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Four Lessons from Google’s Updated Link Advice

September 22, 2023
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4 min read

Four Lessons from Google’s Updated Link Advice

Digital Journal Blog

Google frequently updates its algorithms related to links and how they impact search rankings. While Google keeps the specifics of these updates secret, they do occasionally offer guidance to webmasters on best practices for link building. Looking at some of Google’s latest statements on links provides valuable insights for anyone doing SEO. Here are four key lessons to take away from Google’s updated link advice:

Table of Content

1: Focus on High-Quality Sites
2: Natural Link Building is Best
3: Link Relevance Matters
4: Diversity is Important
Conclusion

Lesson 1: Focus on High-Quality Sites

One of the clearest messages from Google over the past few years is that they value links from high-quality, reputable sites. Links from authoritative, trusted sources are seen as “votes” in favor of a page.

Meanwhile, links from low-quality sites, sketchy forums, link networks, and other questionable sources are seen as manipulative and more likely to be ignored or distrusted by Google’s algorithms.

When building links, it’s essential to focus on contextual links from relevant, high-quality sites with established domain authority in your field. Guest posting on authoritative industry blogs, earning press mentions on trusted media sites, and getting links from well-known directories and resources are all better options than low-quality directory submissions or link exchanges. Avoid building links on low-traffic sites or pages with lots of outbound links.

Lesson 2: Natural Link Building is Best

Google has made it clear they prefer organic, naturally-occurring links rather than artificial, over-optimized link building tactics. Links should ideally happen naturally as other sites find your content valuable and want to refer their audience to it.

Tactics like guest blogging, content promotion, forming business partnerships, and brand mentions can help facilitate this process. But anything that seems manipulated, such as paying for links or exchanging links solely for SEO value, should be avoided.

Try to ensure new links use varied anchor text, point to a range of pages on your site, and happen periodically over time rather than in unnatural patterns. Links added via software tools are also at higher risk of being penalized.

By focusing on organic discovery and promotion to earn links naturally, you’ll build the right kind of links for sustainable SEO success.

Lesson 3: Link Relevance Matters

In today’s context, links should always include strong relevance between the source page and destination. Links perform best when they come from sites in closely related topical niches and the anchor text ties directly into surrounding on-page content.

Be wary of general, broad links added primarily for SEO value without context around the reason for the link.

For example, if you run an interior design blog, a link from another interior design site reviewing your products makes sense contextually. But a general decor link on a parenting blog may seem questionable.

Ensure new links relate closely to the niche of both sites and anchor text aligns with the topic being discussed. This goes back to earning links naturally rather than forcing them for SEO.

Lesson 4: Diversity is Important

While high-authority links are ideal, Google has noted that diversity in link sources is also valuable. You want links from a range of different sites and domains, rather than having most links come from just one or two sites.

Moderation is encouraged, so you likely want to avoid having any single site account for more than about 10-20% of total links pointing to your domain.

Building links across a varied mix of quality sites helps indicate wider trust and authority. Too much dependence on a single link source could be viewed as manipulation if that site then disappears or removes links.

Having a balanced profile of links from different quality sites and resources will make your backlink profile more resilient.

Conclusion

By following Google’s updated link advice and building high-quality, relevant links from diverse sources naturally over time, you can maintain and grow your SEO authority.

Avoid low-quality links, artificial patterns, and overdependence on just a few sites. Focus on building recognition across quality sites in your field to earn authoritative, natural links that truly reflect expertise.

With the right linking strategy following Google’s guidance, your rankings and traffic can continue to thrive organically.

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