Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a term we talk about a lot. We talk about it for good reason. A strong SEO presence is essential to helping prospective clients find you online.
In the past, we’ve addressed on-site SEO – optimizing your website for search engines. Nearly every SEO article you read talks about the use of keywords and site structure. But Internet is a lot bigger than your single domain. Off-site SEO can play a huge role in your local and organic search results.
What exactly is off-site SEO?
In its most basic form, off-site SEO encompasses all the external links to your website (aka inbound links).
Why is off-site SEO so important?
Inbound links from high quality websites gives your site more authority. It’s one of the factors search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing use to determine how valuable the information on your site is.
So, I want lots of inbound links?
Yes and no. Yes, you definitely want inbound links from high quality sites. What you want to avoid is low quality, spam links. These are links you purchase. While the practice of purchasing links has become more and more frowned upon, there are still businesses offering to place outbound links to your site for a nominal fee.
Don’t do it.
You might see an immediate jump in your search results, but the long-term effect of such practices can be disastrous.
On which sites should I focus?
In some ways, this really depends on the kind of business you operate. Nearly every business will benefit from ensuring their Local Google+, Bing, Yahoo and Yelp listings are up to date and accurate. This is particularly important if you operate a brick and mortar business. Any business can benefit from a verified Pinterest page as well.
Those with a brick and mortar shop can often benefit from updating their Foursquare business listing. If you’re associated with the food and beverage industry, UrbanSpoon is a particularly important site to update.
What about social media inbound links?
Multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter carry a lot of weight in the world of SEO. However, simply setting up an account and linking back to your website isn’t going to cut it.
Social media is about being social. An inactive account, especially one you aren’t monitoring, reflects poorly on your business. If you don’t have the time or resources to provide an active presence, don’t sign up.
Do you have any questions how off-site seo can work for your business? Drop us a line or Ping us on Twitter.
