Playing the Links
Most experts will tell you that if you want to get your website noticed, then creating backlinks, other sites that link to your site, is the key factor. A friend of mine has created a site called LinkMeList which does exactly this. They are only taking 3 dentists per area, so if you want to get in, you must do it now. Best $35/month you'll ever spend, trust me.
posted by Dr. Lorne Lavine @ 11:47:00 AM
11 Comments:
At 8:45 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hi- what is the difference between this and a link farm? Does this site, linkmelist have a high PageRank?
At 8:49 PM,
Dr. Lorne Lavine said…
Link farms are highly frowned on by Google and will likely get you banned. What's important (see the video on the link I gave) are RELEVANT links. No idea on their page rank; obviously, as it gets higher, so does yours.
At 12:50 AM,
Mary Johnson said…
Very informative article!
Check out my dentist in Goodlettsville and the information at Rivergate Dental Care
http://www.rivergatedental.com
At 7:15 AM,
Ryaz said…
Where do you insert the code that they supply you? I can't find any support information from them? Any idea?
At 2:43 PM,
John said…
Hi Lorne,
I would advise against suggesting dentists participate in the paid linking scheme. Once Google gets hip to the deal, member dentists' sites could likely be penalized, or even banned from her index.
This is similar to the old LinksToYou effort that got a lot of members in trouble.
Inbound links are only one of many factors that contribute to high visibility in the search engines. Quality of content, fast loading pages, low bounce rates, age of site, etc. are equally important.
Paid linking schemes that have no purpose other than to manipulate the SERPs are actively sought by Google. Those sites found to be participating can potentially find themselves in trouble.
John Barremore
www.thevisibledentist.com
At 2:45 PM,
Dr. Lorne Lavine said…
I agree with the concerns, John, but I don't really consider this to be a linking "scheme", as these are all RELEVANT links from other colleagues. I'd suggest calling the owner of the site, Dr. Gary Sanchez, mention my name, and speak with him about this,. Gary is a friend and has a pretty good handle on all of this.
At 5:25 PM,
John said…
Lorne, I've been aware of the Dr.'s site for some time now. Several clients have also written and called to ask me about its credibility and value.
I do not doubt Dr. Sanchez's intent to help member dentists, nor do I condemn his wish to make money from the linking venture.
It is the method he advocates at issue; e.g. openly charging money to participate in an organized linking system to manipulate Google's SERPs.
This is nothing new; for over a decade in my SEO career, I've watched as countless other similar strategies have fallen by the wayside, unfortunately taking thousands of unsuspecting owners' websites with them into search engine obscurity.
John
At 6:10 PM,
John said…
I might also mention that Dr. Sanchez's website has not benefited from the strategy he is selling. For a 6 year old dental website, he has attained only a tiny few primary rankings indigenous to his geo.
If you view this page on his site, you'll see a garage sale of mish mosh topics far removed from relevance to dentistry. Is this the example he wants other dentists to emulate?
Again, I would strongly suggest dentists refrain from participation.
Respectfully,
John Barremore
www.thevisibledentist.com
At 9:12 PM,
Gary said…
John - What I am suggesting is exactly how I got to the top of google in my local area. I have many links to my site that have increased my relevance and ranking in the search engines. What you pointed everyone to was an inactive link on my site that needs to be removed. Last month I had 42 new patients from my website (not hits but new patients) and I am on track to get more than that this month.
Because you try to mystifying the SEO process seems to make you think you should overcharge your clients - "Population Determines Cost
The prices we charge are commensurate with the population of a dentist's service area." WHY? You are charging between $4500 - $22,000 for SEO?
I am looking for simple, affordable and effective results and that is what I am offering to others that want the same. SEO by nature is learning what the search engines are currently using to determine their ranking and adjusting your site to take advantage of your knowledge. Right now - one of the biggest things that the search engines use to determine a sites importance is "relevant links." "Relevant links" are links that make sense for your site. A link from a plumber or a auto dealer would not make sense and Google would frown on it. That was the problem "link farms" had - they put many different types of links on your site. Having links from another dentist as a directory makes sense and increases your relevance. What Linkmelist will do is give its members enough relevant links to increase the members ranking - for $35/month. I know it works and I know it will pay for itself many, many times over. I am also sending members a monthly email teaching them how to convert vistors to new patients. Not only will they get more visitors to their site but they will also get more new patients - which is the bottom line. For $35/month.
At 10:14 PM,
John said…
Gary,
FYI, a target market's population and the degree of difficulty competing online is commensurate with that particular market's number of dentists. That said, the reasons search engines prefer one website over another is multi-faceted; inbound links to a website are only part of the whole equation. Though before pointing links to any website, you first want to make it into a exemplary resource that helps people.
As for my prices, they represent months upon months of work transforming each client's website into a formidable, valuable resource, one that search engines prefer listing higher in their SERPS.
IMO, you are attempting to over simplify and circumvent the process of creating a good Web resource by links alone. Further, as I've already mentioned, by selling links to dentists via a linking network, you are endangering the websites of all participating member dentists. It's likely all member sites could be penalized or even banned from the search engines entirely. Google especially frowns upon paid links intended to manipulate her SERPS.
Whether you or anyone else considers your linking network and its paid links "relevant" is beside the point. The search engines and their algorithms, particularly Google's, will make the final decision.
In closing it's not my intention to disparage you or discredit your intentions to help your fellow dentists. To the contrary, my only wish is to provide my insight gained from over a decade in the business to help you and other dentists understand what it takes to be successful online.
Good luck to you.
John Barremore
Houston, TX
At 5:47 PM,
Gary said…
Thanks John.
Post a Comment
<< Home