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Search engines exist to give searchers the best possible results. They use complicated algorithms to rank sites. One important factor in these rankings is links. Their logic is that if another webmaster links to a site, it must be of some value. The more links pointing to the site, the more value gets assigned to it. Search Engine Optimizers (SEOs) know this and they begin linking campaigns to get the most links they can. What they do not know is search engines could be catching on to these artificial link building schemes.

SEOs find the appropriate category in directories, submit the site, its description and URL (address) then move on to the next one. They find a linking partner, give him/her the site title, URL and its description and move on. They write articles and include the same About the Author section for each article. Their goal is quantity. The problem is the SEOs are making it easy for the search engines to see that he/she is artificially link building and devalue those links. How? Search engines detect the exact same anchor text and description for every link.

In a world with no SEO or artificial link building, each and every link to a website would be different because every webmaster is a different person. In no possible way could twenty different people think of the same exact anchor text when linking to a site. So in our world, its easy for the search engines to spot artificial link building. However, there are two ways to fix this problem:

• 1. Create a slightly different description and anchor text for every single link you ask for. This gives the illusion that you are not artificially link building.
• 2. If you really believe in your site you can never ask for another link. This may seem off the deep end, but there is logic to it. With this method, you still will receive links, but for a different reason. You have to create a site with such good content and so frequently updated that everyone will feel obligated to link to you. Become a leader in your industry. This method worked for many sites. Try it for yourself, although it does require a vast amount of hard work. This is the method search engines want. People will link to you because you are a great resource. Every link will be different. Successfully using this method you will see a boost in the rankings and traffic as well.

Do not leave a roadmap of your SEO efforts for the search engines to find. Your efforts should look like natural links. You can go as far as to not have a link building campaign. Whichever option you choose, work hard at it, you will see results in the search engine rankings, traffic or both.

Derek Croote is the webmaster of freeseoquiz.com and he invites you to test your knowledge of search engine optimization by taking any of his free SEO quizzes.