why a badlink is worse than no links

Every SEO hackster will tell you that you need more links, but if you run a local business, you actually need local business citations. In fact, in this article, we’ll go over the good, bad, and ugly about badlinks and how to get rid of them. 

local citations and badlinks

A local business citation link is where you or we go and create a profile on something like Yelp, Angi's List, NextDoor, etc... When that online profile links to your website and Google My Business Profile, that's good. However, if your online listings don't match the content and services your website and Google Business Profile state, then you those local listings will be considered badlinks. Not good, so hire us or someone to go through all your profiles and make them all sing the same song. Turning a badlink into a good link.

follow or no-follow links

Why you need "follow" links

Do you remember real maps? The ones before GPS? You had to find the right route, possibly right down the names of the streets and turns. Ya those days are gone unless the internet shuts down. Now we can search for anything online and once we get to an article they reference a statistic of someone else's website. If you hover over it, you can then click and magically go to that cite. That's called a hyperlink, and in SEO that's pure gold.

By having those on your site and having others do this for you too, that creates Google search indexing and possible results even bigger. Google rewards you and the visitors reward you with time on page and a possible lead if your content is good enough.

However...

If you click and there's no way to open that page or they forgot to put in your url to your article or sales page, that's not good. That's a badlink, that's a no-follow. Your site should have 80-90% follow link rates.

To ensure this high a level of follow versus no-follow, you'll need to go into Google Console and
disallow those links so you are not penalized.

Here are the top types of Malicious Badlinks

Spammy Guest Posting

Imagine this: you wake up one morning to find an odd guest in your house, casually rearranging your furniture. Well, that's what spammy guest post links do to your website. These links come from low-quality, spam-ridden websites, tarnishing your SEO reputation. To vanquish them, review your backlink profile, identify the culprits, and disavow these rogue links using Google's Disavow Tool.

Link Farming

Link farms are like those overcrowded theme parks – there's way too much noise, and nothing substantial to enjoy. These are networks of websites that exist solely to create links. Search engines loathe them, and you should too. To combat these evildoers, audit your backlinks regularly and disavow links from link farm domains.

Broken Links

Broken links are the equivalent of a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow – elusive and nonexistent. They harm user experience and signal neglect. Use tools like Google Search Console or online link checkers to find and fix these pesky little annoyances.

#4: One Person Show

Imagine your GPS taking you on a wild goose chase through the digital wilderness. That's what redirect links can do to your website. They confuse search engines and users alike. Audit your website for redirect chains and loops and fix them pronto!

Now, let's step into the shadows and unveil the mysterious world of Private Blog Networks (PBNs). These are clusters of websites under the control of a single entity, and they're created for the sole purpose of manipulating search engine rankings. Each PBN site includes links to the main website the owner wants to boost.

PBNs can be a tempting shortcut to higher rankings. They offer control over the links and anchor text, allowing website owners to tailor their SEO strategy precisely. PBNs can also provide a quick SEO boost, particularly for niche or competitive keywords.

However, the path of PBNs is not without peril. Search engines, like Google, have algorithms specifically designed to sniff out these networks. If they catch you using a PBN, you risk severe penalties, including being de-indexed from search results. Additionally, building and maintaining a PBN can be costly and time-consuming, making it a high-risk endeavor.

unmasking the blackhat world of pbns

Now that we've uncovered the secret world of PBNs alongside our other villains, it's time to talk about how to give them all the boot.

• Tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush can help you identify and evaluate your backlinks. Weed out the bad ones and disavow them. Google's Disavow Tool is your trusty sidekick here. Create a disavow file listing all the badlink you want to disown and submit it to Google. It's like kicking out the unwanted guests from your digital party.
• Invest some time in checking your website for broken links. Replace them with working ones or remove them altogether.
• If your website has a redirect problem, consult your CMS (Content Management System) or hire a developer. Fixing these issues will make your website navigation smoother than a freshly buttered pan.

how to fix badlinks to improve seo

Do you need help?

If you're in need of marketing services mentioned above, please contact us today and we'll perform a FREE marketing audit, give you the strategy, and go over the likelihood of a 20-40x marketing ROI within six months.

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Do you need help?

If you're in need of marketing services mentioned above, please contact us today and we'll perform a FREE marketing audit, give you the strategy, and go over the likelihood of a 20-40x marketing ROI within six months.