Think Search Engine Optimization and the only name that runs through
your mind is Google. Because of the unsurpassed position that Google
holds in the search market, search engine optimization has become
synonymous with its own name with people making all possible efforts to
push their websites up the charts of Google results.
However, it
is important to understand that even though Google dominates the search
market by a huge margin, web users use other search engines like Yahoo
and Bing as well. And therefore, leaving out optimization for other
search engines might lead to the loss of a considerable amount of
traffic.
Microsoft Bing is an increasingly gaining popularity in
the recent times. In fact, it has been the only search engine that has
succeeded in at least making a dent on Google's market share. And as
the proposed Microsoft-Yahoo deal goes through, Bing will anyways take
over Yahoo.
Search Engine Optimization for Bing
Just
like Google, Bing also places increased importance on the quality of
links coming to a website to determine its position in its search
results. As Rick DeJarnette of Bing Webmaster Cente puts it,
“Successful link building efforts require a long-term commitment, not
an overnight or turnkey solution." Therefore, webmasters need to make
diligent efforts and invest a lot of quality time in their link
building activities.
Here are some tips to help you with your link building activities:
Build your Business Brand
Brand
building is one of the most important, but oft forgotten consideration
in link building strategies. Remember that people like to link to
credible brands and if your business has a strong online reputation, it
will be a great deal easier to invite links from relevant websites.
Make diligent efforts to build your brand on the internet through
various activities that showcase your expertise and knowledge of your
industry.
Connect with Relevant People
Don't
restrict your social media activities to simply creating a company
profile and letting it be. Instead, be active in your network and
outside as well and find relevant industry people. They may be product
reviewers, bloggers, media people or anyone who matters in your
industry. Stay in touch with such people and make sure they are aware
of your website and the content that you post online. If they like what
you post, then you can highly profit from their credibility in the
market.
Disperse Valuable Content
Be it press
releases, blog posts, forum posts or articles, make sure your content
is original and offers value addition to the readers. Its no use
publishing something that has been said ten times no matter how stylish
you make it. Rather, try to write something new and original that will
provoke users to take notice and discuss. This is the type of content
that gets plagiarized across networks and becomes popular.
Avoid Sudden Increase of Link Magnitude
Link
building should be a natural process and not a one-shot formula.
Therefore, never even attempt to grow your links at one go. A sudden
increase in the number of inbound links to your website in a short span
of time will be considered as spamming by Bing and will result in
penalty. Therefore, create a natural link building strategy where you
place equal importance on content contribution and link building.
Link to Relevant Websites only
Link
building is not about increasing the quantity of links from anywhere
and everywhere on the web. Rather, what counts is the quality of your
links and your website will only be popular if relevant websites
belonging to your industry link to you.
