Paris Hiltons Reputation is SHOT! Hows Yours?

With apologies for the cheap trick of mentioning Paris Hilton to get your attention, coming to grips with the idea you're about to discover is critically important to your success with search engines!

Because while it's true that there are many factors that determine how well a page ranks in Google - did you know that one stands out above the rest? It's link text. (Also known as anchor text?)

So much so, link text can be the deciding factor when chasing top rankings for extremely competitive keywords.

And for sure can't hurt for lesser search terms.

You see link text creates what's known as "link reputation". Have enough links using the same phrase as the link text and Google can't help but conclude that's what the page linked to is all about.

Yeah but?how powerful is the link text of inbound links, really?

Well guess what? It's so powerful you can land top listings for a given keyword phrase without the keyword phrase even appearing anywhere on the page.

Since I can sense your skepticism from here, let me prove it using 6 examples which I was able to dig up in about 15 minutes. Starting with

===> The "website traffic" Mystery

First I did a search for "website traffic" in Google.

When I did the search, (and we both know things can change) this site, http://buytraffic.1st-casinoaffiliateprograms.com, was poised in position #3.

Casino affiliates?

Not necessarily what would come to mind as a site dealing with website traffic now is it?

Yet try as I might, when I searched that page for the term "website traffic" I couldn't find it. Not even once. But when I went in search of the links to that page however here's what I did find:

"Buy website traffic - casino traffic - You can choose to buy website traffic or if you own an online casino you can buy complete packages including signups, banner displays and unique visitors. This can push your website traffic and signups dramatically."

Huh? See that? That listing's got "website traffic" in the link text. And a couple more times in the description.

I guess the only possible explanation for the #3 ranking for "website traffic" is the link text. That's what is causing that page to rank #3 for that term.

===> Cell Phone

For example two I searched on "cell phone". This time Sprint PCS came in at #5 out of 5,100,000 listings in Google.

Once again, the term "cell phone" did NOT appear anywhere on their page.

===> Laptop/Laptops Examples

Next I tried "laptop". The Apple Powerbook listing came in at #4. Yet, and you guessed it, the word "laptop" was no where to be found on that page.

Since I was in the neighborhood, for the fourth example I gave "laptops" a shot. The site was sitting in #4 out of 5,910,000 competing pages when I did that search. Yet once again, the word "laptops" doesn't show up on that page either.

Of course a check of the backlinks turned this up from the Yahoo Directory:

"Discount Laptops - retailer of new and refurbished notebook computers."

Oh and I found the exact same listing in DMOZ. Since it featured "Discount Laptops" as the link text, it's only natural Google would conclude the page is about what else? Laptops!

===> Jobs

Monster.com currently holds down the #1 spot for the search term "jobs". Once again, (you beginning to see a trend here?) the word "jobs" does not even appear on that page.

===> Money

Finally I searched on "money". Perched at #16 was MasterCard's website. Here too, the word "money" was not used even once in the visible text.

===> Summing Up This Link Text Stuff

Based on the evidence when it comes to ranking high in Google, saying link text trumps all is surely not too strong of a statement.

In fact it's absolutely positively true. Focusing on link text is a surefire Google seo tactic. Yes, content counts, but link text counts for more..

Making link text the closest thing to a sure thing you can get.

Simply put, link text, which is used to develop your site's link reputation, is one of the most powerful seo techniques going. It gives you ranking momentum like nothing else. Use tightly focused link text with links from high PR pages and you've got yourself an unstoppable combination.

So are you capitalizing on the power of link text?

Are you constantly getting links with the appropriate link text in them?

If not why not?

Because as I've shown you - link text really does trump all.

John Gergye shares more ideas like this in his recently updated eBook "Traffic From Google in 35 Days". Find out more here: http://www.traffic-test-tube.com/j/tfg35cl. shtml/ Or test your search engine IQ by taking his seo quiz http://www.traffic-test-tube.com/s earch-engine-quiz.shtml/ and get the free special report "Coming Out On Top".

---

10 Steps To Higher Search Engine Positioning

There is perhaps no more level playing field in business... Read More

KEI Concerns and CID Alternative

Like many folks, I have been using KEI for some... Read More

Can Google Really Deliver Country Specific Searching?

This is a serious matter, can Google really deliver top... Read More

Article Marketing: Fox in the Competitor Hen House or Chicken Little?

I recently was asked by an author to remove a... Read More

Optimize Your Site Pt2

6: The hidden benefits to having the right links. Every... Read More

SEO Expert Guide - Sitewide Optimization (part 4/10)

In parts 1 and 2 you learnt how to develop... Read More

Google Patent Application - User Data As Part of Ranking Process

In this third article, we continue to dig into the... Read More

Getting To Know Google

Having greatly benefited from my relationship with Google in the... Read More

Search Engine Optimization :: The Basics and Why Websites Need It

We all know that the most targeted traffic we can... Read More

Search Engines The Masters Of The Internet Universe ? Part 2

"This is a continuation of the pervious part, split into... Read More

Everything You Wanted To Know About Google -- But Were Afraid To Search For!

(A Reflective look at the little search engine that soared!)All... Read More

How to Increase Alexa Ranking of Your Website

Alexa toolbar also useful to Browse expired websites database. Many... Read More

The Need of Popularity

In very simple words, the link popularity of your site... Read More

Local Search Optimization - A Guide to Getting Started

While searching the web these days, it's hard not to... Read More

Are Your SEO Efforts Going To Waste?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a long and complicated process... Read More

Going To Market: Keywords and Backlinks, Part 1

As I waded into the 'Make Money Online' waters on... Read More

SEO #1: Choosing THE Keywords to Optimize for

This is the first lesson out of 6 that teaches... Read More

Five Ways To Win The Favor Of Search Engines

You've got a cool new website with all the works:... Read More

Screwed: Is this an inevitability in the SEO World?

By about 2pm everyday, each of my team members has... Read More

An Ethical Alternative to Doorway Pages

Definition: A doorway page is content created specifically for the... Read More

SEO 101

SEO (search engine optimization) is a booming businees these days.... Read More

MLM and SEO - Bad Business! No Business!

MLM has been around way before the Internet. It is... Read More

Do Not Ever Link to a Site Without Doing This First!

Links are a crucial part of attaining high search rankings,... Read More

Keywords, Ranking, & Search Engine Optimization Fun

I am a Search Engine Optimization newbie. I have read... Read More

How Do I Improve My Web Site Conversion Rate? Part 2

Question 1Does it help to track visitor behavior on websites... Read More

The Myth of Rankings - Beyond Search Engine Optimization

What follows is a condensed version of a conversation that... Read More

New MSN Search Engine: How Good is it?

If you have an online business or you just use... Read More

Search Engine Ranking - What Works Now

The methods employed to increase your search engine rankings may... Read More

Quick Keyword Research that Works!!!

Keywords are terms or words related to particular topic. Keyword... Read More

Get a Number One Google Ranking With This Simple Technique

You probably do this already - complete regular searches in... Read More

Is Reciprocal Linking Dead?

I just read an article at SitePro News that really... Read More

Googlebot Wont Go Home

I have 'Googlebot' crawl my site every day like a... Read More

How to Verify and Monitor Your Search Engine Listing on Google?

Being listed in search engines and ranked high on searches... Read More