–FYI… For those that receive the Free Email Newsletter, this is the post I was referring to in the video that was sent out.–

This video post tells you why inbound links are important and shows you how to check your links on Yahoo.  In the video below, I demonstrate how to check the number of inbound links you have and the number that your competitor has as well.

Inbound links can explain a lot about the reason that your website is ranking above or below another website in the search engines.  Remember that search engines have to manage information from billions of web pages.  They cannot do this manually.  Therefore, they create algorithms that allow them to automate the ranking of a website.

One of the most important aspects of the search engine algorithm is “link popularity.”

It is very similar to the method that we use to determine which businesses are trustworthy and which businesses are unproven.

For example — When you need your car repaired you are more likely to choose a mechanic that has been in business for a longer time versus one that has been in business a short time.  You are more likely to choose a business that someone else has recommended to you rather than one you have never heard of.

Similarly, a potential dental patient will base some of their decision about which dentist they prefer on the length of time they have been in practice and whether they have been recommended by someone.

The search engine  applies the same criteria to web pages automatically through the use of it’s algorithm, and more specifically the “link popularity” portion of the algorithm.

The search engine is more likely to show results of web pages that have been online longer (accumulated lots of links) versus one that been online a short time (accumulated few or zero  links.)  The search engine is more likely to show results that someone else has recommended (accumulated lots of links) rather than one it has never heard of (accumulated few or zero links.)

In essence, they are attempting to mimic what we do as consumers when we are deciding with whom we would like to do business or from whom we want to get our information.

It is the invention of this portion of the algorithm that allowed Google to usurp Yahoo! as the search engine of choice.  Although Yahoo! has since begun incorporating this into their algorithm, the head start that Google achieved by being the inventor has kept it in the lead.

Want to know how many links you have pointing to your website?  Watch this video and apply what you learn.  Let me know if you have questions by contacting me here or leaving comments on the blog.

6 Minute Video – How to Check Your Links

If you want to ensure that you are in Google’s index watch this video tutorial and see for yourself. If you find that you are actually not in Google’s index, read on. If you see that all of your pages ARE indeed indexed, get cracking on getting results on those keywords by reading this blog and setting yourself or your office assistant into action!

Ok, so if you are reading this part you didn’t see any pages returned when you did the site: command in Google or Yahoo. Don’t panic.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Is my site brand new? If it is 3 months or older it should be in the index by now.

Remedy: Award your website at least one backlink. A backlink is a link from any other domain on the Internet that is indexed. In other words, it is any other site linking to your site. The easiest way to accomplish this is to post an answer on Yahoo! Answers and drop a link to your website in the “Source” field. You could also post on popular forums and drop a link back to your website. Be careful that you do not SPAM these forums or Yahoo! Answers.

2. Is my site 100% Flash? Although Google has recently announced that it can index Flash… if your stie is 100% built in Flash it could be causing you indexing problems.

Remedy: You should contact an SEO professional and web designer about this. Consider adding an HTML alternative to your website that is SEO Friendly.

3. Have I done anything “shady” with my website that would get me banned? Have you been paying for links? Stuffing your code with keywords? Showing the search engines one version of your site and the visitor another version?

Remedy: You can file a reinclusion request with Google by installing Google Webmaster Tools here and Yahoo here. They will review your claim and make a judgement as to whether to reinclude you in their index.

There are some cases where this can get complicated, if you run into problems you can contact me here or leave a comment and I will be happy to help.