In the last few weeks I found myself talking with many webmasters about the effectiveness of backlinks. As Google keep updating their algorithm there is a common belief that links are no longer effective as they use to be in terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). My answer was and still remains that same: To my opinion each webmaster should get backlinks to his website, and as many that he or she can get.

Backlinks has always been part of Google algorithm and probably will remain for a long time. However, I agree that each backlink is been rated by great number of rules. More than that, as the time moves on the number of rules is increasing. You can’t blame Google for trying to get their hand on those who are trying to trick their algorithm as I don’t blame those webmasters who are eager to see their website at the top of the SERP (Search Results Page).

Unless you are part of Google search engine R&D department, you probably can’t really tell much about the effectiveness of reciprocal link vs. one way link. I am guessing that probably most of them can’t answer that question as well.

Google can’t ignore backlinks neither webmasters. Google can’t ignore backlinks because it’s the core of their algorithm. They keep updating their rules in order to protect the visitors from gets abused by those who are looking to gain a fast easy money out of Google traffic.

As part of Google’s efforts to rate links there is a different between reciprocal links, three ways link and the smarty links.
As for the last link type I will dedicated a full post very soon. But it doesn’t matter how you name it, the most effective link to your website is one way link. Again… the others are still doing their SEO job, but not as the one way backlink.

Consider a backlink as a vote to a website. If another webmaster links to your website he is actually voting for it. If it’s a text link then he is also tell a litter story about your website. All of this information is been read by the search engine crawlers. This data is been analyzed in order to determine what is the best phrases that describes your website.

I have many website. Most of their traffic is organic. I don’t care much from where I am getting backlink or their nature for two main reasons:

1. A link to my website is always good from a traffic point of view. When someone link to my website there is a chance that someone actually will click on it. Not surprising that webmasters are keep forgets those basics. I don’t talk about a link from a links farms. If a Sony style website link to my blog I really don’t care. Especially if I get it for free. It’s probably a poor link from SEO point of view but could be a great link from traffic point of view. 10,000 poor links like that and Google will not be able to ignore them. It’s not a theory; it’s a fact for one of my website.
2. My big concern is about quality traffic to my websites. If I have the opportunity to get that kind of traffic I will get it. No matter if it will be a reciprocal link, three way link or one way link. As long the traffic is good to my website I will do the best in my power to get it.

Work on your links to your website is a reasonable way and don’t be surprised that Google and the rest will join to the party. It can take time. No doubt about it. But…. you can speed the process. There are good examples in the market about those who managed to do a big buzz out of their website. For those it took around three months to be at the top of the SERP. It’s not easy but reachable.

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