Link Relevancy?

[Henry IV]

This is a very stupid sounding question, but I can't help but doubt myself based on some recent information and I am looking for opinions on the topic.

For years the word has always been that links in relevant pages/posts/articles on relevant sites are the way to go. This is obvious, it makes sense and is proven. No questions. However, I've been shown evidence that actually a contextual link in a relatively irrelevant article on an irrelevant site, but where domain/page metrics are super high can also provide fairly decent value.

Naturally relevant is better, I'm not questioning that at all and I would never build anything else but links in relevant places on relevant sites for my clients....but am I therefore missing a trick? I guess the question is....as part of a blended diversified link building strategy of course, is it worth getting a contextual keyworded link on an aged high metric page on some .edu site for example. Just does it have value or nay?

 

[Nargil]

It does hold value.

As an example, most people who sell PBN links here do not follow the relevancy rules. Sites contain dozens of random niches, yet, if the domains are strong enough, they provide a nice and permanent boost. Go with relevancy if you can, if you can't you will get a nice boost anyway, just don't overdo it.

 

[darulez]

T
For years the word has always been that links in relevant pages/posts/articles on relevant sites are the way to go. T

yeah. till this day I scam clients by telling them that. I get higher margines that way and they love it posting their links on some average, flashy, nich-y site.

I wouldnt dare to put their links on some general HIGH DA/DR sites, cause the site would not be "relevant" that way.

 

[Henry IV]

Yea I'm sick of guest posting. I create highly relevant decent PBNs for clients every 6 months or so but alongside that each month I usually provide 4 guest posts, the sites I'm posting to are relevant and OK in terms of actual link metrics, but I'm always suspicious of sites that take guest posts....no doubt my supplier pays them like £50 for a guest post and charges me £150 etc and no doubt I'm not the only customer posting on that blog site, so the links will only continue to degrade in value the more guest posts they sell on their blog.

I've recently been dealing with a supplier who can get insanely high metric links but placements are not always relevant... They are much cheaper than guest posts that's for sure and they have shown me a live client example in a competitive niche showing massive gains purely from their sometimes irrelevant link placements.

I plan to do a couple of these high metric sometimes irrelevant links alongside a couple of the usual guest posts, as long as these irrelevant links can pass some value I'm happy just to not be always doing god damned guest posts xD

 

[LinkHeros]

I have built links on unrelated sites with only a couple of relevant sentences in an article and still seen a boost. As long as the site has decent metrics and traffic, unrelated sites are good as part of an overall link profile. It looks more natural than if every single link was from a relevant site.

 

[darulez]

what niche was huffington cnn forbes and buisnessinsider again?
dam.. seems they cover everything. must be a fucked up site then.

 

[erguaxe]

All the links you can get from natural maanera will be good for your website although the page is not highly relevant, the important thing is to have diversity of links, not just links in superwebs

 

[Sristy]

Definitely a link from highly powerful unrelated domain can also be a powerful backlink. However, if you ask me to choose between both i would go for niche relevant but less poweeful domain.

 

[Nigil77]

Relavancy is not must have. But if it's it will give more power. Don't have any experince just my thought.Never build anything for related websites

 

[Piyush Jain]

No, just think in terms of general relevancy. A site about auto tires would be relevant to sites about cars, car parts, car washing services, weekend travel, car insurance, ski racks, carport covers, etc. It would not be relevant to vi*gra, web hosting, etc.

 

[Hawkster]

you'll stand a better chance under manual review if your link profile contains mostly relevant backlinks, i dont think the odd high quality non relevant link would kick up too much of a stink

 

[hippo123]

It does hold value.

As an example, most people who sell PBN links here do not follow the relevancy rules. Sites contain dozens of random niches, yet, if the domains are strong enough, they provide a nice and permanent boost. Go with relevancy if you can, if you can't you will get a nice boost anyway, just don't overdo it.

Hmm but what about those mommy bloggers that are doing/selling sponsored posts? They always write about random niches. Do they give a good boost?

I always struggle between outreaching for relevancy VS paying bloggers just for sponsored posts.

 

[Nargil]

Hmm but what about those mommy bloggers that are doing/selling sponsored posts? They always write about random niches. Do they give a good boost?

I always struggle between outreaching for relevancy VS paying bloggers just for sponsored posts.

Then I would make sure it's actually mommy bloggers and not "mommy bloggers". Depends on how spammy the site looks. If the site looks good then go for it, if it's a bit too much, avoid it.