In Episode 046, Mark discusses link building strategies that work after Google's Penguin update, shares his plans for building affiliate sites in 2013, and includes a clip from his daughter Pam's region choir concert.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
- What link building strategies work after Google Penguin
- How to diversify your anchor text to avoid penalties
- What authority links are and how to acquire them
- Mark's plan to build 10 new profitable affiliate sites in 2013
Episode Show Notes
Mark opens recovering from a virus but dives into the topic listeners have been asking about: what kinds of links actually work now that Google has penalized aggressive link building.
Link Building Topics Covered
In response to listener Chuck Brown's voicemail, Mark addresses three key questions:
- What kinds of links are working: Mark has put low-end link building on hold and is experimenting with higher-end paid SEO services. He does not use his full-time virtual assistant for link building, preferring specialized SEO firms with the automation to do it cost-effectively.
- Anchor text ratios: Highly diversified, with no more than 20 percent exact-match keyword anchor text. Mark mixes in LSI keywords, natural language phrases, and bare URLs.
- Authority links: Links from high PageRank sites in your niche, or from high-authority social platforms. Contextual links within blog post content carry the most weight.
Affiliate Site Plans for 2013
Mark has been studying Andrew Hansen's affiliate marketing course and plans to build 10 new profitable sites during the year, tracking results publicly on the podcast.
What's Changed Since This Episode
Mark recorded this in February 2013. Link building has evolved from a tactical game of building specific link types to a strategic discipline focused on earning editorial links through quality content, digital PR, and genuine relationships. The specific platforms and tools mentioned in this episode are largely obsolete, but the principle of diversified, natural-looking link profiles remains central to modern SEO.
Listen and Subscribe
Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/.
I’m glad to hear you are going to be creating sites based on Andrew’s course. I just purchased it and have started reviewing the videos myself. I am looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts and experiences while you implement what you get from this course.