Started linkbuilding, traffic drops

[snetface]

So I have a couple 3 year old projects I left intact for the last 2 years. Lately I tried to revigorate them. I started to build links to pages that used to be in Google top ten, but the more links I build, the more I lose out on traffic.

The main keywords stay around the same position, I suppose the loss in appearances and traffic that can be seen in webmaster tools is mainly due to long tails I do not check the rankings for.

I want to ask you guys if anybody have experienced similar data?

I suppose it might be due to the exact anchor tags that I have used 3 years ago, so I already started removing those to see if it has a positive effect. I wanted to ask you, maybe somebody has experienced the same and already knows the reason and a solution for this phenomenon?

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Without seeing the sort of links you are building, it is very difficult to know exactly what is being done and how good the links are.

What sort of sites are you approaching for links? How are the potential link partners being acquired? It sounds to me like the links you are building are not favourable, but as I said, impossible without seeing examples or until I understand what types of sites these are.

-Andy

[snetface]

I am mainily targettng article directories PR 2+, domain 3-4+ years old.  I write 1500-2000 character unique articles, with a variation of my target phrase being the title of the article, and therefore the title of the page where it becomes published. I place 1-3 links back to my own site with different anchor texts, that are never exact match for my keyword.

Any idea?

By the way: do you use title tags when you link back to your own page?

[Andy.Drinkwater]

That sounds to be your problem right there. This isn't a viable linking solution any more and will do you more harm than good.

In order for links to succeed now, you need to be thinking linkable assets (what does your site have that people want to link to) and outreach (contacting site owners to inform them of this).

When looking at links back into the site, you don't want to be using keyword rich anchor text either. This will draw unwanted attention from Google, so always use neutral anchors such as the domain, brand or something as simple as a 'click here'.

I would stop doing what you are right now though and focus on quality over quantity.

-Andy

[snetface]

Thanks.

I already have switched from using KWsin my anchors, I am just waiting to see results. I have not done much SEO in last 2 years, so my old habits get stuck with me, I am trying to leave them behind.

Thanks, for you response, I am definately more sure how to do it now.

[Bryan_Loconto]

You hit the nail on the head Andy! If I was part of the Moz Team, I'd endorse that!

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Thanks for that Bryan

-Andy