When placing content on external sites, what are some best practices for back links?

[Cherwell-Software]

Hi there,

I am working on a content strategy that includes placing content (i.e. bylined articles, how-to's, guest blogs, etc.) on other web sites and embedding links back to our site.  In some cases we're very limited to what we can do with our bank links (i.e. just a company url), and in other cases we are free to place multiple anchor links within the content.

In cases where we have no limitations, what are some best practices for implementing back links?  I understand it's important to link to deep pages (not just our home page), have diverse anchor text, and make the anchor links relevant to the surrounding content.

Are there other things I should be thinking about in order to maximize the SEO value of such placements?  For example, is it better to have just one anchor link per placement?  Or should I aim to embed multiple anchor links within a single placement?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Sincerely,

Debra

[firstconversion]

Multiple anchor texts are likely to appear spammy and not editorially given (in the case you describe, they would not be editorially given)

I suggest you place links in a natural manner rather than trying to cram them on the page

S

[Intergen]

Agreed with Stephen - I wouldn't go with more than 2 links on any editorial piece unless it makes sense to.  An example would be that the article or content refers to various steps or pages on your site that give great information on solving or describing the article position.

An example would be if you were doing an article on motorcycle repair and Wikipedia had 4 articles that supported this position.  Obviously linking to all 4 would make sense as long as the context is apparent and helpful to the article.

[Cherwell-Software]

Stephen, when you say "in the case you describe, they would not be editorially given," can you elaborate?  Let's say I were to stick to just one or two links back to our site at most.  What would be considered editorially given?  And what would not?

Thanks!

[Cherwell-Software]

Thanks Mark.  Suppose I can work in multiple in the manner you described, where the links are clearly helpful to the article.  Is the belief in this situation that more is, in fact, better?  Or does having multiple links dilute the value of any individual link?

[Intergen]

No more is NOT better unless it adds relevance to the article.  Again, I add 2 as a rule of thumb. Also the first link is typically the one that passes any link juice if it is "do-follow". So make the first one the winner.