Hello, its Mark Felix with an edition of the Link Wheel Strategy, but let me just say a special thanks to everyone following me or my articles. It’s appreciated. Today I am writing about a technique called Link Wheel, maybe some of you have heard about it and to some it might be something new. The first time I heard about the technique it seemed a difficult task to undertake but after simplifying the process I am sure you will find it quite easy to implement.
Now the jury is out as to how effective the technique is with regards to SEO but in my mind there are still benefits to be had. For example, Google has stated that when building a site the structure should allow the robots to find every page from the home page and that would start with your sitemap.
But, I’ve read a few other articles on the subject which state that Google will discount or penalise any form of link wheel which it detects. So for that reason there are various versions of the strategy including a horse shoe format or a broken wheel or a few spokes in the wheel without links to your site.
Personally I don’t believe this to be true that Google penalises your site but it is possible that they might discount the links.
One thing to keep in mind when you’re discussing being penalised by Google is the fact that your site is more likely to be penalised for on-page activities than it is for off-page and that’s because Google is aware that anyone can create stuff that can get you banned.
A link wheel theory is built with the same concept in mind where you can have the spokes link to each other creating the wheel, (spokes are considered as the sites where your article is placed) and the number one benefit I can see in this, is the fact that each article should get cached very quickly giving a boost to your site immediately from the links placed on each article which is why a unique article is best for every spoke.
Maybe there are SEO benefits in doing this after all!!
For those of you that follow my articles by now you might have notice that I practise what I preach and for the link wheel technique I’ve created a wheel to show you how its done. However, I used one article to create the wheel but I recommend you use a new article for each spoke. WHY?
My example - http://hubpages.com/hub/Airportessentials
Google tries to only provide the most relevant information when a search is conducted and if you create a wheel with ten spokes using the same article as I did, chances are only one will get any attention from Google but with a new article the idea is that they should all get as much attention and it would all seem more natural.
In my example, I used the same keyword in each spoke which is Heathrow Airport Parking and the reason for doing so is because the actual site www.airportessentials.com has 5 targeted keywords and each one will have a wheel. You can decide what you think is best for you; maybe a different keyword on each spoke? Or the same it’s up to you.
If for any reason you’re not able to get an anchor text link you can use the URL which should allow a click through to the next spoke. If none of the above is possible then move to the next spoke or add a new spoke. Remember you must be able to move from one spoke to the next from one click and make sure the second link is a keyword link back to your site from each spoke.
The list below has 50 spokes which makes up the wheel but I recommend you use ten spokes per wheel so if you started with the first ten using Hubpages you should come back to Hubpages from Yousaytoo. To verify that the link is complete you then click on the link from Hubpages that goes to Zimbio and to the next until you complete the sequence.
There are many sites that can be used to create your wheel, but to make it easier I have listed below a template to get you started. You will need to sign up for an account and then post your articles.
Hubpages
Zimbio
Wikispaces
Google Account
Wetpaint
Wordpress
GoArticles
Quizilla
EzineArticles
Tripod Webs.com
Vox.com
LiveJournal
Xanga
Blog.com
Ning
Friendster
Jimdo
Zoho
Gather OnSugar
Blogetery
ZoomShare
InsaneJournal
Terapad
DiaryLand
Thoughts
SOS Blog
Bravejournal
Typepad Edublogs
HPage
Wikidot
Webspawner
Shutterfly
Blurty
Tabulas
SoulCast
Article Dashboard
iSnare Articles Base
Article Alley
Article Click
Amazines
Easy Articles
Articles Just 4You
Article Pool
Article Slash
Sooper Articles
Also, here is an idea, when you start the second wheel why not start it from Hubpages, that way it creates a cycle effect, so on your new Hubpage spoke you would have a link to the last Hubpage spoke and one to the first spoke on the second wheel and Onsugar which is the first spoke on the second wheel you’ll continue the same format as the first wheel. Did you get it?
If you’re like me someone who writes quite a bit, you can even link to your profiles when building a wheel, that way you cover all your articles, but I think it would be less effective for the SEO part of the exercise but great for your articles in general. Or, I might be completely wrong; the SEO part might be extremely effective!
So here it is a Link Wheel in a nut shell. Remember, SEO is not just about following what every one else is doing, try something new as long as its not some black-hat stuff, if you come up with an idea try it out to see what happens, you might just get that top ten position you’re looking for.
Whenever there is a new strategy on SEO out there within a few months it’s no longer effective and that’s because Google, Bing, Yahoo and others catches on to these new techniques and adjust to make them less effective, so for you coming up with your own strategy is essential.
You can completely change this whole idea and create one that works even better, and if you do, send me an email to let me know how it’s working out, cause I’m always looking for new methods and ways of doing things and sometimes these come from very basic or should I say simple ideas.
For now this is it on this strategy but in my next article I will discuss automated Tweeter posting that are relevant to your niche or business and how to create it. Stay Tuned.
Mark Felix owner of the Travelrobe group of sites in the UK including www.click4parking.com offering Stansted Airport parking and www.travelrobe.org offering Gatwick Airport parking for more info please contact Mark
