Q&A: A Few Things You Need to Know About Links

by Stoney deGeyter

Because of persistent manipulation of on-page "optimization" search engines had to look to other ways of measuring site quality. Enter link algorithms. But links can be manipulated too so it became not just a battle of numbers but a battle of quality. Quality is much more difficult to achieve and requires a lot more work. Some of the best link building strategies you can employ are those involved in building quality content and improving your site for your visitors. These things alone can do wonders in getting people to link to you.

Below are some questions and statements presented to me regarding links. I have provided my thoughts and input that will hopefully give you additional input or confirmation of what you already believed to be correct.

The number of links to a page is important in determining search ranking.

The number of links is a factor, but certainly not the only, or even the most important factor. The PageRank algorithm was essentially built for calculating the number of links to a page and included measurements for valuing links based on the value of the site (as determined by the number of incoming links) doing the linking. But once that started being manipulated other factors had to come into play as well.

It's easy to go out and spam-generate thousands of links, but those are worthless to the visitor and are not a reflection of the quality of the site. So Google and other engines had to start putting quality metrics into the link algorithms to ensure that the quality of the link was more important than just a basic link count.

Links from authoritative sites are the best.

Yes. If you can secure a link from an "authoritative" site, that'll work more in your favor than a link from any other average site. But the location of the link, what page it is on, how it's used are also a factor. If you get a link from an authority site on a page that is deemed to be of little or no value that won't play much in your favor. If you get a site-wide footer link, or advertising link, those can be devalued completely by the search engines. If you get a textual link on a page that gets good traffic and the page itself has a good amount of incoming links, then you have a very valuable link pointing to your site.

Links form sites that are relevant to your site topic are better than irrelevant links.

This is absolutely right. If you can get an on-topic link from an on-topic sight or blog post this will provide much more value than a link that is on a completely irrelevant site. Links from unrelated sites generally won't serve much purpose to the site's visitors nor will they generate much traffic. You're always better off getting links from places where the link will generate traffic.

Anchor text should have your keywords in them.

Yes, but don't go out and get hundreds or thousands of links that all have the same anchor text. That's simply not natural. If you have control over the link text then mix it up a bit. You can say "red trucks," "trucks come in red," "red and yellow trucks," etc. If you were to get 100 links from 100 different sites via natural means, what are the odds that all of those links would read exactly the same?

Links on a page with many outgoing links are rated lower than links on a page with few.

The value of each link on a page diminishes based on the number of other outgoing links on that page. For the sake of simplicity, lets say that a page has a total of 100 points of link value it can pass. If there is one link on that page then all 100 points are transferred to the page its linking to. If two links are on the page then each link passes 50 points. If a page has 100 links, each link passes one point.

Links from older pages are better than links form new pages. (Does older mean the amount of time the page has been hosted or indexed?)

I'm not sure how much the age of the page has to do with the value of the link. It seems that in standard page content brand new links have to age (like wine) in order to reach full maturity in value. However, the opposite seems to be true with blog posts, where links in new blog posts seem to have much more value than older blog posts.

But what also factors in is the value of the page based on historical trends. If the linking page's value increases over time because people keep linking to it then that will increase the value of all links pointing off the page. However if that page remains stagnant with no new incoming links and relatively no traffic then the value of the link juice being passes will probably not improve.

The age of a page would start from the time the search engines found the page, not when it was first hosted.

Reciprocal links are ranked slightly lower than one way links.

Define a reciprocal link. Many sites (usually blogs) link back and forth not out of some quid pro quo but because of the value of the content being posted. Does this make these links reciprocal? Why would a search engine devalue those links just because they have linked to each other naturally like that?

On the other hand if you are building reciprocal link pages then yes, those will be devalued. Mostly because those pages provide little value to the visitors anyway and if the search engines can spot them they will take that into account.

Does it hurt or help my page to have outgoing links? Does it matter what those links are to?

Who you link to has a profound impact on your site. If you link to other sites of authority then you are telling the search engines that you know where the valuable content is related to your industry, and you want to provide your visitors access to that content. You're essentially associating yourself with that site.

That can also work against you. If you link to garbage sites, you're associating yourself with garbage. That will serve to decrease your site's value, especially if you continue to hold and/or build those junk associations.

Is any link better than no link? What about a link from a low ranking page whose topic is not relevant to mine and who liked to my page with bad anchor text? Is it better to not have it at all? Does it depend on anchor text? For example if it was a link from a low ranking irrelevant page but had good anchor text would that make the difference between it being worth having or not?

In some cases I would say that you're better off with no link. As much as you want to be careful about the sites you associate yourself with through linking, you also don't want to be associated with junk sites by them linking to you. In most circumstances, those sites linking to you will not hurt you. But if you are reciprocating then it most certainly will. If you have an opportunity to get a non-relevant link on a non-relevant page in a non-relevant site with very low rankings and bad anchor text, I'd pass. The time it takes to say "please link to me" is costing you ROI. Now if you get that link through no effort of your own, then just don't worry about it.

Is it ever worth having a link with bad anchor text?

Any link will pass value . The anchor text uses is an added bonus that will let the search engines see what people are saying about your site. If you get a thousand links that say "your site sucks" you just gained 1000 links that will in all likelihood work in your favor. At least in terms of the value measured by the search engines. They'll work against you with the visitors.

All links are not created equal. Some can work against you (bad outgoing links) and others will work for you a little or a lot. You can't always control what happens outside of your site or manage who links to you and how, but you can manage your own site. This makes linking out extremely crucial to your link building efforts. Don't engage in pointless reciprocal linking or link to sites that you wouldn't want to visit yourself. If you make it attractive and compelling then you're more than halfway to your goal on creating an effective link building strategy that will pay off.

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Free XML Tutorials

While I was doing a research for my new XML project, I have come up with a list of Free XML Tutorials. I will make a list of the Free XML Tutorials, so if somebody needs those, it would be a clean list of valuable XML Tutorials sites.

FREE XML TUTORIALS :

• W3Schools Free XML Tutorials
• XML Files, Free XML Tutorials
• XML.com Free XML Tutorials
• WDVL Free XML Tutorials
• Interactive XML tutorials including Validation, XSLT, SVG, DOM and SAX
• Digital Web Free XML Tutorials
• Webmonkey Free XML Tutorials and Articles
• HTMLGoodies Free XML PHP Tutorials
• MSDN XML Developer Center
• IBM Free XML Tutorials by senior IBM Programmer Doug Tidwell
• IRT Free XML Tutorials
• SpiderPro Free XML Tutorials
• Cover Pages Free XML Tutorials
• Skew.org Free XML Tutorials
• TopXML Free XML Tutorials
• Apache XML Project
• XMLHack Free XML Tutorials & XML Community
• Official Sun Microsystems Guide to Using XML with Java
• Dev Shed Free XML Tutorials

I will add more Free XML Tutorials, and also I will create a list of Free XSL Tutorials. Please send me your Free XML XSL Tutorials to be added on this list.

What is XML ?:

XML is the Extensible Markup Language. It is designed to improve the functionality of the Web by providing more flexible and adaptable information identification.

It is called extensible because it is not a fixed format like HTML (a single, predefined markup language). Instead, XML is actually a `metalanguage' —a language for describing other languages—which lets you design your own customized markup languages for limitless different types of documents. XML can do this because it's written in SGML, the international standard metalanguage for text markup systems (ISO 8879).

What is XML for ?:

XML is intended `to make it easy and straightforward to use SGML on the Web: easy to define document types, easy to author and manage SGML-defined documents, and easy to transmit and share them across the Web.'

It defines `an extremely simple dialect of SGML which is completely described in the XML Specification. The goal is to enable generic SGML to be served, received, and processed on the Web in the way that is now possible with HTML.'

`For this reason, XML has been designed for ease of implementation, and for interoperability with both SGML and HTML'

XML is not just for Web pages: it can be used to store any kind of structured information, and to enclose or encapsulate information in order to pass it between different computing systems which would otherwise be unable to communicate.

Why is XML such an important development ?:

It removes two constraints which were holding back Web developments:

1. dependence on a single, inflexible document type (HTML) which was being much abused for tasks it was never designed for;
2. the complexity of full SGML, whose syntax allows many powerful but hard-to-program options.

XML allows the flexible development of user-defined document types. It provides a robust, non-proprietary, persistent, and verifiable file format for the storage and transmission of text and data both on and off the Web; and it removes the more complex options of SGML, making it easier to program for.

Reference: http://www.ucc.ie/xml/

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30 Free Website Icons, Blog Icons, Symbol Icons
Looking for free blog icons or website icons? I created 30 free icons for anyone needing small pixel icons: 15 16x16 icons and 15 matching 10x10 icons. Download them all or by each size via the ZIP files within today's post. About These Website Icons, Blog Icons Here's some information about these icons: Sizes: 16 x 16 px, 10 x 10 px Background: transparent Format: gif (transparent gif) Outer border-color: dark brown, coffee shade These are pixel icons, so there are no jagged edges regardless of the background color used. HOWEVER, I created them with white and light-colored backgrounds in mind. They have a dark brown, coffee shade border that looks best with white and light-colored backgrounds. Included in this icon set: Home icon Email icon Comments icon Audio icon Links icon Folder icon Document icon Document with text lines icon Printer icon RSS feed icon Pen icon Tag icon Checkmark icon Heart icon Calendar icon See below for licensing, usage terms. 15 16x16 Free Blog / Website Icons Only the 16x16 size icons: Download the 15 16x16 free blog/website icons (4.14KB ZIP file). 15 10x10 Free Blog / Website Icons Only the 10x10 size icons: Download the 15 10x10 free blog/website icons (5.32KB ZIP file). 30 Total 16x16 and 10x10 Free Blog / Website Icons All 30 icons in one download: Download the 30 free blog/website icons (7.06KB ZIP file). Usage, Terms, Licensing You have a license to use these graphic icons for commercial or personal use with some exceptions (see zip file for details). You may not sell these icons individually or in whole, pass them off as your own, redistribute them in part or in whole, or use with anything illegal. You may not sell, lease, sublicense, or otherwise assign any rights, duties or obligations under this agreement, in whole or in part, to any person or entity. If you'd like to link to them, please link to this post and NOT to the .zip files. Thanks, and enjoy! More on Website Icons, Blog Icons Although this is the first free icon set I've offered here, it won't be the last. So stay tuned for more in the days ahead. Also: This blog has lots of posts about graphics, including icons for websites and blogs. See also my WebsiteTips.com's Web Resources section on Commercial, Free Web Site Icons. There's More! Addendum 10 June, 2008 I've created more free icons since the above post. See my next free blog, website icon set, 30 More Free Blog Icons, Website Icons, Symbol Icons, this time in a monochrome, silvery metal color scheme. More free icons at another of my sites, too: Linkware Graphics Music Icons. UzBlogger comments on "30 Free Website Icons, Blog Icons, Symbol Icons" Thanks. Keep up the good work!
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30 Free Website Icons, Blog Icons, Symbol Icons
Looking for free blog icons or website icons? I created 30 free icons for anyone needing small pixel icons: 15 16x16 icons and 15 matching 10x10 icons. Download them all or by each size via the ZIP files within today's post. About These Website Icons, Blog Icons Here's some information about these icons: Sizes: 16 x 16 px, 10 x 10 px Background: transparent Format: gif (transparent gif) Outer border-color: dark brown, coffee shade These are pixel icons, so there are no jagged edges regardless of the background color used. HOWEVER, I created them with white and light-colored backgrounds in mind. They have a dark brown, coffee shade border that looks best with white and light-colored backgrounds. Included in this icon set: Home icon Email icon Comments icon Audio icon Links icon Folder icon Document icon Document with text lines icon Printer icon RSS feed icon Pen icon Tag icon Checkmark icon Heart icon Calendar icon See below for licensing, usage terms. 15 16x16 Free Blog / Website Icons Only the 16x16 size icons: Download the 15 16x16 free blog/website icons (4.14KB ZIP file). 15 10x10 Free Blog / Website Icons Only the 10x10 size icons: Download the 15 10x10 free blog/website icons (5.32KB ZIP file). 30 Total 16x16 and 10x10 Free Blog / Website Icons All 30 icons in one download: Download the 30 free blog/website icons (7.06KB ZIP file). Usage, Terms, Licensing You have a license to use these graphic icons for commercial or personal use with some exceptions (see zip file for details). You may not sell these icons individually or in whole, pass them off as your own, redistribute them in part or in whole, or use with anything illegal. You may not sell, lease, sublicense, or otherwise assign any rights, duties or obligations under this agreement, in whole or in part, to any person or entity. If you'd like to link to them, please link to this post and NOT to the .zip files. Thanks, and enjoy! More on Website Icons, Blog Icons Although this is the first free icon set I've offered here, it won't be the last. So stay tuned for more in the days ahead. Also: This blog has lots of posts about graphics, including icons for websites and blogs. See also my WebsiteTips.com's Web Resources section on Commercial, Free Web Site Icons. There's More! Addendum 10 June, 2008 I've created more free icons since the above post. See my next free blog, website icon set, 30 More Free Blog Icons, Website Icons, Symbol Icons, this time in a monochrome, silvery metal color scheme. More free icons at another of my sites, too: Linkware Graphics Music Icons.
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Ailing Ronnie Biggs to be freed - Scotsman

CTV.ca

Ailing Ronnie Biggs to be freed
Scotsman
By STEPHEN mcginty THE Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs is expected to be released from prison in three months after the parole board met to consider his case yesterday.
Ronnie Biggs put two fingers up to justice for 36 years. So should ... Daily Mail
• Biggs likely to be released into care, says his lawyer guardian.co.uk
The Press Association - Telegraph.co.uk - Times Online - Sky News
all 451 news articles

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Free Auction Scripts, Internet Business Owners Community Portal

Free Auction Scripts, Internet Business Owners Community Portal 

FreeAuctionScripts.com is my current project. While we were hanging out on different discussion boards with different eBay sellers, we came up with an idea of starting our own portal where internet business owners can discuss their problems, ask their questions and share their experiences. Let me tell you little bit more about Free Auction Scripts and what we have on the site:

Free Auction Scripts eBay Cross Promotion Tool

With eBay Cross Promotion Tool, eBay sellers enter up to twenty auction and/or eBay store item numbers and create thumbnails of those items and copy paste the generated html code to their auctions, then prospective eBay customers will be able to visit same seller's different eBay items. eBay Cross Promotion Tool was written with PHP by me and has a variety of display options, and a help menu. Users also can ask their questions about our cross promotion tool at our internet business owners community forum.

Free Auction Scripts eBay Stores Directory  

Ecommerce Auction Sites Directory

Community Forum Site Map

eBay store owners and internet business owners can submit their online stores to the free eBay Stores Directory. There are already hundreds of eBay stores and E-Commerce sites submitted to the eBay Stores Directory. By submitting your online store to our free eBay Stores Directory, you will increase your site's back links and also will have a chance to find prospective customers.

eBay Success Stories

"Luvn Dogz " Ebay Store Success Story by Marge Holdorf

"My Silver Toe" Ebay Store Success Story by Wanda Silva

"eLegall Books" Ebay Store Success Story by Jodi Legall

"AB Restaurant Supply" Ebay Store Success Story by Allen Brigham

Please send us your “eBay Store Success Story”, and we will publish it on our “eBay Store Success Stories” Page”.

Free Auction Scripts

We have WYSIWYG HTML Editor, eBay Stores Search Tool, Avoid Spam Email Tool and several upcoming projects such as “Thumbnail Creator“, “Advanced Auction Template Creator“.

I will keep posting about the updates about Free Auction Scripts. If you have an internet business, you have to meet others at our Internet Business Owners Community Forum and share your experiences with others or ask your questions and learn from others' experiences. Everybody thinks this is the friendliest internet community, so please check it out.

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30 More Free Blog Icons, Website Icons, Symbol Icons
Since my previous free blog icons giveaway has been so popular, I decided to create more - this time 30 free icons in a monochrome, silvery metal color scheme that will blend well with a wide range of blog theme colors. Like before, these small pixel icons include: 15 16x16 icons and 15 matching 10x10 icons. Download them all or by each size via the ZIP files within today's post. About These Website Icons, Blog Icons Here's some information about these icons: Sizes: 16 x 16 px, 10 x 10 px Background: transparent Format: gif (transparent gif) Outer border color: dark gray/silver metal These are pixel icons, so there are no jagged edges regardless of the background color used. HOWEVER, I created them with white and light-colored backgrounds in mind. They have a dark gray border that looks best with white and light-colored backgrounds. Included in this icon set: Home icon Email icon Comments icon Audio icon Links icon Folder icon Document icon Document with text lines icon Printer icon RSS feed icon Pen icon Tag icon Checkmark icon Heart icon Calendar icon See below for licensing, usage terms. 15 Silver Metal 16x16 Free Blog / Website Icons Only the 16x16 size icons: Download the 15 Silver Metal 16x16 free blog/website icons (5.20KB ZIP file). 15 Silver Metal 10x10 Free Blog / Website Icons Only the 10x10 size icons: Download the 15 Silver Metal 10x10 free blog/website icons (4.06KB ZIP file). 30 Total Silver Metal 16x16 and 10x10 Free Blog / Website Icons All 30 silver icons in one download: Download the 30 Silver Metal free blog/website icons (7.12KB ZIP file). Usage, Terms, Licensing You have a license to use these graphic icons for commercial or personal use with some exceptions (see zip file for details). You may not sell these icons individually or in whole, pass them off as your own, redistribute them in part or in whole, or use with anything illegal. You may not sell, lease, sublicense, or otherwise assign any rights, duties or obligations under this agreement, in whole or in part, to any person or entity. If you'd like to link to them, please link to this post and NOT to the .zip files. Thanks, and enjoy! More on Website Icons, Blog Icons The above is the second free icon set I've offered here, and it undoubtedly won't be the last. So stay tuned for more in the days ahead. Also: 30 Free Website Icons, Blog Icons, Symbol Icons - my other set of free blog icons here This blog has lots of posts about graphics, including icons for websites and blogs. See also my Linkware Graphics Music Icons - several icon sets there great for websites, blogs, more. See also my WebsiteTips.com's Web Resources section on Commercial, Free Web Site Icons.
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