What is Link Popularity?

Simply stated, link popularity is the number of links from other sites that point to your site or specific pages on your site. Link popularity and reciprocal linking (where sites agree to link to each other) have been the hot keywords during the past few years.  In a genuine link popularity system it would be the number of links you had pointing to your website that were the most important.

With the capabilities of today’s search engines, let’s not forget the importance of the SOURCE of the links pointing TO your website.  This is what is called link analysis.  The search engines try to calculate the importance of each link that is being directed to you.  Their programs are constantly analyzing your website and the links directed to your site. The most important links are those that belong to the “expert” websites.  Think of the expert sites such as RealEstateABC, RELibrary, HomeGain, and Reals to name a few.  Those types of websites are known as authoritative sites within the real estate community, and are therefore given more importance.

Linking does not only include achieving links toward your website, commonly called inbound links.  You should also be working on your outbound links as well.  Don’t link only with people who will reciprocate with you.  Link to websites because YOU think your visitors will benefit from their content.  Continue to keep in mind your website should always be a reflection of who will be reading your content.  Receiving a link back will be a bonus and a benefit to you.  Think about your website visitor first.

When considering reciprocal links, don’t base your willingness to reciprocate solely on the chance to rise higher in the search engines.  Make sure you understand the nature of the site to which you are linking.  Is the site a valuable resource?  Does the website contain beneficial content to your visitors?  Take a moment to investigate the site thoroughly before you jump on a link.

Another factor to consider about linking strategies is that this is NOT just linking….it’s marketing.  If you try to make your site as content rich as possible, the links will come to your website naturally.