I've been marketing an arcade site using articles, directories and paid links for a few weeks and I've gotten to spots 10-20 for my competitive keywords. What do I do to make it to the top 5? Will more articles and directories do the trick? These are very competitive keywords...
You're trying to get into the top 5 results in MSN? MSN is notorious for ranking websites higher that have more content than a competing website.
If it is for competitive keywords then the simple answer to that would be that you will never get to the top 5 unless you increase your link popularity quicker than you competitors are plus you also do it better. When you think about it, you are getting back links so that you can increase your popularity, but the sites that rank higher than you are most likely also doing the same as you, but maybe quicker.
Making it to 10-20 ranking in MSN, means that what you are currently doing is working for you. So if I were in your situation I will continue, what Im doing. just my .02 cents
Also as I also have a arcade gaming type site I know that it will be very difficult for you to get to a 5 spot. You may get on the first page as I did a few times and even had it at spot 3 for a few keywords which was great. But anyway, I would imagine that you major competitors within the search engines for arcade type site would be miniclip, freeonlinegames, etc. These sites will be very hard to beat as they offer free online games that people can add to their own sites. When they do this they get alot of exposure where people start linking to these sites alot more. So these type of sites are getting alot of backlinks for doing hardly no work apart from making the games and giving them away as free content.
you're doing the right things. just be patient, keep your campaign clean and try to stay ahead of the curve.
Link exchange with relevant sites or hire seo firm to get one way links for you. You can get links for 3 to 4 dollars.
Very off topic this is. I have noticed that some people have red little squares just under the posts count part of each member. Does that mean that they are flag red because they have spammed or broken the TOS or something. I have seen a few today and I was just wondering. I have not receive one yet and if it is because spamming or something then I should not receive one.
It's the reputation system. Read more here: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=1616&postcount=8 Or the thread here: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=239