![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
SEO Information |
|
![]() |
Link Building for Hilltop
Hilltop is one of the major concepts underpinning Google's search algorithm, yet its workings and implications are often misunderstood. After the infamous Florida Update, many webmasters were aghast as their rankings plummeted; and again, when the mysterious "sandbox" was implemented, some webmasters could not get a Web site to rank well, period. Part of the reason that some Web sites get shuffled out of the SERPs when new algorithmic features are implemented is that those sites never gained authority in the eyes of the search engines--that is, they were not sufficiently meshed into their local topical communities. This concept of authority was one pioneered in a paper titled "Hilltop: A Search Engine based on Expert Documents," written by Krishna Bharat and George A. Mihaila. The full text is available online at http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~georgem/hilltop/. (Note: Google has obviously not implemented Hilltop in its pure form, but rather uses the principles of topical communities and authority in its algorithm. Likewise, other search engines such as MSN and Yahoo! are not using Hilltop per se, but rather similar algorithmic features. Thus when I mention 'Hilltop' I am referring to not just the specific paper published by Bharat and Mihaila, but also to the fundamental theory upon which any authority-based link popularity algorithm is based. This theory applies to Topic-Sensitive PageRank, etc.) The Basics of Hilltop Google's PageRank formula revolutionized search, but it has a major flaw: it gives each page an absolute measure of importance. Recognizing that a page's importance should be interpreted in light of a given query topic, the Hilltop formula uses the link structure of the topical community related to the query topic when determining relevance. For a given topic query, some pages are considered to be "expert documents," and others are "authorities." A page is an expert document if it "is about a certain topic and has links to many non-affiliated pages on that topic" (this type of page is also sometimes called a hub). A page is an authority "if and only if some of the best experts on the query topic point to it." To summarize: hubs link to authorities; authorities are linked to by hubs. The Challenge for New Web Sites The nature of the World Wide Web dictates that it will take time for a new Web site to get links from within its topical community. Many hubs such as resource lists or niche directories are only updated periodically with new links. Still others are static pages that will never be changed. Then there is the "human factor." It takes time for a Web site to be recognized as valuable, and for webmasters to trust it enough to link to it. Older authority sites and hubs also tend to link to other older authority sites, creating a sort of self-perpetuating authority set (Mike Grehan refers to this phenomenon in his article "Filthy Linking Rich," available online at http://www.e-marketing-news.co.uk/Oct04/RichLinking.html). This all adds up to the fact that it is very hard to make a new Web site an authority in the eyes of the search engine, which begs the question: How can a new Web site become entrenched in its topical neighborhood more quickly? Break Into Your Topical Neighborhood To make your Web site an authority, you should first seek to obtain links from topical hubs. Obvious hubs might include any niche directories or resource pages about your Web site's topic. One way to find less obvious hubs is to do a backlink search on authority sites in your topical community. Finding authority sites is easy--they are the sites that rank highly for a search for that topic. Once you find an authority, search "link:http://www.theirsite.com." Go through the backlinks, and find pages that link out to multiple sites within your topic; a page that links out to multiple authority sites is probably considered a hub by a search engine. Aside from hubs, it can be quite helpful to get links from the authority sites themselves. I have seen many Web sites get a significant boost after obtaining just one link from a top authority. It is implied that an authority site will link out less than will a hub, and therefore it is possible that these links are even more valuable in terms of rankings. Obtaining links from quality hubs and authorities is easier said than done. One can however use certain methods to get links quickly. These methods include but are not limited to: offering to swap links; submitting a relevant, well-written press release; submitting a relevant, well-written article with your Web site's URL hyperlinked and embedded in the copy; offering to buy or rent a links; and, of course, writing a lot of great content (it will get noticed, sooner or later!). Conclusion Obtaining links from reputable sources within your Web site's topical community is necessary in order for that site to be ranked highly in today's search engine algorithms. Getting your Web site entrenched within its topical community would be a good idea anyway, even if search engines did not exist--which is a pretty good litmus test for a strong, long-term SEO method. Andy Hagans is a search engine optimization consultant who specializes in link building and risk management. Visit http://www.andyhagans.com for more information. See http://www.andyhagans.com/articles.php for an archive of Mr. Hagans' articles.
MORE RESOURCES:
What Is Important to Know About SEO in 2021 The Southern Maryland Chronicle Content consolidation among winning SEO strategies, award winners say Search Engine Land How to Do a Content Gap Analysis for SEO Search Engine Journal Video: Dawn Beobide on the importance of training your developers on SEO Search Engine Land How SEO works and how to use it to rank higher in search results - Business Insider Business Insider International SEO for 2021 & Beyond: 9-Point Checklist for Success Search Engine Journal 17 SEO & Digital Marketing Expert Tips from SEJ eSummit 2021 Search Engine Journal All SEJ eSummit Presentations Are Now Online: Binge on SEO, PPC, Content & More Search Engine Journal How to Hire an Enterprise SEO Expert for Your Marketing Team Search Engine Journal Do Incognito Searches Affect SEO or Rankings Search Engine Journal Vlog #104: Dawn Beobide On Educating Your Developers On SEO (Part One) Search Engine Roundtable Top 5 SEO Examples For Manufacturers ThomasNet News Learn How to Take Your Enterprise SEO to a New Level at eSummit Search Engine Journal Google Ranks Webpages, Not Websites Search Engine Journal Get Started on your Law Firm SEO Action Plan The National Law Review SEO year in review 2020: COVID forces platforms to adapt their local and e-commerce offerings, and more Search Engine Land SEJ eSummit Is TODAY: Accelerate Your SEO & Marketing for 2021 Search Engine Journal Healthcare SEO Fundamentals to Grow Your Medical Practice Search Engine Journal A Quick Guide to SEO for Non-Profits [Infographic] Social Media Today These Common SEO Mistakes Can Torpedo Your Rankings Builder Magazine No-Click Searches Require a New Way to Measure SEO Results Search Engine Journal WordPress All in One SEO Auto Updates Cause Backlash Search Engine Journal SEO Agencies and Professionals can Accurately Study their Digital Performance with a Keyword Rank Checker Seekers Time Tips to hire an SEO agency - - VENTS Magazine VENTS Magazine 87 Top eCommerce SEO Tips - Business 2 Community Business 2 Community Enterprise SEO in 2021: The Importance of Insights & Value of Action Search Engine Journal Congratulations to Joe Wheeler, our January Employee of the Month Internet Marketing News Award-winning tips from the 2020 Search Engine Land SEM and SEO agencies of the year Search Engine Land How to Improve Your SEO Ranking (4 Must-See Tips!) Business 2 Community Meet Rahul Dakare, the SEO expert making a fortune Hindustan Times Dealing With "This Is The Way Our Old SEO Did It" Search Engine Roundtable SEO Poll: SEO Content Priorities Search Engine Roundtable Skyrocket Your Brand’s Digital Media Presence With Umer Anees the SEO Expert From Pakistan Yahoo India News Stellar SEO Creates a New Division Providing Law Firm SEO Services - Press Release - Digital Journal How your business can benefit from SEO Business MattersBusiness Matters Image: 7 SEO Digital Marketing Trends for 2021 Business 2 Community International SEO Roundup - what are the differences between countries when developing their SEO? MintTwist Blog Miami SEO Agency Tips On Google Maps Marketing Programming Insider Enough With The B.S. Resolutions: In 2021 We Optimize Them Search Engine Journal Infidigit bags SEO mandate for cure.fit ETBrandEquity.com Gozoop wins integrated media, SEO mandate for EuroSchool group ETBrandEquity.com SEO Software Market Analysis by Region Analysis and Business Development, By 20 Business-newsupdate.com No need to search far for tips on SEO Worcester News True Beauty ending: Will Seo Jun break up with Ju Gyeong? Read current speculations - Republic World Google Reportedly Blocking Australian News From Search Search Engine Journal 3 PR and marketing trends to watch in 2021 AZ Big Media SEO Software Market Set to Register healthy CAGR During Forecast (2021-2025) – NeighborWebSJ NeighborWebSJ 5 cute moments from True Beauty: Seo Jun, Lee Su Ho, Ju Gyeong’s love triangle and more Republic World Junior SEO Analyst job, Cape Town Bizcommunity.com How to Optimize Your Website for Local Search in 2021 Business 2 Community How to Learn SEO: A U.S. News Guide U.S. News & World Report SEO 101: Get Your SEO Guide for Beginners [EBOOK] Search Engine Journal 3 Things You Must Know About SEO in 2021 Search Engine Journal RIP antiquated SEO: Google’s guidelines stress quality content Digital Commerce 360 YouTube SEO for Beginners: 10 Best Practices to Get You Started Search Engine Journal 9 Law Firm Marketing Tactics for Business Building in 2021 Search Engine Journal 10 Reasons Why SEO Doesn't Work Search Engine Journal 3 Steps to Better Content: Power up Your SEO with Audience Understanding Search Engine Journal The 10 Commandments Of SEO Forbes How to Turn SEO Into a Measurable Revenue Generator Search Engine Journal The 3 main components of SEO AZ Big Media The Complete Guide to SEO for Course Creators Entrepreneur 20 Things I Learned From 20 Years of Working in the SEO Industry Search Engine Journal |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Basics to Search Engine Optimization Search Engine Optimization popularly known as SEO.SEO is the process of optimizing or modifying a website to increase its popularity and ranking in listings of search engines. Increase Web Site Sales with a SEO Proposal - Part 2 Part I of this article discussed some of the points that should be included in a search engine optimization proposal. Visit the resources section at the bottom of the page if you wish to get a copy of the whole article. Search Engine Spiders Lost Without Guidance - Post This Sign! The robots.txt file is an exclusion standard required by all web crawlers/robots to tell them what files and directories that you want them to stay OUT of on your site. The Power of Search Engine Friendly URLs I recently invested quite some time into generating search engine friendly URLs for several of my websites to increase my ranking and to have more pages indexed. I can highly recommend to look into this if your own website does not have se-friendly URLs. Types of Links Internal Linking - An introductionThe web as they call it is a mesh of links. The wired world is now being counted for what it is. Five and a Half Ways to Amp Up Your Search Engine Optimization Statistics show that 85% of pages visited on the Internet come from people who have gotten there from a search engine. Statistically, people look first at the top of the first page of the regular search results, then the bottom, and then they go to the sponsored listings. HTML and Search Engine Optimization - What You Dont Know Can Kill You When it comes to search engine optimization there is a lot of information available, some accurate, some not. If you really want to know what is going on regarding your website and how to best optimize it for good results with the search engines, you need to do some SEO research. 7 Steps to Prepare You for The Local Search Bonanza At One Time Local Searches were reserved for services like City Guides and Online Yellow Pages. But the BIG 3 (Yahoo, Google and MSN) have all jumped into the Local Search Market. Tools of the Trade, the SEO Must Have Utilities Search Engine traffic accounts for nearly 80% of the Internet traffic. It is no wonder all website owners want their pages appear in the first 3 pages of the Search engine Results Pages ( SERPS). SEO Facts The internet is the largest market place on earth. It offers unparalleled access to an international base of consumers - and referrers. The Great Search Engine Experiment Revisited Who is the Coolest Guy in the Universe A recent Search Engine Experiment Demonstrates how by combining Key Word Rich Web Pages and Blog Entries (for a Highly Targeted Keyword Phrases) with Article Submissions to Top Ranked Article Directories anyone can Dominant the First Page of the Search Results in the Big 3 Search Engines.Recently I did a search engine Experiment where I decided to Brand Myself the Coolest guy in the Universe. Google Rank Cake 6 cups thick content mix 1 jar word of mouth, whipped 2 tablespoons meta tags 1 cup creativity1) In a bowl, stir content mix with 1 cup creativity. Stir. SEO Expert Guide - Keyword Analysis (part 3/10) If you imagine that building an optimized site is like cooking a meal, then keywords are the essential ingredients. Would you attempt to cook a complex new dish without first referring to a recipe? Would you start before you had all the ingredients available and properly prepared?In our analogy, key words are your ingredients and the rest of the guide (after this part) is your recipe. Search Engine Essentials What are Search Engines?There are numerous different search engines, and all are essentially huge databases containing information about web pages from the internet. A web-based user interface then allows the user to search the contents of this database. Google Website and Web Page Indexing for Dummies You may have heard how important it is to have your website optimized for search engines, especially Google, which is currently the most popular worldwide. The reason for this is so your website will be ranked high in the search engines and people will see your site first, click on it, and increase your traffic and ultimately your sales. SEO: When Being Optimized Can Hurt It's a marketing dream come true: A potential customer, looking for what you have to offer, types a few words into her favorite search engine and voila! She is led directly to your website where she can go from "prospect" to "customer."The best part is, it didn't cost you anything (except time and elbow grease) to get to the top of her results. Get A Top Position In Google In Three Days! So how do you get a top listing in Google and how do you get into Google quickly.Lets begin with the latter. Link Popularity Pitfalls As we all know Google uses their PageRank technology to measure link popularity by counting the number of inbound links to your web pages, and it is one of the many factors influencing your ranking. Most website owners do not utilize properly what PageRank they already have. Google Contest - Nigritude Ultramarine Search engine optimization experts are having fun with Google. Experts, with DarkBlue. Search Engine Optimization Lies & Misconceptions In a perfect world, everyone would be honest.In a perfect world, no one would violate search engine policies to try get a better listing. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 |