Search Engine Strategies for Affiliate Websites

The major search engines are always on the lookout to improve their search results and to weed out websites with duplicate content. They are also weeding out websites that mainly contain affiliate links. This is going to affect quite a few businesses on the Internet that depend on affiliate links to generate revenue.

Especially the last Google update kicked some major affiliate players out the index - leaving those websites out in the rain. Loss of traffic was immediate and loss of revenue was dramatic. Future updates can be even more dramatic - therefore threatening the existence of online businesses depending on affiliate marketing. It can also affect the actual company running the affiliate program as their sales would go down if affiliates fail to generate leads.

There are certain strategies affiliates can implement to reduce the risk of being de-listed from Google, Yahoo! or MSN. No affiliate website should match another one to avoid being punished for duplicate content. Each and every link to sub-pages should have a different URL and the naming convention for pages should be different. This will be very important for template websites that usually match each other like one egg the other.

Building up incoming links is still the most critical piece. Avoid building up a huge number of links in a very short time-frame as it could actually cause a red flag for search engines. Building up links should be a slow but steady process. From my own observation I think it is safe to say that 50 incoming links per month should be the upper limit for the first 3-6 months of the existence of a website.

If your affiliate website is build from a template its links to pages will match with other websites build from the same template. This will raise a red flag with search engines. If a web server supports mod_rewrite the affiliate should go and re-write the URLs to change their appearance to the outside. Apache web server and mod_rewrite even allow the affiliate to create keyword enriched URLs this way.

Adding random content to web pages containing affiliate links and products is another step to disguise the actual purpose of the web site/web page. If a website is build using PHP, I highly recommend to implement a random text include for the pages in question. Start with a quote of the day script and modify it for your needs.

The steps lined out in this article will not guarantee that your website stays in the search engine index but it is certainly a step into the right direction to implement each one.

About the Author

Christoph Puetz is a successful entrepreneur and international book author. Examples of his search engine optimization work can be found at http://www.vitaminassociates.com and http://www.beefkabobs.com

---

The Reality of Search Engine Submissions

Over the last few months, search engine submissions have changed... Read More

Twelve Steps to Higher Search Engine Placement

Recent studies suggest that more than 80% of new visitors... Read More

SEO Deadly Sins - Mistakes That Hurt Web Page Ranking

The following are a list of mistakes can ensure that... Read More

Banned from Google and Wondering Why?

There are those that get on the computer one night... Read More

Which Search Engine Optimization Services to choose, Google OR Yahoo?

Search Engine Optimization is emerging as the most powerful form... Read More

Without Conversion Rates You Don’t Know If You’re Mickey Mouse Or Mickey Mantle

I couldn’t agree more with the headline of this article... Read More

Google PageRank Explained

1. What is PageRank? Here is what Google says:" PageRank... Read More

How To Get Number 1 Spot In Google, Every Time, Guaranteed

Woaah! Wait a minute. Before I exclusively reveal these insider... Read More

Easy Steps to Get Onto Google Top Search Pages

To get on Google's top pages can be accomplished by... Read More

Commonly SEO terms and Jargon used by Search Engine Gurus

What does all this SEO jargon mean.Have you ever been... Read More

Choosing a good domain name isnt always so simple.

So you need a domain name for your brand new... Read More

Optimizing Your Website

Search Engine Optimization, optimizing your website for it to be... Read More

All You Need to Know About Your Website Traffic is Contained in 5 Key Stats

You built that content rich web page optimized for your... Read More

How to Get a Website Indexed Fast

Get Indexed FastWhat does getting indexed mean?The search engines keep... Read More

Paris Hiltons Reputation is SHOT! Hows Yours?

With apologies for the cheap trick of mentioning Paris Hilton... Read More

Google Slavery...Old Habits Die Hard

For the first few months after Yahoo decided to go... Read More

Website Ranking With an Internet Marketing Specialist

On the internet, competition is stronger than ever. There was... Read More

Guide to Getting Linked

Getting links from other websites pointing to your site can... Read More

Ten Critical Website and Search Engine Promotion Mistakes

When it comes to promoting your website, you might think... Read More

SEO and Google Indexing - Why It Requires A Complex Blend of Skills

If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Getting... Read More

SEO -- Tips to Optimize Your Webpage to Compete for a High Ranking

Search engine optimization (SEO) is very important to websites. If... Read More

Google Love - Five Top Tips To Make Google Love Your Site

1. Google love ...Google and all its programming is not... Read More

Whats Link Popularity?

Link popularity is just one of the ways you can... Read More

Driving Your Website through Google Sandbox

What is Google Sandbox?Google Sandbox is applied on new websites,... Read More

Why You Should NOT Submit Your Site On Search Engines

Before to answer to this question we have to know... Read More

Absolute Top Five Search Engine Marketing Myths Uncovered!

It's no secret that Search Engine marketing can drive significant... Read More

Why Is SEO So Important To Your Site?

You have heard the phrase LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. But wait,... Read More

Getting Honest With The Search Engines

Getting Honest With The Search EnginesI spend a lot of... Read More

Have You Heard Of Website Optimization

Have you heard of website optimization ? If you are... Read More

Creating A Search Engine Copywriting Plan

Search engine copywriting has become an extremely important part of... Read More

Search Engine Optimization Explained

Search Engine Listing And OptimizationIn the world of website marketing,... Read More

How and Why to Avoid the SEO Mania

The WhyBut what is the reality of reaching a number... Read More

Straight Talk on Search Engine Optimization

To get your website listed well in the major search... Read More