PINNED: Discuss Google SEO: Backlinks, Link Building, Link Popularity

[Former_Member]

This thread is for discussions and questions about Google SEO: Backlinks, Link Building, Link Popularity

Google (and Yahoo and Bing) uses the the number and quality of backlinks to determine which web pages come up first, second, third . . . etc in Google search results.

Building backlinks for your shop is the best way to move your shop and individual listings up higher in Google search results. But there are many pitfalls, many ways you can make big and costly mistakes.

Post your questions and comments here.

[ThePurpleTable]

Is posting a link to a section of your shop within the description of a listing a "good" backlink? Does it count?

[OxArtJewelry]

I'm considering making a Squidoo 'lens' but wondering whether it will have much SEO value. When I search for various information I rarely come across a Squidoo lens. Does that indicate to you Google doesn't value it? My time, as is every other Etsy seller's, is too valuable to spend for little gain... With a blog, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ we're all spread pretty thin.

[GueGueCreations]

I have the same question Debi has above. Is a backlink to another item better?

[boygirlboygirldesign]

I know nothing about back links, what they are etc. I am really green about this topic. Is there a place where I can get info about this?

[Former_Member]

I have a link on my hubby's web site to mine and vise versa, but they are completely different types of businesses. Will these be considered 'bad links'?

[GraceEarrings]

here http://www.etsy.com/teams/11352/relevancy-and-seo-for-all-etsy-shops/discuss/9617969

and a few other useful links
<----------
scroll up a bit, see left hand side
under Elsewhere/ team logo

[BlackberryDesigns]

I have a top listed (#1 position)google site for decoupage papers. If I build many links from that site, will it help.

[Former_Member]

I am on Squidoo as a Squidoo Angel and a Giant Squid. I find that linking my shop has not worked. I get a few views from Squidoo, but no sales.

Squidoo is worthwile in of itself for those who like to write and you can put your shop out there on facebook, twitter, pinterest and Google + which are all linked to the Squidoo site.

[ThePurpleTable]

I read thru the links Grace posted and the section under elsewhere, but still didn't see an answer. Am I just missing it somewhere or not understanding?

Is posting a link to a section of your shop within the description of a listing a "good" backlink? Does it count?

[Former_Member]

Debi from ThePurpleTable says

Is posting a link to a section of your shop within the description of a listing a "good" backlink? Does it count?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Backlinks between pages within your own shop are called Internal Links and they do count as good links. These links do not seem to have very much link value compared to external links from other web pages and blogs but do count. A lot of low value links do add up.

[Former_Member]

Patsy Oxley from OxArtJewelry says

I'm considering making a Squidoo 'lens' but wondering whether it will have much SEO value. When I search for various information I rarely come across a Squidoo lens. Does that indicate to you Google doesn't value it? My time, as is every other Etsy seller's, is too valuable to spend for little gain... With a blog, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ we're all spread pretty thin.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Squidoo used to have SEO value but it seems to have disappeared in the past few years. I would not use it for SEO.

Facebook and Twitter have a small amount of link value but not enough to spend a lot of time on either of these for SEO reasons.

Google+ is new to social networking but is proving excellent for SEO. You can read more about it on this thread: http://www.etsy.com/teams/11352/relevancy-and-seo-for-all-etsy-shops/discuss/10416906

[Former_Member]

Katie and Pam from boygirlboygirldesign says
I know nothing about back links, what they are etc. I am really green about this topic. Is there a place where I can get info about this?

--------------------------------------------------------

Backlinks and Link Building: http://www.etsy.com/teams/11352/relevancy-and-seo-for-all-etsy-shops/discuss/9617969

Wordtracker Academy also has lots of good easy to understand information for newbees: http://www.wordtracker.com/academy/link-building

[Former_Member]

elise from elisethomas says

I have a link on my hubby's web site to mine and vise versa, but they are completely different types of businesses. Will these be considered 'bad links'?

--------------------------------------------------

One link from a web site that is "off-topic" is not bad. Many links from "off-topic" would be considered bad by Google.

Google updated their search algorithm in April regarding bad links. You can read more about that update in this thread: http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/10323948/

[ThePurpleTable]

Thanks Mary!

[Former_Member]

Moving up for more Q&A

[Twistmo]

Does using shortened urls effect the value of a link? I use bitly.com a lot to shorten etsy links because they stay 'live' in the listing text.

[Former_Member]

Lori,

Where do you use the shortened URLs?

What do you mean by "they stay live in the listing text?" Listing text on Etsy? What does "stay live" mean to you?

[Twistmo]

I use the shortened URLs in my descriptions usually to lead people to 'similar' listings.

Such as I have several train designs. In each of those listings I have this shortened URL www.etsy.me/Twistmo-Trains of a 'search' that finds all my train designs.

But I also use the shortened URLs for my shop top page and my policies (you can see those in every listing.)

By "live" I mean 'clickable' vs not clickable. AKA hyperlink.

[Former_Member]

Hi Lori,

These links used in the descriptions do have link value. Just keep in mind that links within Etsy have a very low link value at this time and you should build backlinks outside of Etsy as well.

I asked just to see where you were using these hyperlinks. There are so many places on the Internet where links have no SEO value at all.

[BlackBirdFabrics]

Mary, I've been trying to figure out something about SEO long and short descriptions I read the link suggested about the differences........ and thought I'd do some looking around on Etsy and check out those products on Google to compare so I'd have a better understanding of what SEO I should do......

Anyhow, I found a seller and a product. I typed in Owls Coin Purse into Google search. It came up as a link to Etsy but within several images along with other sellers. Could this happen due to the following:

The seller has over 70 characters and used a long title?
Because it's a newer product and Goggle hasn't indexed it yet?

Then I found another product on page 12 in the same shop. I Googled it as zipper pouch or coin purse it came up on page 1 in Google and I clicked it on it went to the sellers storefront not the product.

I found the seller had zipper pouch or coin purse listed in her shop Announcement, but it didn't go directly to the product page?


What I cannot figure out? I'd like to have more products show up in Google as well as Etsy. So in Google I need to have a short title, but the product may not show up as a direct link to the product in Etsy - how do I do that?

Also, for the products to come up in search on Etsy I would need to use the tags in the store details - or use a long title and only be found in Google along with many other sellers?

I'm just having a time understanding all of this.

thanks

[Former_Member]

No, you do not need a short title on Google ( www.google.com) You might need a short title for Google Shopping ( http://www.google.com/shopping )but even this is not a definite requirement.

If you have good keywords in your listings, then you must work on building backlinks: http://www.etsy.com/teams/11352/relevancy-and-seo-for-all-etsy-shops/discuss/9617969

The keywords you use tell Google and other search engines WHAT each page of your web site or shop is about.

The backlnks are used by Google and the other search engines WHERE your listings come up in the search results, such as, page one or page 100 or somewhere in-between

Whether the search results come up with the main shop page or a listing page depends on which page using the same keywords has more or better backlinks.

For Google, use keywords in the listing title and description. Google does not see the listing tags for each listing but does read the listing description.

For Etsy use the same keywords in the listing title and tags. Etsy does not use the listing description for relevancy searches

[BlackBirdFabrics]

Thank you so much Mary for explaining it to me :)

[Former_Member]

I was just reading the "Link Building, Backlinks, Link Popularity" and it got me thinking. I downloaded the link info add on for firefox and went to my blog to see how my links where. I was seeing that I post my own photos for my decals. But I was wondering if it would be better to use the photo link to my listing, for SEO? I know we can hot link so long as the purpose is to bring people into our Etsy shop. Would this not add a back link to that listing?

[GreenStreetMosaics]

How can I find out how many backlinks I have?

And what is a good number? Or is there one?

Thanks so much!