also increased and the tracking of the marketer indicated that at least 50 percent of the results could be attributed to the directory links.

The final results that were attributed to the directory link building included:

• a lift of traffic to levels that other highly visible site pages receive within 90 days
• an increase in monthly conversions for the business line of 45 percent year-over-year

What does this mean for your website?

Getting links from Internet directories should be a fundamental part of any search engine optimization strategy. You should submit your website to all big Internet directories and to Internet directories that cover your niche.

Links from Internet directories are only one way to get links from other sites. If you want to outperform your competitors, you also need links from websites that are related to yours. Links from blogs will also help.

Don’t forget to optimize your website content before building links. The better your website content has been prepared for search engines, the better the links to your website will work.

If you need help with getting directory links and/or optimizing your website content check out the Search Engine Optimization Packages we offer. Our most popular SEO package is our Gold Promotion Plan, incorporates optimizing your website and submitting it to over 1,000 search engines and directories.

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This month is all about promoting and you can’t talk about promoting your business without including the internet. Is promoting online that much different than our traditional advertising? Yes and no. Let me explain — the web offers ways of telling your story, your advertising and promotions in multiple formats. You can easily record a video or audio explaining the promotion. That’s not difficult or expensive today and you don’t have to buy an expensive camera either. Actually almost any digital camera works. I compiled a list of the 7 Rules to Online Promotions. Many of these points will apply to offline advertising as well.

1. Know the Visitor’s Mindset:
The following are questions that customers ask themselves online. They ask similar questions offline, but they are not as pronounced. This is because online we are exposed to new businesses in seconds and make decisions much quicker than offline.

a. Why are they there?

b. What do they want?

c. Does it make sense?

d. Does it look easy?

e. Do you trust them?

2. Above the Fold:
This is just like in a newspaper. When you do any promotion you want to make sure the reader doesn’t have to scroll down the page because if they do, you will probably lose them.

3. The Offer:
Is your offer clear and understandable, short and simple to use?  We can’t confuse the customer because if you do, you have lost them. Here is an example: a Coupon for $5.00 without restrictions is understandable, where $5.00 on a $50 purchase and a list all of the restrictions can be confusing. The customer wants it their way and too many restrictions create the wrong image for your store.

4. The Blink Test:
Customers rarely read copy. Customers skim pages. Customers read headlines. Look at your offer as the customer looks at the offer with a “blink of an eye.” There is no time for week headlines and copy.

5. Going Naked:
This means there is no way off of a webpage. There are no links. The only way out is to use the back button on the reader’s computer. This eliminates all distractions. It’s as if you have reached a dead end and you have to make a decision

6. Graphics Matter:
Pictures, Icons, & even Charts work well but offline they are expensive. It is inexpensive online. We always knew that color was important and helps to sell and it is easy and inexpensive to use online.

7. Alignment with Your Brand:
It is critically important that your website represents the same look and image of your store. You can’t represent one thing in the store and another on your website. Yes, if you are just an online merchant, that’s one thing but for the rest of us who are multi channeled retailers, we must make the look and feel be the same.

This is just a small taste of this new world of promotion. Next week we are going to start my look at Social Marketing and what it means to you.

Keep your minds open and start to embrace the change, because it will benefit the smaller and independent business owner. We will start to demystifying Facebook and what it should mean to you. If there are any Successful Facebook users, please email me. I want the success stories to shares. Write to us online and let’s share your experiences.

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The following updates area available immediately, installable via the HU Toolbox located in your account’s cPanel:

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Not sure about accessing your account’s cPanel?

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HostUtopia’s NEW Affiliate Program pays a recurring 10% Commission on all referrals for the life of the account. It’s easy to get started, easy to make referrals and even easier to make money.

And it gets better!! We go a step further by providing a second tier. If any of your referrals sign up for our hosting affiliate program and refer people, you will earn an additional 5% for every one of their referrals!

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Our affiliate system has an easy to navigate interface and is full of features! Features include more in-depth statistics, html link code automation, banners and text links, build your own links, easy account information access and commission overview pages.

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Unlike other blog hosts, WordPress gives you the ability to create a blog that is tailored to your own tastes and needs. Sure, the codes, tags, and terminology can seem a little intimidating at first, but WordPress for Dummies breaks it all down to show you just how intuitive, friendly, and extensible the software really is. This easy-to-follow guide shows you how to:

• Find great themes and plugins that will help you achieve JUST the kind of blog you want
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Whether you want to create a dynamite website, keep family and friends updated on your latest adventures, post pictures of your new puppy, or communicate your passion with millions of readers worldwide, WordPress for Dummies is your passport to creating the kind of site that will keep your visitors coming back for more!

Click here for more information on WordPress for Dummies

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How to get  a Geo Listing on Google Maps like this one:

Step 1:

You will first need to login to your Google Account. If you don’t have one you can create one here: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

Step 2:

Once you have logged in be sure to click on My Account at the top right of the page to be sure you are at your account homepage.

Step 3:

Under My Products you will see: Local Business Center 

If it does not appear, click Edit next to My Products and add it.

Step 4:

Complete the form. Important Tip: If you want your listing to show fast be sure to use a phone number in your listing that you are at, Google will use that phone number to verify your listing. Otherwise they will snail mail you a postcard in 2-3 weeks with a verification code on it. will use the number to verify your listing. Otherwise they will mail you a postcard in 2-3 weeks with a verification code on it.

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This is the highest payout of any Web Hosting Affiliate Program!

Exclusive for HostUtopia Customers

Sign up for our affiliate program and start earning a 10% commission from HostUtopia!

And it gets better!! We go a step further by providing a second tier. If any of your referrals sign up for our hosting affiliate program and refer people, you will earn an additional 5% for every one of their referrals! With cookies lasting 365 days this can be very easy.

Signing up is FREE and EASY!

Our affiliate system has an easy to navigate interface and is full of features! Features include more in-depth statistics, html link code automation, banner sand text links, build your own links, easy account information access and commission overview pages. We also provide you with a variety of graphical banners to put on your site to promote your affiliate link.

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED!

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Welcome to our NEW Newsletter Layout. This newsletter is now being sent out via MailPress, one of our favorite WordPress Plugins.

Okay, you want to switch away from the default WordPress theme look, but have no idea how to do it? Here’s a tutorial, complete with screenshots so even a beginner can easily follow along allowing just about anyone to have a new blog theme ready in no time.

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