Top Searches Can Attract Top Links
**
**
by Debra Mastaler
**
The search engines have been publishing their Top Searches
<http://searchengineland.com/this-is-it-the-most-popular-searches-of-2009-30757>
lists for 2009, so far Ive collected�lists from�� Bing
<http://www.bing.com/community/blogs/search/archive/2009/11/30/top-bing-searches-in-2009.aspx>
,�Yahoo! <http://yearinreview.yahoo.com/2009/overview>
, and Google <http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/press/zeitgeist2009/>
. Other sites posting top searches are �ESPN
<http://espn.go.com/espn/search/news/story?id=4701305>
,� Snopes <http://www.snopes.com/info/top25uls.asp>
, and my favorite,�Yahoos Top Videos
<http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000089?l=6936086>
(warning: time killer!). I� set my alerts to catch these lists
because they spark ideas for link bait and content development we can
use to attract links.
All of the lists are valuable but�IMO, the best list�comes from
Ask.com <http://sp.ask.com/2009/topquestions>
. Why? Because they list the�top questions people used as search
queries on� Ask.com. The list�is divided� by category and includes the
top ten questions asked. Heres an example of one of the categories:
Top Questions Asked About Pets
Why do cats purr?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=Why+do+cats+purr%3F>
How long do dogs stay in heat?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=How+long+do+dogs+stay+in+heat%3F>
Why do cats knead?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=Why+do+cats+knead%3F>
How do you potty train a puppy?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=How+do+you+potty+train+a+puppy%3F>
Do fish sleep?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=Do+fish+sleep%3F>
What do lizards eat?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=What+do+lizards+eat%3F>
Can Guinea Pigs be trained?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=Can+Guinea+Pigs+be+trained%3F>
How long do rabbits live?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=How+long+do+rabbits+live%3F>
Are dogs colorblind?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=Are+dogs+colorblind%3F>
Can dogs take aspirin?
<http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=0&o=20036&l=dir&q=Can+dogs+take+aspirin%3F>
This kind of information is priceless when it comes to SEO and link
building for a couple of reasons:
When we know what people are looking for or what questions they have,
we can create content to satisfy the query.
Once we have the content�people�are looking for, we can promote the
content and attract links.
We know what sites Ask.com considers an authority on a subject based
on the results theyve returned in response to the question. We can
link to these sites in the content we create to boost
our�credibility,�and�work to get links from these authorities.
The list helps us determine what to write about, gives us credible
sources to cite which in turn, boosts our�authority�and provides
authority sites to�use in our competitive research. See what I mean
about being priceless? But knowing what to write about and whom to
cite is�only half the battle, we still need to promote the content so
people�find and link to it. Once again, Ask.com steps up and gives us
some insight into how to do this.
Promoting the story
Im not a fan of creating unique content and sending it away from a
site, I prefer to promote it and the website together. I recommend
launching a�release to the media annoucing the new content�and then
following up with a general press release.
Which is exactly what Ask.com did here
<http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/who-what-when-where-how-why-askcom-unveils-the-top-questions-of-2009-78214372.html>
. In turn, that release was� picked up here,
<http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/California/2009/12/01/SF18689>
and here <http://www.sunherald.com/prnewswire/story/1779033.html>
, and here
<http://www.thestreet.com/newsanalysis/press-releases/10635370.html>
, and here
<http://topics.treehugger.com/article/0ade6CX9EM6ds?q=advertising+OR+%22green+advertising%22+OR+%22advertising+industry%22+OR+%22advertisement%22+OR+%22television+commercial%22>
, and&well you get the point. Because the release
contained�informative and newsworthy content, it was repeatedly picked
up by news�sites and social media outlets. So while great content is
still �great, it�needs to be promoted so everyone can find it, even if
youre a search engine.
Set your�alerts to pick up on phrases like Top searches 20093 or
Top stories 20093 and look for�articles you can use to create�killer
content for your site. Compare 2009 results with years past for a
fresh approach using current news. Promote all your content to�your
customer�base, through social media and in press releases, youll
build brand credibility and links by doing so.
Before I go and since�this is my last post for 2009,� a personal
word:
This has been� an interesting year for me both personally and
professionally,� I moved (not happily) from a town of 6000 to an area
of six million, had a�scary health issue and turned 51. You might
think being 50 is a bigger deal than 51 but the reality of being a
half century old hit me on the 51st birthday. Age is only a good thing
when it comes to links and antiques.
Through all the craziness a handful of people� helped me stay sane
and�for that, I am grateful. Thank you�Danny, Elisabeth, Michelle and
Chris Sherman for your support during my move and for putting up with
my crankiness during SMX. Thank you Julie for covering for me and the
ear you lend. And many thanks and cyberhugs to my circle of friends in
the SEO community for just being there;�you all are the best.
From all of us at Alliance-Link and the Mastaler household, I wish
you and yours a very Happy Holiday. See you in 2010.� :)
Opinions expressed in the article are those of the author, and not
necessarily Search Engine Land.
Debra Mastaler <http://searchengineland.com/author/debra-mastaler/>
offers link training
<http://www.alliance-link.com/link-building-training.htm>
and custom link building campaigns through her Williamsburg Virginia
based firm Alliance-Link. She is also the author of the link building
blog <http://www.linkspiel.com>
The Link Spiel.
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