Sunday, June 19, 2005

Lesson #11 - Where do visitors come from? Links.

In Lesson #4 we talked about resonance as being one way that visitors use to find their way to your site. Resonance expresses itself in a number of different ways. For example, people might talk about your site while "standing around the water cooler" at work. They might email your site to several friends. If someone likes your site and they have a website of their own, they may also link to your site.

Links are a powerful force in the Web world for two important reasons:
  1. You can get direct traffic from a link. This is especially true if the site that links to you has a lot of traffic.

  2. A link is a signal to search engines that you have built a valuable site. A site that has a large number of inbound links is generally considered, by most search engines, to be "more valuable" or "more important" than other sites on the same topic that have fewer links*.
For these two reasons, it is helpful for you to track incoming links. You track them so that you can see whether or not the number is growing, and you track them to see why people are linking to you. If you understand why they are linking, you may be able to accentuate that part of your site.

I set up the WebKEW site in a way that would make it particularly easy to track links. First of all, I invented a word ("WebKEW") that was completely unique in Google. Prior to creating this site, the word "WebKEW" brought up zero results in Google. Second, on all pages where I, personally, have linked to WebKEW, I have not used the word WebKEW. (e.g. if you go to MarshallBrain.com, you will find that the page does not use the word WebKEW. Instead, it says, "Making money with Web sites" when it links to WebKEW.)

What this means is that you can go to Google, type in the word "WebKEW" and get a very easy read on how many people are linking to this site. Let me give you an example of how this works.

If you had gone to Google on April 15, 2005 and typed in the word "WebKEW" as the search term, Google would have told you that the word did not exist. By April 19, the first link to WebKEW showed up:


[Click for larger image]

This shows that my profile page on Blogger contained the first link to WebKEW that Google found. Once Google finds one link like this, it is able to start spidering the site, and you are on your way to getting indexed by Google.

Two days later, on April 21, Google had actually indexed the home page of WebKEW:


[Click for larger image]

Now here we are exactly two months later, on June 19, 2005. At this point, there are 383 pages in Google that use the word WebKEW:


[Click for larger image]

42 of those pages are the actual WebKEW pages themselves. That is a good thing -- it shows that Google has indexed the site. The other 341 pages are all pages on the Web that have used the word WebKEW somewhere in the text of the Web site.

If you create a site, build it to a reasonable size, and three months later there are only one or two inbound links to your site from other sites, then that tells you something. The lack of links is an indicator. In general, what a lack of links means in that the site is not resonating. Either you need to fix the resonance problem, or you will have to drive traffic to the site through some means like advertising. Advertising may be OK is your site is a business brochure site or a retail site, but is probably not OK if you have created a content site.

If you have created a content site and the number of inbound links is low, you may want to:
  • rethink the way the site is designed
  • rethink the kinds of things you are talking about in the site
  • rethink the way you are speaking.
If you have created a content site and no one is linking to it, that generally means that no one is reading your site either.

You can see the process of link resonance at work in this lesson: Tracking the word Googlezon. Like "WebKEW", the word "Googlezon" is an invented word. That makes it easy to track. On May 17, 2005, the word Googlezon appeared in Google 17,400 times. Today it appears in Google 21,800 times. That is really good resonance, fueled in part by the fact that the "mainstream media" is reporting on the topic. That kind of coverage, generally, is the gold standard of resonance.

In some cases, links can create a chicken-and-egg problem. If there are no links coming into your site, you will usually have very few readers. If no one reads your site, then obviously they will not link to you. If you feel you are in this kind of negative feedback loop, there are steps you can take to try to break the logjam. Here are five possibilities:
  1. Large sites like Fark and Slashdot actively solicit submissions. Submit your best, most interesting pages to sites like these. Or, find sites like these in subject areas related to your web site.

  2. Another possibility is Digg.com. You can do your own submissions here. Spend at least two weeks playing with this site so that you understand how it works before you submit your site. Try submitting other articles, try digging a number of articles, watch the home page to see what is resonating, etc. Then submit something from your site. If it makes it onto the Digg home page, that tells you something. If people completely ignore your submission, that tells you something else.

  3. Fark and Slashdot also have forums. Submit comments to the forums, and include your site in your signature.

  4. When reading other blogs and web sites that offer comments, submit comments and make sure a link your site is in the signature. You might also link specifically to pages in your site if they are relevant.

  5. Get into DMOZ
In this way, you will build up links to your site, making it easier for search engines to find and spider your site.

Let's say that you try all of these different things over the course of several months. If people are not linking to your site and you have no traffic coming in thru search engines (we will discuss this in Lesson 14), then that is probably your signal to try a new idea. Unless, of course, you are writing strictly for your own enjoyment. In that case, you can write happily for years...

[* - The "quality" of the sites that link to your site also plays a role in the ranking you get in search engines. If you only have one or two inbound links, but they are coming from very large, well-know, popular sites with lots of links themselves, that fact will usually be more important to search engines than 20 links from 20 little sites that no one has ever heard of.]

26 Comments:

At 7:10 PM, Blogger Marshall Brain said...

This is true, but there tends to be tremendous lag. For some reason, it can take months for the data that supports this query to catch up with reality. Compare the query "WebKEW" in Google with "link:webkew.blogspot.com" and you will see what I mean.

 
At 12:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It also only shows pages with PR 4 or over in the backlinks.. at least, this used to be the case, I haven't checked lately.

 
At 10:32 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It should be mentioned that if you have a small site and slashdot links to you your server will melt.

 
At 11:30 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Marshall, I love your web site and articles, not only the content but also the style of your writing. They are informative and inspiring. Great work!

 
At 11:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You missed a "p" on the "http" pointing to www.digg.com

 
At 5:29 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I type link:foodasmedicine.blogspot.com into Alexa and got this, nearly all which have no link to the site:
4,853 linked to foodasmedicine.blogspot.com:

I did the same in google and got only 18 links.

Natural Remedies

 
At 10:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i searched google they dont even know my site exists. since your site is you there, may i put a link heree to see if it works :

www.blogrenee.com
http://blogrenee.com

 
At 1:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

my site Chester Stuff has been runnig for a couple of moths now, and I am getting only about 300 visits a month and dont really know hot get more to be fair.

 
At 5:32 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Honestly, it is hard to get people to link to your site when you are just starting up. But keep at it and eventually, you can even get to the point of people paying you to link to their site.

The Dollar Factory

 
At 4:36 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your link for "Get into DMOZ" wasn't relevant. I am really enjoying your course and finding it very helpful. Currently working on a discussion forum site for Americans retiring abroad, www.RetireAway.com

 
At 2:02 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the interesting part about links is there are many other ways to obtain free ones than you think.
Cracks me up how people can get rich if they think outside the box.
http://portw204.1free.hop.clickbank.net

 
At 2:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Find your friend finder here and Earn urself a dollar________ free online chatting,friend finder

Looking for a Real Work At Home Job?
Get paid For Completed Work..
earn an unlimited $$$$ money by online home job and Click the link below and Start making Money by online.
http://www.max-online.biz/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=1292

 
At 2:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Easy Software for NGO and INGO
FAMAS is an integrated and comprehensive financial and managment acounting system complies with each financial and managment accounting stander for NGo and INGO .
Fillup the below information for further inquarry.
Contact Name :
Organization Name:
E-mail Address :
Phone no:
Call us for Demostration
:Call : 2390177 / 9841206820
Check it out
http://www.max-online.biz/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=1292

 
At 5:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

would posting a link to sun city on this site increase traffic? How long will it take before the Google "link:" trick finds this post?

 
At 8:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

mortgage refinancing
refinance
home mortgage refinance
refinance loan
auto refinance
refinance mortgage loan
bad credit refinance
refinance rate
home mortgage refinance loan
refinance mortgage rate
california refinance
bad credit mortgage refinance
texas mortgage refinance
refinance second mortgage
florida refinance mortgage
mortgage refinance california
home refinance rate
refinance mortgage interest rate
in refinance
florida refinance
refinance home mortgage rate
business refinance
home loan mortgage refinance loan
auto loan refinance
interest only refinance
refinance interest rate
no closing cost refinance
michigan mortgage refinance
lowest refinance rate
california mortgage refinance loan
refinance house
florida home refinance
refinance home mortgage interest rate
refinance student loan
california refinance home mortgage
bad credit refinance loan
refinance home mortgage home equity loan
refinance san diego
va refinance
refinance 2nd mortgage
mortgage refinance online
refinance comparison
va loan refinance
best refinance mortgage rate
california refinance loan
low refinance rate
poor credit refinance
florida refinance mortgage rate
debt consolidation refinance
cash out refinance
refinance loan rate
home equity mortgage refinance loan
ohio mortgage refinance
refinance after bankruptcy
best refinance mortgage
california mortgage rate refinance
home refinance bad credit
life refinance suv
refinance bankruptcy
houston refinance
mortgage loan refinance florida
california home loan refinance
refinance home equity
bad credit home loan refinance
refinance mortgage new jersey
mortgage refinance lowest rate
refinance mobile home
no credit refinance small business loan
refinance mortgage application
refinance jacksonville
current mortgage refinance rate
miami refinance
mortgage refinance calculator
loan mortgage rate refinance
va home loan refinance
michigan refinance
no cost refinance
mortgage refinance company
mortgage loan refinance and debt consolidation
auto lease refinance
home refinance california
refinance mortgage quote
refinance quote
refinance orlando
small business refinance
refinance company
michigan refinance mortgage loan
norfolk refinance
foreclosure refinance
refinance lender
new york refinance
home loan refinance rate
refinance honolulu
best refinance
business debt refinance
countrywide home loan refinance
refinance dallas
best refinance rate
free quote on refinance
mortgage refinance information

 
At 9:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

mortgage refinancing
refinance
home mortgage refinance
refinance loan
auto refinance
refinance mortgage loan
bad credit refinance
refinance rate
home mortgage refinance loan
refinance mortgage rate
california refinance
bad credit mortgage refinance
texas mortgage refinance
refinance second mortgage
florida refinance mortgage
mortgage refinance california
home refinance rate
refinance mortgage interest rate
in refinance
florida refinance
refinance home mortgage rate
business refinance
home loan mortgage refinance loan
auto loan refinance
interest only refinance
refinance interest rate
no closing cost refinance
michigan mortgage refinance
lowest refinance rate
california mortgage refinance loan
refinance house
florida home refinance
refinance home mortgage interest rate
refinance student loan
california refinance home mortgage
bad credit refinance loan
refinance home mortgage home equity loan
refinance san diego
va refinance
refinance 2nd mortgage
mortgage refinance online
refinance comparison
va loan refinance
best refinance mortgage rate
california refinance loan
low refinance rate
poor credit refinance
florida refinance mortgage rate
debt consolidation refinance
cash out refinance
refinance loan rate
home equity mortgage refinance loan
ohio mortgage refinance
refinance after bankruptcy
best refinance mortgage
california mortgage rate refinance
home refinance bad credit
life refinance suv
refinance bankruptcy
houston refinance
mortgage loan refinance florida
california home loan refinance
refinance home equity
bad credit home loan refinance
refinance mortgage new jersey
mortgage refinance lowest rate
refinance mobile home
no credit refinance small business loan
refinance mortgage application
refinance jacksonville
current mortgage refinance rate
miami refinance
mortgage refinance calculator
loan mortgage rate refinance
va home loan refinance
michigan refinance
no cost refinance
mortgage refinance company
mortgage loan refinance and debt consolidation
auto lease refinance
home refinance california
refinance mortgage quote
refinance quote
refinance orlando
small business refinance
refinance company
michigan refinance mortgage loan
norfolk refinance
foreclosure refinance
refinance lender
new york refinance
home loan refinance rate
refinance honolulu
best refinance
business debt refinance
countrywide home loan refinance
refinance dallas
best refinance rate
free quote on refinance
mortgage refinance information

 
At 9:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

vnmortgage refinancing
refinance
home mortgage refinance
refinance loan
auto refinance
refinance mortgage loan
bad credit refinance
refinance rate
home mortgage refinance loan
refinance mortgage rate
california refinance
bad credit mortgage refinance
texas mortgage refinance
refinance second mortgage
florida refinance mortgage
mortgage refinance california
home refinance rate
refinance mortgage interest rate
in refinance
florida refinance
refinance home mortgage rate
business refinance
home loan mortgage refinance loan
auto loan refinance
interest only refinance
refinance interest rate
no closing cost refinance
michigan mortgage refinance
lowest refinance rate
california mortgage refinance loan
refinance house
florida home refinance
refinance home mortgage interest rate
refinance student loan
california refinance home mortgage
bad credit refinance loan
refinance home mortgage home equity loan
refinance san diego
va refinance
refinance 2nd mortgage
mortgage refinance online
refinance comparison
va loan refinance
best refinance mortgage rate
california refinance loan
low refinance rate
poor credit refinance
florida refinance mortgage rate
debt consolidation refinance
cash out refinance
refinance loan rate
home equity mortgage refinance loan
ohio mortgage refinance
refinance after bankruptcy
best refinance mortgage
california mortgage rate refinance
home refinance bad credit
life refinance suv
refinance bankruptcy
houston refinance
mortgage loan refinance florida
california home loan refinance
refinance home equity
bad credit home loan refinance
refinance mortgage new jersey
mortgage refinance lowest rate
refinance mobile home
no credit refinance small business loan
refinance mortgage application
refinance jacksonville
current mortgage refinance rate
miami refinance
mortgage refinance calculator
loan mortgage rate refinance
va home loan refinance
michigan refinance
no cost refinance
mortgage refinance company
mortgage loan refinance and debt consolidation
auto lease refinance
home refinance california
refinance mortgage quote
refinance quote
refinance orlando
small business refinance
refinance company
michigan refinance mortgage loan
norfolk refinance
foreclosure refinance
refinance lender
new york refinance
home loan refinance rate
refinance honolulu
best refinance
business debt refinance
countrywide home loan refinance
refinance dallas
best refinance rate
free quote on refinance
mortgage refinance information

 
At 6:38 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Telfast pharmacy
drugs Sirdalud
Regenon
drugs Zaldiarpharmacy
Glucobay pharmacy

 
At 1:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello!
My comment is for those who have posted here regarding ED.

The three ED medications currently available in the market i.e. the Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis are all the same in terms of working and side effects. The most common side effects are headaches and facial flushing, which occur in 15% of men. http://www.viagrathunder.com

 
At 2:30 PM, Anonymous Cialis Soft said...

hello friend excellent blog about Lesson #11 - Where do visitors come from? Links. !!!1 thanks for sharing I'm agree with this information

 
At 4:52 AM, Blogger Tripati said...

please inform elaborately how to increase the traffic and link analysys.

 
At 11:47 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

let's see if this link will get me in any search engines. Here is a list of Cool Products.

 
At 11:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

okay that last link was wrong, try this one Lots of different stuff!.

 
At 9:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.gaskysuitesph.com/

 
At 9:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.gaskysuitesph.com/

 
At 9:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

GA Sky Suites

 

Post a Comment

<< Home