One of the most important factors in determining a site’s PageRank, as well as overall ranking within Google’s index, is the quality of incoming links. Today, we look at some tips from insiders across the web on how to go about building a quality incoming link structure.

Thoughts On Link Buidling

Obtaining quality links can feel like an arduous process when trying to get a site off the ground. Sure, there are lots of shady methods that one could employ to achieve “instant linkification” if one were so inclined, but these methods present little in terms of a long term strategy for link building.

So, enterprising journalist that I am, I took to the web to see what those most familiar with the practice of link building had to say about getting quality inbound links.

Ken Yarmosh is a strategy consultant for Viget Labs. In his personal blog, he outlines 7 ways to achieve quality links. You can read the blog entry for a complete rundown, but there are two items that I believe bear specific mention:

Ah, the art of the sound byte; it’s finally crossed over into the online realm. Boldness of speech, misplaced or not, goes a long way in getting people to link to your content. Make outlandish claims (at least try to back them up, though), call out companies and individuals if you don’t like what they’re doing, and don’t be afraid to rock the boat.

Or, as my colleague Jason Lee Miller would say, “Write like you’ve got a pair.”

This goes hand in hand with the previous point. If you’re going to have the guts to make controversial statements, you have to be willing to not take yourself so seriously. Before the website’s recent “change in direction”, Valleywag was a sterling example of controversial humor. With Nick Douglas as the main writer, there was nary a day that went by that I didn’t experience a giant belly laugh over something that had been written over at the ‘Wag.

Humor is powerful in luring links to your content.

Okay, so we’ve touched on some things that you should do in order to make a site more linkable. Now, let’s look at something to avoid in striving for quality inbound links. Donna Konley at the Web Design Library gives this warning to site administrators:

Again, don’t take the quick fix. In the long run, your site’s reputation, as well as it’s ranking within the index, will suffer more than prosper from questionable link building tactics.

Content issues are key, but are there other methods when it comes to bringing in links? Brian Hawkins of Extreme Site Promotions offers this tip:

Seek to form partnerships with other content providers. Build your links over time by establishing a good rapport with other reputable businesses.

All these methods will provide a solid foundation when it comes to linkage. Obviously, as a business grows, the methods in which it generates incoming links will change. There is no “one size fits all” approach to link building, only underlying concepts which companies will have to adapt to fit specific needs and goals.

If you can manage to do all this, and do it well, you can expect to see a marked improvement in the quality of inbound links to your site.

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Joe is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.