Hey So I've been using Market Samurai (and an ebook that is awesome) to learn how to increase my website's search engine ranking. One of my keywords is 'scuba diving in Koh Samui' and I am currently on page eight for this keyword (although it fluctuates). I've been using Market Samurai to find sites also ranking for my keyword and then looking at where their links come from... this is where I have discovered something which is in my opinion one company monopolizing but I'm not sure whether it's allowed or... so hopefully someone will bear with me whilst I explain and let me know if there is any way round this. Okay so the top site in this niche is xxx and then the links coming in to this page are from PR4 and PR0 sites. Now the problem is almost all of the sites on PR4 and PR0 are ranking for the same keyword - I know this is the whole plan of backlinking. The problem i have is that at least 80% of these are exactly the same site as xxx they just have a different domain name. So basically a high number of the sites on the first four pages of Google are identical they just have a different domain name - and they are all linking to each other - is this allowed and if so what can I as an unlinked party to this site do to increase my ranking for this keyword. Hope this makes sense... and yes I'm pretty much a noob so this may be a dumb question.
Simple answer is that they are use a big link pyramid (network). You should just concentrate on making your own backlinks network and that doesn't mean that you own the websites. Just keep creating backlinks on do follow websites and there is no reason that you can't compete them. And yeah, those websites are either owned by one person or if not even then they are doing a lousy link exchange which means that they are not ready to do any hardwork on seo for their websites which can be dangerous too as google sometimes don't like those kind of link exchanges and may de-rank a website for that. Hope that helps. Sarah
Just keep plugging away with you backlink campaign, You will get there eventually. There are no shortcuts in ethcal SEO (despite what you read!)
Hi Thanks for all your replies. They are very helpful. I'm more than prepared for my backlinking strategy to take months I was just a bit shocked at sites being able to do this and completely dominate a niche. Here's to hoping Google stop this in one of their future updates. Thanks again Crimebuster
This is one of the main problems Google is trying to counter as they wish to deliver 'value' to searchers. The google panda update was certainly aimed at this and now there has been in invite from Google to submit details of scraper sites ... I dont think such duplicate and spammy sites will stay on top for long.
Stuff like this may work for a bit but eventually Google catches on and then you are in trouble. Best to just focus on link building ethically and once you reach the top(though it may take awhile) you will be in a much better position to stay there.
Listen, these guys don't care if they stay there forever. They get sites ranked and then sell them for big bucks based on that ranking. Even though it is all smoke and mirrors, very temporary, they pull it off and sell these sites. In fact, there are many people here on DP who do exactly this. It is not illegal, though some would argue it is unethical. However, it is worse that Google is not more transparent on their operations and algorithm. How do we know they are not acting corruptly? We don't. So if someone behaves unethically toward Google, good for them! If, however, someone like you or I are harmed by the selling of such a site, then it is a real problem, isn't it?
Actually many people use the technique; but it has equal risk too. The best thing if you could do that manually and ofcourse by using whitehat seo onlyt then you can get the surity. However, many people use market samuri and they find it working for them too; hene may be you can try it a little; but keep urself tring to do manually; but only a little with that tool.