Studying the Google freshness update has taught me a lot about the way websites will be ranked going forward. In the last “3†parts of my series, I discussed the following elements…
First, Google will adjust freshness score depending on how frequently new content is added to your website. Secondly, the freshness score of a website will be influenced by how often changes are made to existing content already published. Third, freshness will be adjusted by how much time people spend engaging on a page. Why? Well, the longer people engage, its evidence of newer, more up-to-date content.
In this final part, let’s look at how freshness score can be correlated with “new links†pointing to a page over time.
Freshness 4 – New Links to a Page
Many people will disagree that new links fall under the freshness update but you have to dig deeper to understand the mechanics. For example, the freshness update can be applied to websites all over the Internet so if someone publishes new content and links to your page, it’s a sign you have new content on your website as well. It’s an awesome way for Google to determine the freshness of a website by simply comparing two different websites and the content published on both.
In short, if you want to increase your website score, then your objective should be to get more new links pointing to your page. Here’s how to encourage fresh links:
Research New Trends –
Much of the new content I write is after doing research on the changing trends within my niche. For example, from my research, I know many people are asking question on the Google algorithm changes and how this will effect search rankings going into 2015. I decided to write content on this topic then put my plan into motion. I started by visiting forums, communities, and other relevant blogs, posting feedback so I can link to my new content, providing an additional resource. Next,
I setup Google alerts so that I’m alerted when new questions are asked on this EXACT topic. I would then browse to the article and add a link to my new content. By doing this, I’m getting a link back to my content and posting a link on a new trend developing within my niche. This method is a great way to increase engagement and the chances of additional links to my content.
Blogging Interviews –
This is a great strategy introduced by Neil Patel. One way to attract awesome authority links is to interview people of influence within your niche. This way, you are not only going the most up-to-date information in your niche, but once you’ve published the interview, you can ask for a link back. A few months back, I did an awesome link building expert posts and when it was published, I asked the experts to share it on their social profile. The end result was amazing as it received 50 RT, 400 visitors in “1†hour, and 14 links from other authority blogs. It’s an awesome strategy to utilize, however, you need to take time putting together a quality expert post or interview.
Sky Scraper Strategy –
Reviving old content is a cool way to generate traffic and update your overall freshness score. To add some more value to this strategy, I recommend using the skyscraper strategy. For those of you not aware of this link building method, here’s a quick breakdown.
Start by researching a HOT topic within your niche and make sure it’s a recent trend so it gets the highest engagement once published. Your objective is to update older content that has been published on other blogs, making it better. Add images, make it lengthier, add videos, and make it so your content is the only content a visitor needs to read to find a complete solution to the problem.
Skim to the blogs that have similar, lower quality content published and find all the backlinks pointing to that content. You should contact each blog, telling them you’ve published an up-to-date resource and they should take a look. If they feel your content is more up-to-date, they’ll transfer the link pointing to the older content to the one you just published on your blog.
The key is to find authority blogs and those that are constantly updating their content so not only do you get a solid link, but receive one from a website that falls into the criteria of Google freshness guidelines.
Your objective should be to keep updating your content and look for changing trends within your niche. This way, you produce content that newer blogs will want to link to, which ultimately impacts your freshness score going forward. However, remember, it should always be about remaining focused and producing the highest quality content possible.