{"id":26995,"date":"2018-12-03T16:52:48","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T16:52:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.awardspace.com\/?p=26995"},"modified":"2023-07-13T22:39:11","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T22:39:11","slug":"seo-backlinks-seven-deadly-sins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.awardspace.com\/blog\/seo-backlinks-seven-deadly-sins\/","title":{"rendered":"SEO Backlinks: Seven Deadly Sins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Years ago, Google invented a solution to the keyword stuffing problem. Although, as of today, the search engines evolved so much that they are almost nothing as they were, and there are hundreds of factors for the ranking of a website, the acquiring of so-called SEO backlinks is still one of the top used tactics, when it comes to Search Engine Optimization.<\/p>\n

And while among others, the SEO backlink accumulation tactic still works, there are some actions you should avoid so Google won\u2019t penalize your website. Whether you\u2019ve watched a YouTube video or another online tutorial, or you are paying an SEO consultant, better keep an eye, on what is going on with the backlinks that your website gets. You may get in a lot more trouble than you could expect.<\/p>\n

As there are blogging mistakes<\/a> that you want to avoid, there are such mistakes when you are striving to get SEO backlinks.<\/p>\n

And while some blogging mistakes can be fixed by simply editing or deleting the articles that don\u2019t live up to the newly created standards, the sins that you may commit when acquiring backlinks, could be irreversible.<\/p>\n

That is why when investing in a website<\/a>, \u00a0you should check and double-check the so-called backlink profile \u2013 what are the anchor texts of the links to the website, and most importantly \u2013 from what websites these backlinks are coming. Use any of the backlink checkers out there and look for relevant and high-quality links.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, let\u2019s check the Seven Deadly Sins of acquiring SEO backlinks.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/span> How to Increase Website Traffic for Free<\/a><\/p>\n

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1. Lust \u2013 Engaging in Any SEO Link Exchange<\/h2>\n

As already hinted, backlinks should be acquired carefully. Like a lot of things in our lives and on the web, obtaining \u201cvotes\u201d from other websites to yours is more about quality than it is about quantity.<\/p>\n

There are a number of reasons you don\u2019t want to engage in promiscuous backlink exchange. One of the most important of these reasons is that Google (and other search engines) are now able to distinguish whether a specific backlink is relevant.<\/p>\n

A relevant link is one that keeps the user on the same topic. Of course, if you have a food blog<\/a>, it will hardly be relevant to send your website readers to another place on the web where they speak about, say, vehicles. The other way around is true as well.<\/p>\n

Today, search engine results are highly dependable on backlink relevancy.<\/p>\n

Not only that.<\/p>\n

Engaging in a link exchange is often considered a black hat SEO tactic. Meaning that the good old phrase \u201cYou rub my back, and I\u2019ll rub yours\u201d, is one that should be avoided. If not, Google may penalize you, and the website you are exchanging links with.<\/p>\n

Of course, in the cases where both websites are yours and are relevant to each other (say all of them are some kind of media), this action won\u2019t be penalized.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t engage in promiscuous link exchange. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Related:<\/span> How to Redesign a Website Without Losing SEO<\/a><\/p>\n

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2. Gluttony \u2013 Focusing on Receiving Backlinks More Than Anything Else<\/h2>\n

\"\"Some people think that getting backlink after backlink will lead you to the promised land, where all of your pages are ranked well in the SERP.<\/p>\n

After a while, their website has thousands of backlinks that are more or less relevant, and a lot of these don\u2019t give any value. Why? Because getting backlinks is not that simple. You can easily submit a \u201creal\u201d comment under any blog post, and engage in any forum conversation, but guess what? These backlinks won\u2019t give you the result you expected.<\/p>\n

The backlinks that you can get from a forum or a blog comment are \u2018nofollow\u2019, which means they won\u2019t yield any link juice.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t focus only<\/em><\/strong> on receiving backlinks. There are a lot of other important factors.<\/p>\n

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3. Greed \u2013 Getting SEO Backlinks for the Sake of It<\/h2>\n

Being greedy is wrong. Whether we speak about backlinks, money, or anything else. Striving to obtain as many links to your website, as possible, just so you can show off with their number, will make you commit the first and<\/strong> the second of the deadly sins. Greediness will lead you to the forbidden backlink exchange, and at one point or another, you\u2019ll start gathering \u2018nofollow\u2019 links from blog comment sections, or forums.<\/p>\n

While the latter is not such a significant mistake, or at least you won\u2019t lose anything except your time, the former is capable of harming your ranking.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be greedy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Sloth \u2013 Not Engaging With Backlinks as Much as They Deserve<\/h2>\n

While some of us are greedy when it comes to backlinks, others are, frankly, lazy. Although, as mentioned above, it is wrong to put all your SEO efforts into obtaining backlinks, it is equally incorrect to neglect them altogether.<\/p>\n

Being lazy when it comes to website maintenance will surely lead you to a place where your website and all your hard-earned results will vanish.<\/p>\n

Like everything on the web, SEO is more of a process, than it is a one-time effort.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be lazy. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Related:<\/span> Does Blogging Help with SEO [2018 Edition]<\/a><\/p>\n

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5. Wrath \u2013 Focusing on That One Backlink You Always Wanted<\/h2>\n

Sometimes, webmasters are not lazy; they don\u2019t exchange links out of greed and gluttony. Sometimes, those same webmasters are creating great content. They are engaging in great storytelling<\/a>. Unique by value, not by the way they\u2019ve arranged the words.<\/p>\n

And still, sometimes, some of these webmasters, are getting angry over a specific backlink they didn\u2019t get. They are getting so far that they pay for that backlink, instead of pushing their content to new heights.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t pay for a backlink. No matter how much you want it.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get angry over the fact you didn\u2019t get a specific backlink. It\u2019s just the way it is.<\/p>\n

Make better content, and that backlink will come.<\/p>\n

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6. Envy \u2013 Concentrating on the Backlinks That Someone Else Has<\/h2>\n

This is a sin that everyone who had at one time or another researched his competition has committed. Whether they have more backlinks or one that is from a highly authoritative website in your industry, some competitors will have backlinks that you may never obtain.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Because they are in the business a lot more before you, or they have the right connections or their content is just better.<\/p>\n

Whatever the reasons are, you have to focus on making your content better, and your website getting backlinks, not looking in anger and envy at what your competitors had obtained.<\/p>\n

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7. Pride \u2013 Suspending the Hard Work, Once You Got Higher in the SERP<\/h2>\n

\"\"As already mentioned (a few times) it is impossible to get and maintain results, if you don\u2019t put effort on a regular basis. Once, you get to the top positions in the SERPs; you have to be prepared to keep up the good work. SEO is a never-ending process. You just need to keep going.<\/p>\n

But remember to keep quality over quantity.<\/p>\n

If you get to the position in the SERPs that you wanted, you\u2019ll still have to invest in good content, and reach out to other webmasters, so you can guest blog, or obtain SEO backlinks. The latter is equally important when you are in the first position as it is when you are last.<\/p>\n

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Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

Obtaining backlinks to your website is hardly a one-time effort. If you want your website to appear higher in the search engine results, it is mandatory that you put in the efforts needed on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

It is highly improbable that your website will get quality backlinks if you don\u2019t have anything important to offer.<\/p>\n

Give your best. Write from your heart.<\/p>\n

Do whatever is needed so you won\u2019t commit any of the seven deadly sins of SEO backlinks.<\/p>\n

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Related:<\/span><\/p>\n