Single most important factor in SEO?

You know what, I actually got more google-traffic to my now blog than it had when I updated it regurlary(August-November 2005).

 

I believe onsite optimization is the clue; I have tried both domain name and in-out links with no success at all in comparison with a good metatag and keywording work.

 

well if not adding content to your site works for you, then keep it up. however, i must disagree with you. there are countless other factors that can result in your increase in traffic/rankings (most likely it was getting out of the "sandbox" if your site was new) and i'm pretty sure the fact that you did spend time to add content on a regular basis (even though it was only a few months) did play a part in it. almost everybody knows that Google loves fresh unique content, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who knows what they're talking about to disagree.

 

i guess backlinks is much more important especially in the long run... getting a lot of backlinks will get more traffic then most likely your site have a better chance of ranking high... well i based it on what i research and how i understand.... hehehe

 

Auth. Links > Related Links > Links > SEO copywriting > Domain


My guess....

 

Back-links is king...atleast with Google!! Need proof? Look at the SEO Contests.

 

Backlink is the most important key but it can't get site ranked highest in serps without any other factors.

1. What do you think if you have a domain name "flowers.com" but you do real estate sites and contain anchor text is "Real estate"
2. You have good anchor text with many inbound links with "real estate" but content on your site (on page optimization) told search engine bot you're "flowers, malaysia flowers, etc."
3. You have many good inblund links with keyword in it but all of them point to you as the same words "Real estate" without mixed. In my opinion, search engine will consider this is spam.

Only my opinion.

 

The way I see sites bounce around in position on google I believe that the

question would be phrased, but what is #1 today. I think google might change is indexing and positioning system daily or at least weekly.

 

In terms of a more trivial definition of "importance", page title is clearly #1. Adding keywords to your page title is essentially required for competive terms.

However because control over the page title is so basic and essentially free in terms of time and effort, backlinks are easily the most important factor in SEO.

For practical purposes, SEO is mainly choosing the right market (keywords), then going out and getting strong backlinks (preferably from related subject sites) with relevant anchor text. Everything else is details.

 

Well both the onpage and off-page factors are important and the most imp of them is the anchor text in the link building... it makes sense that spiders sees your sites through the anchor that takes them to your site... well looks professional to me...

Take care

Manish

 

Of course
Inbound Links IMO.

 

Totally disagree. Backlinks can get anything to #1 regardless of content.

I should say though that the question is throwing people off (well me anyhow). You ask which is the most important for SEO? If you asked what is the most important for a good ranking. you might get a different answer.

 

Now why would anyone neg rep me for the above post LOL. I am off now to cry

 

Most of us know that incoming links are the most important factor, but it is a good thing to start this thread because everyone doesn´t know.... well they do now!

Another thing also worth mentioning again is the quality of the incoming links and if they are related to your site. The more related the higher the value of these links...
That is what i believe

 

But Marcus, this is exactly what I was saying. most important factor for what? certainly not for SEO, as links do not optimise, they promote, which is a totally different thing.

The problem we have is one of titles. SEO is search engine optimisation. To Optimise means to take something to its optimum level of performance. To do this you have to start with design, right through to conversions including cross selling, upselling. email marketing follow up marketing viral campaigns to existing customers, repeat sales inducements etc. This includes copywriting, on page content and of course links.

My whole point was that the question was wrong to begin with (which is why I have not voted). If the question was, what element will help you rank highest, then it is links. because you can bomb a site to the top of the listings (at the moment) purely with links.

Of course when the other elements kick in, then the quality of those links is going to hold far more weight, also the relationship between the content of the sites will carry far more weight. At this point, those who have simply link bombed their site toi the top (not SEO'ed) will see their rankings tumble. While those who have carried out proper rounded balanced SEO work will not suffer at all.

This to me is the difference between algo chasing and SEO.

 

There are several factors that help determin where a site will rank but I would have to say links have big weight in all of those factors.

 

Ok it kind of feels like everyone is talking about the same thing here but explains it differently.

Clarification here:

SEO = Only about how your page ranks in the organic search engine results.

Email marketing, newsletters, phonecalls belongs in the category = Marketing.

 

If the question is about SEO and not necessarily any other end goal, then content doesn't help you much. We've all seen utter crap rank very well whilst we all know some of our best content pages can remain hidden in the SERP depths for ages.

Strictly speaking, I think (last time I tried) you can still get high up with links alone. That's why I chose Links in this poll. If SEOing well is your goal, then getting quality links should be very high, if not top of your list.

If, like Old Welsh Guy says, you are after conversions or a self sustaining site in terms of getting natural links, signups, traffic etc. then just links won't get you there for sure.

 

Links for ranking and traffic. On page for conversions and ranking.

I guess I just have a totally different perception of what an SEo does. Which is why I prefer the old SEM handle

So everyone knows where my hat is here goes.

If your asking which is the most important for ranking in a competitive field, then LINKS is the answer. In a niche you can often get there with just onpage stuff and a handfull of links. (like less than 10) Ok thats 2 handfulls

 

This was really very nice discussion over SEOing...

Now to summarize:

Links to good neighbours -> Your site ranks high and opposite you know!
On-page optimization -> Your site stays there for longer time!

Manish