Don’t let the title fool you, I still believe Google is…


“The Mac Daddy of Search”

…but this week I got a comment from one of my Mentoring students (the now infamous Evil Sock) that reminded me that sometimes we give Big G too much credit. Here’s his question:

As far as search engine position goes, aren’t affiliate links to a page just like links without the affiliate code?


“He’s Talking About Incoming Links”

You’ve probably already heard that incoming links to a page on your site can increase your search position for targeted keyword phrases. For example: One of the phrases I am targeting with this blog is “make money blogging“.

The URL I want to score highly for this phrase is http://www.FullTiltBlogging.com.

My goal is to get Google to think that URL should score highly for the phrase.


“But Google is Stupid”

Here’s the problem: Google sees each of these as a different link:
  • http://FullTiltBlogging.com
  • http://www.FullTiltBlogging.com
  • http://www.FullTiltBlogging.com/blog
  • http://www.FullTiltBlogging.com/blog/?a=CLICKBANKID

Even though they point to exactly the same page. Which means that each of those pages could score differently for a given search phrase.


“Google is Just a Computer Algorithm”

(Not to be confused with the former Vice President’s dancing ability….wait for it, wait for it…”Al Gore Rhythm”.)

When Google sees a URL it can’t see that all these different URLs point to the same page. It’s just a somewhat well written computer program.


“Always Link to the EXACT PAGE You Want to Score Highly For”

Here’s the take away…always get incoming links to the exact URL you want to score highly for a phrase.

By the way…as I write this I’m hovering around 20 for “make money blogging” and I need a few more incoming links to make it to #1. You can cool download by pasting the following code into your website:

Once you put it up I will send you a cool gift. Really. Just email me the location where you posted the link on your site and I’ll send it to you.

Now go and do the same for your own site. It will make you money.

Popularity: 14% [?]