Increase Ranking With Contextual Linking
Jun 30 by Marcus Hochstadt | Posted in SEO
Do you have a “link page” on your Web site? Well, think about changing. A better and more effective way to have quality links on your page is by using contextual linking.
What is contextual linking, you might ask? Well, the answer is simple… it’s adding links that are embedded in your existing content-rich pages.
Forget those pages where you’ve just added a whole bunch of links to various companies. Even dividing them into industries doesn’t help (unless your Web site happens to be a directory). There’s no CONTENT on these pages to make the search engines happy. And who is going to voluntarily visit your link page? Probably nobody; conduct a survey and you shall see… ;-)
A simple text link will normally consist of a few anchor words, with a link to that other Web site. They aren’t within actual content on the page. But a context link will exist within lots of text that is relevant.
The number of links within that text should not be overwhelming to the visitor. And it’s important to know that these contextual links are particularly high quality. Search engines will rate them as such because of the content of your pages, as well as rating the quality of the content of the pages that your link links to.
You can ask others to add your link into their pages by already having their link on your page, but you will find that if you are not indexed in the major search engines, they will refuse to reciprocate. Why? Because no one is going to find that link. Ensure you are indexed. How to find out?
Type in your Web site address into Google. Does your site come up? If so, you’re indexed.
Also, be sure that the site you are asking to contain your link comes up as being indexed. Place their Web site URL into Google as well. If they aren’t indexed, forget about them for now.
Having contextual links has become a viable way to drive traffic to your site. You’ll find targeted traffic will arrive, eager to see what you have available.
Remember: Relevant text is important. You don’t want to be selling services as an auto mechanic and have links to laser printer sales companies. But if you have links to businesses that sell auto parts or cars or tires… well, you see what I mean.
Here’s an example of how it could work. Let’s say you have a Web site where you’re writing about your travel experiences. Here’s a part of your possible content and a contextual link…
The last time I traveled to Europe I booked my ticket to Germany at TicketsFor99.com.
That “ticket to Germany at TicketsFor99.com” is an in-context text link, a link within and relevant to the content.
Doing contextual linking will set you up to get more quality traffic and thus more sales. Do it!
—Marcus Hochstadt
Tags: link building, SEO

17 Responses for "Increase Ranking With Contextual Linking"
The HBB Advisor (1 comments)
June 30th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
1Quick question…
Are you going to follow you own advice an add a links page to this site?
If so I would be interested in swapping links with you when I add mine.
Thanks,
Brett
http://TheHBBAdvisor.com
rob (2 comments)
June 30th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
2same for me, you could mention a “blog tips” blog like ours and i’d mention your very good tip and your site
:)
thanks
DetikAds Review (1 comments)
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
3You right, i agree. But never forget to where we want get market.
:)
Petula (1 comments)
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 am
4Great information. Thanks!
bloggernoob (6 comments)
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:28 am
5I won a $700 review of my site by you on theuniversitykid’s contest. Did you get around to doing it? I sent you an email and left a comment before. Just thought i’d remind you again. Thanks
nor (1 comments)
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 am
6Thank you for sharing.
Now, I have to rectify what I have been doing wrong.
Again, many thanks for the insight marcus!
Marcus Hochstadt (157 comments)
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
7@ bloggernoob - I never got that e-mail you talk about. Besides, you are too late, bloggernoob. You had one week to claim your prize. Again, one week, not three months.
~Marcus
mikey777 (3 comments)
July 4th, 2008 at 6:41 am
8As always, excellent advice. I had a link page at one time, and you are absolutely right–nobody ever visited–I mean ever. I think contextual linking is not only a good way to drive traffic to a site, but also gives your posts more depth and the readers more information, as they can click on that link if they’re interested, and open a whole new resource.
Rose (5 comments)
July 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
9Head smacker! Why didn’t I think of that? Thanks!
ThatsBlog.com » Blog Archive » Blog Carnival: Blogging: Eleventh Edition
July 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
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Mike (11 comments)
July 7th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
11Hi Marcus,
I’m definitely doing something wrong because my position keeps sliding in the search results. Hmmm, I thought I was doing everything by the book, but I guess I’m missing something. I’ll give this a try.
Thanks,
Mike
Top Quality Articles for Bloggers - Blog Carnival | That Danny!
July 9th, 2008 at 8:09 am
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July 11th, 2008 at 11:13 am
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Welcome to the July 11, 2008 edition of a make money blogging carnival.
Marcus Hochstadt presents Freebie Seekers posted at Marcus Hochstadt, saying, “Freebie seekers are everywhere. But did you know that they can literally destroy you…
Shaun Rosenberg (2 comments)
July 16th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
14Good article I do have a link page on my site. Maybe that was a bad idea. I’ll change that.
http://www.stocks-simplified.com
blogging tips to attract reader - July 21, 2008 -- Online Information
July 20th, 2008 at 9:21 am
15[...] Hochstadt presents Increase Ranking With Contextual Linking posted at Marcus Hochstadt, saying, “Many people have a link page on their Web site, whereby [...]
earn online (4 comments)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
16Agreed this is solid info. Google spiders pages, and reads content, so if your link is contextual it counts for more, most people don’t realize this though. Good job pointing it out.
Blog Improvement Carnival | Rumbling Lankan
July 27th, 2008 at 4:19 am
17[...] of contextual linking and how they are loved by search engines , Increase ranking with Contextual linking has a detailed post with examples for better [...]
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