It’s widely known that search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Ask do not like the ‘pay for links’ setup that goes on behind the scenes for many websites.

As the algorithm behind the big Google bot continues to evolve, the tactics and SEO style of webmasters and their minions must continue to move with it. Because those working with sites regularly get to understand the slight improvements they make in rankings each day – Google is more often now relying on aged domains and large volumes of backlinks to successfully rank websites and blogs.

This is where the forum backlink situation got out of hand.

Russian spammers are out of control on many dormant forums, and some offer backlink purchasing services on forums for small fees. If you are silly enough to buy these for your website you risk being hurt more than helped in the seach engine rankings.

Backlinks from a bad neighbourhood will drive your ranking down in many cases. Your links will be nestled in with illegal pharmacy products and other nasties that the spammers throw up in the forums right beside your link.

The other problem with buying forum backlinks, is the anchor text is usually not followed by a large amount of description or article. A small line of code, a single anchor word will not provide enough background for the search engine spider and algorithm to place you well anyhow.

For new webmasters looking to generate (not buy) links in the early stages, look to simply social bookmarking sites and naturally discuss your topic with others in your niche. Try to setup a link share agreement and where possibly link or mesh between articles if they are similar. This helps your visitors, readers of course the search engine results pages (in your favour).

A good source of generating best backlinks is from a smart directory site; with only limited ‘DO FOLLOW’ options. While ‘no follow’ is of little if any value, specializing is a good thing – so stick to something not everyone is doing.

As the Google focus on domain age continues to grow, there will no doubt be a land grab very soon. As the momentum hits, it could be a return to the heady days of the 2000 tech boom where domains were snapped up quickly and for higher costs.

Cybersquatting (which means buying and holding a domain with little use) might prove more valuable (like an investment or good wine) as a domain ages quietly in the background.

What linking, building or domain strategies have you got up your sleeve? Feel free to share them with us!

Recommend sites for getting great SEO and improved SERPS are; www.seobook.com (Aaron Wall) and www.thirtydaychallenge.com (Dan Raine and Ed Dale) where you will learn plenty of social media, bookmarking, backlinking and web promotional techniques using the latest web2.0 SEO / SEM trends.

Get ready for that next big google dance and ensure your site is well designed and ticks all the boxes!

Buying Forum Backlinks Not Smart is a post from: World Portal