Updated June 17, 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Now a Dead SEO Tactic
Back in August we cautioned you that Guest Blogging for SEO was on its way out. It was confirmed yesterday on Matt Cutts’ personal blog. Previously he insinuated that this link-building tactic was under scrutiny. Now the head of Google’s webspam team was very definitive. It’s now a no-no SEO tactic. And, it looks like it’s on their target list.
Guest Blogging for SEO Links
Over the last several years, Google has discussed the risks of guest blogging for SEO links. Basically it was an online marketing practice that combined content generation and link building. The idea was to offer quality content to publish on someone else’s website or blog in exchange for a link. In 2012 and 2013 Google has been cracking down on abuse of this SEO tactic. So, if you did write an article for someone else’s blog, the back link to your website should have been a “no-follow link.”
Matt’s post on Monday was pretty explicit about guest blogging for SEO:
Okay, I’m calling it: if you’re using guest blogging as a way to gain links in 2014, you should probably stop. Why? Because over time it’s become a more and more spammy practice, and if you’re doing a lot of guest blogging then you’re hanging out with really bad company.
Another Update Brewing?
Some industry experts are pondering this question: Is Google planning an algorithm change to further demote guest blogging for SEO rankings? We wouldn’t be surprised. If you didn’t mark these back links as no-follows and you have an appreciable number of guest blogs published on sites other than your own, most likely this practice temporarily bolstered your SEO rankings. It may be time to buckle up for a bumpy ride.
Have you used guest blogging for SEO rankings? Do you think Google gave ample warning of devaluing this practice?
photo credit – top: Thomas Leuthard
photo credit – body: Search Engine People Blog
Online Marketing Trends for 2014