What if we could put a relationship status on our other relationships? How many business relationships would be “complicated?” Since the Panda and Penguin updates, our relationships with online marketing resources have grown more complex, more regulated, and absolutely more in need of a simple, cut-and-dry statement of what we are. It’s time we had the “DTR” conversation; it’s time we define the relationships we’re having.
n a Relationship: Many sites are clearly in relationships with other sites, with the links and backlinks to prove it, and you can always tell which webmasters or bloggers have relationships with certain companies. The Penguin updates of 2012 targeted websites that violate Google’s Webmaster Guidelines (keyword stuffing, creating duplicate content, etc.), thus shrinking their search engine presence. What’s the best way to keep your rankings high and keep traffic coming your way? Be in a relationship with the owners of the sites you want to be connected with. People link to people they like (in life and in business). Also, be in a relationship with your readers, as well as others that link to your site, by creating authentic and interesting content that will make visitors stay on your page longer than a quick click in and out. Good relationships are built on good communication, no? So communicate effectively with your visitors, make them stay longer and make them come back. End the relationships that are negatively affecting your site’s rankings; check all of the links to your site using Open Site Explorer. Break up with the bad links, and build on the good ones you have with worthy webmasters and non-spammy sites. This all being said, don’t pull a junior-high mistake and start a relationship just to be in a relationship. Make sure you’re making the right choices with site-owners and webmasters. In 2011, 33% of divorce filings contained the word “Facebook,” relationships gone sour due to the publicity of personal lives. In our world of online marketing, incorrectly handling relationships with our digital business connections, or forming unethical relationships, can result in a swift and lasting divorce with our online presence through Google’s standards. | Getting Serious by DTR In our society, ‘defining the relationship’ is seen as a crucial moment in a union, one that can receive criticism or praise, and one that Facebook has made public knowledge. In our world of online marketing, it’s important in a different way to establish and define our relationships. Trying to go it alone will lead to nothing but a lonely website, and since the Google updates, it’s easy to find ourselves in complicated situations, unsure of what really works anymore. But if we can get rid of unhealthy relationships while building beneficial relationships with webmasters, bloggers, columnists and other businesses by using well-written content and engaging websites, our outreach can be not only successful, but lasting. |