Linking Question

[DisavowedKing]

I'm struggling with a linking question and I was hoping that you guys could weight in on it. Thanks for the help. Here goes nothing:

I am listing links on a page for a client. The page is divided up into 50 sections (states) with links under each section to a specific site that is similar for all 50 sections. The keyword that would make the most sense to use as the anchor text is what I am trying to get the page that all the links are on there to rank for.

Here is an example:

<h1>Keyword</h1>

<h2>Keyword Florida</h2>
     Keyword State Specific Site
<h2>Keyword Alaska</h2>
     Keyword State Specific Site

And so on for all 50 states

So my question is this: What do I use for the anchor text without using the keyword that I am trying to rank the page for?

Again thank you very much. I would like to think that I know a lot about SEO but this one is bothering me for some reason.

 

[Joak]

I don't get what you're doing.

You want to rank a page full of links? Only?

And... if you're trying to rank for a keyword, how come you don't want to use it as anchor text?

 

[DisavowedKing]

I am linking to my page with the links with my keyword however the same keyword would logically make sense as the anchor text for the outbound links to the sites that I have no interest in helping rank (they are government websites)

 

[Datalore]

Can you explain your purpose for ranking a page with all outbound links?

To answer quickly without knowing the reason:

1) Your page with only a list of outbound links wont rank for your main keyword. (unless your keyword is obscure and never searched for, like 'Purple elephants with green parachutes'.) You need content to rank a page, not just links.

2) You will in no way be helping any .gov websites rank. I assume the .gov outbound links are there to boost your seo. It won't work with a page with all outbound links and no content to support your obl's. Helping a .gov rank higher is the least of your worries.

3) If you want to rank for <Keyword Florida>, you need at least a whole page about <Keyword Florida>, with maybe 1 or 2 obl's on that page, and the same for <Keyword Alaska>.

4) If your client wants this page done for his site, I would explain that it should be for the benefit of his visitors only, and not for the benefit of seo, because it won't help in that way.

 

[navone]

Make the links nofollow, and use a related/themed keyword if you can, that way the page you're ranking gets a bonus for using good LSI practices, too.

E.g., if you're trying to rank for something like "florida lawyers", have the links say "florida law practices".

 

[DisavowedKing]

Can you explain your purpose for ranking a page with all outbound links?

To answer quickly without knowing the reason:

1) Your page with only a list of outbound links wont rank for your main keyword. (unless your keyword is obscure and never searched for, like 'Purple elephants with green parachutes'.) You need content to rank a page, not just links.

2) You will in no way be helping any .gov websites rank. I assume the .gov outbound links are there to boost your seo. It won't work with a page with all outbound links and no content to support your obl's. Helping a .gov rank higher is the least of your worries.

3) If you want to rank for <Keyword Florida>, you need at least a whole page about <Keyword Florida>, with maybe 1 or 2 obl's on that page, and the same for <Keyword Alaska>.

4) If your client wants this page done for his site, I would explain that it should be for the benefit of his visitors only, and not for the benefit of seo, because it won't help in that way.

The page is a directory of links. Sort of like where to find all the states capitals without listing all the capitals on the site.

1., 3. and 4. I have a 1000 word article above where the links are going to be. The links are for the reader. I am trying to accomplish both ranking and make it easy for the reader to digest. The copy is targeted for the broad keyword while the links direct to state specific keyword.

2. The outbound links are not for SEO but for the user.

 

[DisavowedKing]

Make the links nofollow, and use a related/themed keyword if you can, that way the page you're ranking gets a bonus for using good LSI practices, too.

E.g., if you're trying to rank for something like "florida lawyers", have the links say "florida law practices".

Thanks for the suggestion. I've made the all nofollow already. For some reason I was stuck on this and I ended up doing what you suggested three days ago. Thanks for the suggestion!