If the word "EzineArticles" falls out of your mouth when you start talking about your SEO, you should just stop right there. Even before the Panda update, this really wasn't the best use of your time and essentially was just a way to get some quick links back to your site.
Get this through your head: link building isn�t easy. It, like all things in optimization, takes time and effort.
Instead of going after easy links, why not work on building relationships with bloggers and work onwriting guest posts that can add value to their site and community while benefitting you with exposure to their audience and possibly building a quality reference from an authoritative site.
Here are some tips: 8 Steps to Guest Blogging Artistry for Free Links, Recognition & Exposure
2. Press Releases Without News
From a conversation I had last week:
"Well if free article submissions aren't good, maybe I could do a press release instead?"
-- "Do you have anything newsworthy?"
"Well, I don't know but I need to get my name out and it would be a great chance to get some links from the news channels. I was thinking maybe doing 2 a month."
-- "No. Just.. No."
Here's the thing, you run a business, and kudos to you. According to Dun and Bradstreet there are an estimated 23 million small businesses in the United States as of 2010. I'm not saying that you're not doing something that's newsworthy, but just existing doesn't qualify you.
Ask any public relations agency and they'll be quick to tell you that there's more to PR than just a press release. Kimberly Eberl, President of Motion PR in Chicago states:
Public relations is a conversation between a company and all of its different stakeholders. It encourages company transparency and works to the benefit of all parties. PR is about building awareness and leveraging relationships through various channels and markets.
Kinda sounds like link building, doesn't it? Press releases for the sake of links alone is probably just as close to a waste of time as article submissions.
Remember, no quick fixes. Do something newsworthy and good. You'll be helping someone else at that, in turn can help you with effective media relations and the links will follow.
