Q – Which keywords do I use to linkbuild with?
A – Look at your analytics.
Use keywords (and synonyms) that already drive traffic that you are not already no1 for (in anchor text in articles). Write 50 articles with 50 of the anchor text variations below (going to the relevant page that Google already thinks enough of to rank and send traffic to) and syndicate.

Virtually no chance of a penalty, either. Of course, I’m assuming you’ve built a decent site (the site below has 50 pages on it - if you are subscribed you would have got even more info ;)

Scenario – New site, optimised, solid architecture, unique content and  3 months worth of traffic….

CLARIFICATION – The aim of course is to get MORE traffic of the type Google is ALREADY giving your shop. By linkbuilding to the positions Google is already giving you traffic for, you’ll quickly improve the amount of traffic to your site via these terms -  your site will rank naturally for SOMETHING – so focus on improving those terms at the beginning, instead of JUST going for the most competitive terms. It looks more natural.

I’ll often throw up a store and see what Google gives me, then link build to these longtail terms to capture quick positions via simple article syndication. Then go for the money keyterms over a realistic timescale. For instance, with the example below, I will happy to be no1 for the single keyword (+ plural term) in 6 months…. but I want to improve relevant traffic now.

This is a linkbuilding tip for a new ecommerce shop for example. I thought it might be of more use than:

get links from the bbc

Keyword
Pageviews
Unique Pageviews
Avg. Time on Page
Bounce Rate
% Exit
1.
widget
 191 122 00:00:39 22.22% 25.13%
2.
cheap widgets
 47 27 00:01:06 0.00% 19.15%
3.
buy widget
 39 24 00:01:17 28.57% 17.95%
4.
widget for sale
 26 17 00:01:25 28.57% 26.92%
5.
widget sales
 25 17 00:00:18 0.00% 20.00%
6.
widget for sale
 16 12 00:00:11 20.00% 31.25%
7.
widget cheap
 14 9 00:00:30 33.33% 21.43%
8.
childrens widget
 13 8 00:00:15 0.00% 23.08%
9.
black widget
 12 6 00:00:19 0.00% 8.33%
10.
widget sale
 12 11 00:00:16 20.00% 41.67%
11.
buy widget
 11 7 00:00:22 0.00% 18.18%
12.
cheap widget
 11 6 00:00:18 0.00% 27.27%
13.
cheap widget online
 10 5 00:01:14 0.00% 10.00%
14.
sale widget
 10 6 00:00:28 0.00% 20.00%
15.
cheap widget
 9 6 00:00:28 0.00% 11.11%
16.
cheap widget for sale
 8 6 00:08:32 33.33% 37.50%
17.
widget black sale
 8 4 00:00:35 0.00% 12.50%
18.
buy a widget
 7 4 00:00:11 0.00% 14.29%
19.
cheap widget
 7 4 00:00:19 0.00% 14.29%
20.
buy a widget
 6 4 00:01:04 0.00% 33.33%
21.
cheapo widget
 6 3 00:05:03 0.00% 16.67%
22.
widget cheap
 6 5 00:00:07 0.00% 16.67%
23.
buy widget online
 5 4 00:00:11 0.00% 20.00%
24.
buy white widget
 5 4 00:00:15 0.00% 20.00%
25.
widget sale
 5 3 00:00:16 0.00% 20.00%
26.
buy “widget”
 4 3 00:10:05 0.00% 25.00%
27.
cheap widget for sale
 4 4 00:00:17 0.00% 25.00%
28.
low cost widget
 4 4 00:00:09 0.00% 25.00%
29.
widget
 4 4 00:01:03 66.67% 75.00%
30.
childs leather kilt widget
 3 2 00:00:14 0.00% 33.33%
31.
low cost widget
 3 3 00:00:26 0.00% 33.33%
32.
widget widget for sale
 3 2 00:00:24 0.00% 33.33%
33.
widget, scottish, for sale
 3 2 00:00:31 0.00% 33.33%
34.
widget order
 3 2 00:02:08 0.00% 33.33%
35.
where can i buy a widget
 3 2 00:00:12 0.00% 33.33%
36.
white widget
 3 3 00:00:22 0.00% 33.33%
37.
white widget
 3 3 00:00:27 50.00% 66.67%
38.
buy white widgets
 2 2 00:04:10 0.00% 0.00%
39.
cheap widgot
 2 2 00:00:56 0.00% 50.00%
40.
grey skin widget
 2 2 00:00:11 0.00% 50.00%
41.
sale widget
 2 2 00:00:16 0.00% 50.00%
42.
silver skin widget
 2 2 00:00:31 0.00% 50.00%
43.
widget clean
 2 2 00:04:40 0.00% 50.00%
44.
online purchase
 2 1 00:10:57 0.00% 50.00%
45.
widgets clean
 2 1 00:03:34 0.00% 50.00%
46.
widget
 2 2 00:00:29 0.00% 50.00%
47.
widget
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
48.
animal widget
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
49.
antique widget for sale
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
50.
black widget
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
51.
buy cheap widgets
 1 0 00:00:00 0.00% 100.00%
52.
grey  widgets
 1 1 00:00:00 0.00% 100.00%
53.
grey widget
 1 1 00:01:39 0.00% 0.00%
54.
leather widget
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
55.
widget chain
 1 1 00:00:46 0.00% 0.00%
56.
red widget
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
57.
scottish widget for sale
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
58.
widget buy
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%
59.
widget on sale
 1 1 00:00:00 100.00% 100.00%

Using Analytics of course you can quickly identify the most valuable traffic you are already getting…. and improve that traffic first….

We've recently updated our comments policy and increased the number of comments a visitor has to make to get seo friendly links in comment signatures to reward long term readers and make it a bit harder for dofollow spammers ;) - I told you dofollow spamming wasn't a long term strategy....