Competitor links on unmaintained pages

[ricalebro]

hey all,  this is my first posting...

I have a webpage that is a great resource (ranked 3rd for my keyword) , and unarguably better than the site that is taking the first 2 places.

Because my page is a much more useful resource for the same thing I have been looking at who is linking to them and asking them to take a look at mine in the hope that they will replace their link with my more up to date page.

The problem is a LOT of the high value links they have (many .edu links) are from old, now unmaintained pages, where I have no chance of getting a link (or even contact with a webmaster)

Its frustrating that they have so many good links to such an out of date page. I just wondered if any of you have had a similar situation. It just seems very hard to knock someone off that top spot if they have been established a long time, regardless of the quality of their content.

I guess there is no solution to it except to find lot of other high value links myself - so not so much a question as a comment really! but happy to hear peoples own experiences of that sort of situation.

[NakulGoyal]

I think you have answered the question yourself and you already knew that "I guess there is no solution to it except to find lot of other high value links myself - so not so much a question as a comment really! but happy to hear peoples own experiences of that sort of situation." Just keep doing what you are (building/maintaining that great content), but also spend time in reaching out to people who would want to link to you. I would also possibly add a link to us box with an easy to use HTML code that people could use to link to you.

[ricalebro]

yes indeed, just voicing a frustration as much as anything really - but thanks for the response

[donford]

Very good advice Nakul.

Long established websites do have the benefit of tons of solid links because when they started they all there was. If you're pulling in #3 spot that is great. And you are doing the correct thing in trying to contact folks that are linking to them if you have better / more recent information. We fight the same battles for old established companies that still out rank us for top keywords even though their site looks like they were made during Clinton's first term, and haven't been touched since.

Climbing up the ranking should be a little easier now (depending on your industry) due to social media. Get the buzz, forum and blog links and eventually you'll get the spot.

[EGOL]

The person who captures the high ground early can hold a long term advantage.

Since you are below them, crafting an extremely good title tag and snippet is essential to win clicks away from them.  Offer surprise, mystery, free shipping, kickass price or free beer in your title to win traffic into your site.