The article below shows the value of SEO link building from 5 top SEO experts. No matter what you believe, it’s still a very important part of any SEO strategy and Internet Marketing. Don’t just take my word for it, read the articles, not that I haven’t written a marketing book on SEO, Search, Blogs and Internet Marketing.

5 experts demystify SEO link building – iMediaConnection.com

To hammer the value of anchor texted based links, I am going to ask you to visit the following sites, Zappos, Expedia, and salesforce.com. Now check their rankings in Google for any of the keywords in their title tags, do you see them in the top 10 search results, you should? They are some of the best SEO companies. Also check out MSNBC.com and shopping.msn.com, they also rank high for their keywords, in the top 10 and top 5.  Well, we have friends at the Green Channel at MSN so, let’s give them a link for the great work that they are doing!  Why do all of these site rank in the top 10, and are very good at SEO, rather than their competitors? My main proof is that they all use Anchor text based footer links on the bottom of their pages. If you don’t know what that is, just look at the bottom of their pages, you will quickly see what I am talking about.

Recently, I was talking to a Sr. SEO manager for one of the top 5 Internet companies in the world. His boss recommend I talk with him, to figure out how I can help them. In the hour long conversation, I was lucky to get a word in. He thought, I was looking for a job, which I wasn’t against. I mean, who wouldn’t they are a top 5 Internet Company with billions in revenues. But, by the end of the 1 hour, I wouldn’t work for him or his boss. Why? And what does this tangent have to do with Link Building? patient my dear, patient:-)

That Sr. Manager and his associates have an SEO guidelines document, and they don’t talk about Link Popularity, Google page rank or Anchor Text based links at all. Well, if they did, it might not even be more than a sentence. The worst part of it is, they have so many opportunities to help their internal departments, as most of their pages have a Google Page Rank of 9 and 8. We are talking far more than 30 pages with at least a PR of 8 or higher. Thousands of pages with PR of 7+, and they don’t recommend that these website designers, producers or teams do any SEO links. This guy claims to have written a marketing book, but I checked and it doesn’t even cover proper keywords. Mind you this guy, does not recommend using Adwords.google.com, so how could he even know about proper Anchor Text links.

So what’s the message in all of this? Knowing about SEO is different then being very good at SEO, and the most important thing to know is the power of Anchor text links from high PR pages. You don’t have to buy my Marketing book, but you should, it is at Amazon, and only 19.95. The strategies work, have you seen our rankings for “Free Blog” “SEO” “Create blog” “Blogging“, we are in the top 10 at google. Even for our clients RentExpert.com for VRBO. But, we are not there yet for “Travel Blog” for our website eVacations.org, we are SEOing it for the major keyword “Vacations“. Yes we are shooting for major keywords, and doing very well. Top 14 in Google for “SEO”, go ahead buy our marketing book, you will benefit from it. And, go get some organic links!

This week, I wrote a series of posts about writing for bloggers – here’s the rundown:

The Building Blocks of Language – on the importance of using correct spelling and grammar, as well as knowing the rules of writing and when to break them.

The Active Voice Versus The Passive Voice – how to use the active voice to punch up your writing and make an impact on your readers.

Do the Introduction Last – having trouble getting started?  Write your opening paragraph last, because then you’ll know exactly where your post is going and you’ll be able to eloquently sum up what you’ve already written.

Appeal to the Senses with Vivid Langage – on how to capture your readers imaginations with beautifully expressive writing.

Embrace Your Passions – want to gain a loyal audience?  Lose your reservations and share your passions with the world.  Your readers will appreciate your honesty and genuine communication, and besides, the blogosphere rewards the bold.

Have an excellent weekend!

Once again, here are some of the best posts from around the blogosphere:

As a writer, I am inspired by this eloquent article by Amber Simmons on A List Apart.   In Reviving Anorexic Web Writing, she discusses how the content is the heart of any website.

Chris Garrett talks about the summer slump and what bloggers can do about it in this post entitled Summer Slump Solutions: Blogging Survival Strategies.

The Problogger makes a good point about interlinking posts – it’s a great way to re-use older posts and internal links are good for SEO (not as good as external links, but every little bit helps!)

Daily Blog Tips has listed their most popular posts from July 2007, and there’s some great advice there – check it out.

Have an awesome weekend!

Here’s my weekly round-up of interesting links:

Been blogging for a little while? Chris Brogan has advice on how to take your blog to the next level.

The SEO rockstars at SEOmoz have created A Complete Glossary of Essential SEO Jargon, which is an excellent resource, particularly if you’re new to the world of SEO (besides, how many times have I said that creating a glossary or dictionary is an excellent idea?).

Looking to improve your writing?  Brian Clark of Copyblogger has some simple advice for you with 10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer.

Here’s more blogging advice from the CEO of Technorati, David L. Sirfry – who would definitely know something about what makes a blog popular.

Web Worker Daily has a list of 10 Ways To Be More Productive With Your Blog – and their tips are useful for everyone, not just web workers.

Have an awesome weekend!

Here’s some of the best recent posts from around the blogosphere:

Steve Rubel of Micro Persuasion writes about the Golden Age of Individualism and how the web has made it possible – and important – for everyone to have a personal brand, but that it is really about more than that. “Individualism today means so much more than just having a micro-brand,” he says. “For most, it’s about using the web to flatten the playing field so they have the freedom to chase their passions and live their lives, their way.”

Speaking of personal brands, Vikram Rajan of Personal Brand Marketing writes about how to get a Wikipedia entry (ethically), because Wikipedia results always place high in search results.

Suffering from blogger’s block?  The Problogger himself, Darren Rowse, is publishing a series entitled “7 Days to Rediscovering Your Blogging Groove“.

Brevity is definitely considered a virtue in the blogosphere, and serious bloggers understand the importance of concise writing.  Therefore, The Dictionary of Concise Writing – reviewed by Daily Writing Tips – is an excellent resource for any blogger, from beginners to pros.

“People want to be inspired” says Aaron Wall of SEO Book. “People want to have something they can talk about and share, something they can relate to, and something that inspires them and brings them hope.  Emotional appeal is typically far more important than logical appeal.” Ask yourself this – does your blog inspire your readers?

Have an excellent weekend!

Last week I entered the Daily Blog Tips Project 3 Contest, in which each blogger had to write a post that involved the number 3 somehow.  Mine was 3 Things to do Before You Hit Publish (and 1 Thing to Do After).  115 blogs entered, and since I couldn’t narrow it down to a top 3 – there were too many great entries – I picked my Top 3 in each category.  Check it out:

Blogging:

3 Secrets of Writing for Blogs by Tejvan – Because in the end, blogging is about communicating with the written word.

3 Essential Steps to Great Blog Posts by the Corner Scribe – Because she knows that content is king (and she quotes Stephen King in her post, which is awesome).

3 Tips to Pick Up Boys/Girls Using Blogs by Mario - Because it’s a great example of a catchy title that draws readers in, and it’s hilarious.

Business & Career

3 Great Alternatives to Paper Using Web-Based Solutions by Ryan - Because not only will these tips help keep you organized, they’re good for the environment too.

3 Reasons to Persevere by Anne - Because even the founders of Google suffered their setbacks.

3 Reasons why Entreprenuers Succeed! by Ray - Because he describes the key qualities of successful entreprenuers.

Entertainment

3 Movies That Can Change You by WebStuffScan – Because film is a powerful medium, and these 3 movies are great.

3 Free Willie Nelson Songs by Liz - Because Willie is cool and A Peaceful Solution is a great song (go download it!)

Got Independence?  3 Things You Should Do This July 4th by Joe - Because even though July 4th is over, his suggestions are still good.

Health & Fitness

3 Reasons to Try a Marathon by Shane – Because it’s inspiring.

3 Reasons Running is Good for You by Alexander – Because running is good for you.

Get Healthy in 3 Minutes by Gal – Because he offers some simple and solid advice.

Make Money Online (sorry, only got one in this category!)

3 Costly Internet Business Mistakes to Avoid by John - Because this is stuff that anyone starting an e-business should know. 

Technology

3 Ways to Use Social Networking for Your Podcast by The Freq - Because it helps you use the social media to improve your podcasts.

3+3 Free Tools for Moving Your Life and Your Stuff Online by Tanya – Because it helps you use technology to simplify your life.

3 Useful Del.icio.us Tags, Life Quotes, and Traffic Generators by Adam Pieniazek – Because this post is just incredibly useful, especially the del.icio.us tags.  Thanks Adam!

Travel

3 Ways to Have a Luxurious Hawaii Vacation on the Cheap by Sheila – Because who doesn’t want to go to Hawaii?

3 Wonders of the World that the Designers Should Have Voted For by Mirko – Because it’s interesting to look at the New World Wonders from a designer’s point of view.

Top 3 Ways to Avoid a Crowd at Disney World by Winnetta – Because if you’re planning on going to the Magic Kingdom anytime soon, this advice is very useful.

Web Development & Design

3 Huge SEO Mistakes I have Made by Nusuni - Because he’s generous enough to help others learn from his mistakes.

3 Must Do Things for a New Blogger by Ramkarthik – Because it’s good advice for newcomers to the Blogosphere.

The 3 P’s For Creating a Successful Website by Sarah – Because it takes passion, persistence, and patience.

Random Topics

3 Things I Want My Kids to Refrain From Saying On Our Upcoming Road Trip by Juggling Frogs – Because it will make you laugh.

3 Bad Foods That Are Really Good For You by Penguin Food - Because an excuse to eat your favorite things is always nice.

3 Little Words by Paris – Because she said it best: “Vanity, thy name is woman.”

Have a great weekend everyone!

Here’s some quality weekend reading – have a great one!

Performancing has written a post about why bloggers need SEO and how a good blogger is also a good search engine marketer (hint: they create compelling content).

If you’re worried about someone copying your blog’s content (because it’s so awesome), Lorelle on WordPress has an excellent post on that very subject: what do you do when someone steals your content.

Want to learn more about branding and how it pertains to your blog?  Check out Chris Garett’s Branding Blog Post Round-Up - and be sure to bookmark it, because there is tons of good information there.

Shel Israel interviews Doc Searls (of Cluetrain fame) on Global Neighborhoods, and they discuss, among other things, the live web vs. the static web (guess where I got the idea for my last post?)

Scott Adams talks about the importance of giving compliments on the Dilbert blog - yet one more reason to be generous, empathetic, and give credit where credit is due.

Last but not least, Web Worker Daily has Five Strategies to do Web Work Without Distractions – something very helpful to all bloggers, as the net is chockful of fun, time-consuming distractions.

Chances are you’ve heard the terms “web 2.0″, user-generated content, and social media networks being thrown around before, and you probably have a decent idea of what they mean (if not, check out my dictionary of blog related terms).  However, you may not be sure how to use the social media networks for your business – to blogcast your brand, because the blog is the center of it all.

Think of your brand/business as a solar system – your blog is the sun, and the rest of the social media sites and applications as planets orbiting around it.  You may have profiles on the other networks, videos on YouTube and photos on Flickr, and use social bookmarking sites like del.icio.us and digg, but it all revolves around your blog (be sure to put links to your blog in all your profiles, but you already knew that, right?).

There are two main forms of social media that can be quite useful for bloggers – networking sites (Facebook, Myspace, Linked In) and bookmarking sites (Stumble Upon, Reddit, and my personal favorite, del.icio.us).

The networking sites are kind of self-explanatory; they are not that far removed from your actual network of friends, associates, and colleagues, except that they are virtual and you can see everyone else’s networks too.  Besides the fact that it is simply convenient to have everyone’s profile info at your fingertips, these sites can also be useful when it comes to reconnecting with old colleagues and accquaintances, and for learning more about new friends.  While you don’t need to maintain a presence on every social networking site on the web (you wouldn’t have time to do anything else!), it’s helpful to be involved in one or two that are popular in your business’s niche, e.g. fashion types with Iqons and anything music or entertainment related with Myspace.

Bookmarking sites are useful for bloggers in the both the promotional sense (having your content listed on the sites brings in readers) and in the personal sense – you can bookmark and tag your favorite sites and articles and access those bookmarks from anywhere, and if you work from multiple computers your bookmarks will be synched.   I personally like to bookmark and tag any articles that would be good blog fodder, so bookmarking sites can help beat blogger’s block as well.  Social bookmarking sites are also excellent tools because they enable you to check out what others in your niche are reading and what they thought of it. Popular forums can function in a similar fashion (be sure to put a link to your blog in your signature line!)

Last but not least, there is Technorati, the blog index that has become so much more. Technorati lets you see who has linked to your blog and how recently, what other sites they have linked to, who they have favorited, and so on.  There’s also an authority ranking (how many sites have linked to a particular blog).   It’s a good way to keep track of which bloggers are saying what, and how other bloggers are reacting to it.

The key idea to remember is that the social networks are a community – you have to participate, learn the mores, and in some cases, follow the rules (for example, many forums have certain codes of conduct and behavior, so check out the regulations before you jump in and post).  Even if you’re a natural rebel, you have to learn the rules before you can break them.  Like any other community, virtual or not, you have to learn to listen as well as speak.

Branding a blog is not unlike branding a business – you want to design a brand that encapsulates your core characteristics, that makes you stand out from the crowd, and that sums up your philosophy. I’m not talking about pretty logos or a memorable slogan, however. In order to succeed in the age of Web 2.0, your brand/blog must be dynamic, beneficial and/or entertaining – or preferably all three. Today’s readers are savvy, demanding, and fickle, so there has to be substance behind the hype if you want your message to stick.

When you begin your blog, ask yourself these questions:

1. What do I want to say? Try to narrow your message down to a few sentences. Think of it as a blogging mission statement (you can put this on your about page).

2. What do I have to offer? What unique skills and knowledge do you have to share with your readers? How can someone benefit by reading your blog? This can can become the basis for your cornerstone content.

3. What is my niche? No one can be all things to all people, so focus on what you can do well. Define your niche so that your blog and brand can be tailored to it (this is also important for SEO purposes, as it helps you to focus on the best possible keywords).

4. Is this sustainable in the long run? Do I have enough to say on this topic to maintain a blog? If you are blogging about your business, (hopefully), you’ll be very passionate about it and have more than enough to say. Remember that creating a successful blog, like a successful brand, requires time and commitment.

5. What sets you apart from the competition? What makes you and your business stand out? Can you describe in a few words? Why should someone read your blog?

As an example, here are the answers for this blog:

1. What do I want to say? In a nutshell, I help bloggers make their blogs better; in particular, I teach to people use blogging to promote their businesses.

2. What do I have to offer? A finely honed writing ability combined with an knowledge of new media and web 2.0 topics, and an awareness of trends in the blogging community.  Plus, I’m patient, friendly, and a good teacher.

3. What is my niche?  Yes, I’m one of the many who blogs about blogging, but I’m focused on helping small business owners and entrepreneurs create compelling content and maximize the potential of their blogs.

4. Is this sustainable in the long run?  Definitely.  I clearly have lots to say, and the blogging community is incredibly dynamic and innovative, so there are always new topics to cover and lots of blog fodder.  I’ve developed blogs before, so I understand the time commitment.  Finally, blogging is something I’m passionate about on a personal level, because starting a blog literally changed my life (ultra quick summary – I was planning on going into a completely different field after I got my B.A., but I started a fashion blog as a hobby, fell in love with the world of blogging and online media, and the rest is history).

5. What sets you apart from the competition?  I consider myself a writer as well as a blogger (just because the web is more informal medium than print doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t put my best face, or posts, forward), and I teach people to use their blogs as a means of active communication, connection, and involvement with their readers/markets instead of just a promotional tool.  I’m in this to help other people succeed.

This post is being submitted to ChrisG on New Media’s Branding Round-up, so click the link for more posts on branding and how it relates to new media.

And a Happy 4th of July to my American readers!

In honor of Daily Blog Tips‘s “Blog Project: Three” Contest, here are the three things that all bloggers should before they hit the publish button on a new post.

1.  Read over and spell check the content.  I know that blogging is an informal medium, but spelling and grammar errors can make you appear less intelligent that you actually are, and a quick proofread only takes a few minutes.  Besides, once you’ve invested the time in setting up your blog, writing posts, and participating in the blogging community, what’s a few more minutes to ensure that you put your best face forward?  Spelling errors on a blog are the equivalent of going into a job interview in track pants and a t-shirt – in a perfect world, appearances wouldn’t matter, but in the real world, they definitely do.

2.  Make sure that your post is tagged properly and assigned to the correct categories.  You want to make it as simple as possible for others to find your blog and use your content, so careful tagging and categorizing are essential and easy things to do.

3.  Link to any other blogs or outside sources you mention.  It helps your readers find out more on a particular topic if they are so inclined, and giving some link love to fellow bloggers is generally a good thing.  Besides, citing your sources lends your blog credibility (well, this may depend on what the sources are, but in general citing can’t hurt).

3.5.  The one thing bloggers should do after they hit publish is to check how their post looks in the context of the rest of the site – is the layout okay?  If there are images, are they are sized and placed properly?  Are any of the links broken?  Did you forget to mention anything really important?  Go back and edit anything that’s not right - one of the many, many excellent aspects of blogging is how easy it is to edit and fix errors. 

*An aside: blogging round-ups, contests, and carnivals are excellent way to get the word out about your blog to other bloggers and new readers, so keep an eye out for similar goings-on in your niche.  The Daily Blog Tips Project 3 contest is very open-ended (as long as you post about something involving the number 3, you can participate).