[CASE STUDY] Race to the top - testing different ranking strategies

So this case study is going to be a bit different in that we are going to go about testing different overall ranking strategies - and testing the effects on each of the sites. Obviously this is not an exact science test - and certainly has multiple factors that could have an effect on the overall results, but basically we wanted to show that consistently following a strategy will ultimately get you to the top - no matter what type of strategy you use.

RANKING STRATEGIES:

So for this Case Study - we will basically be testing 2 of the strategies we use quite often across most of our sites - with some slight twists.

1) STRATEGY 1 - surround your site with some quality content on Web 2.0s (tier 1) - no further backlinks to the main site (money site ) - but get quality and relevant backlinks to TIER 1. Think High PR backlinks, relevant comments on High PR. the point of this strategy is not quantity - but rather Quality.
2) STRATEGY 2 - once again - have some quality content on TIER 1 - and just blast the TIER 1s with countless non related backlinks - I'll just be using a few FIVERR services and whatever to just go about blasting the TIER 1s. Comments, profiles, any other type of backlink service that seems like it has mass QUANTITY.


KEY SITE FACTS:

So just to have an even playing field - I am using 2 sites within the same / similar niche.

1) SItes are not EMD - but have the keyword in the domain.
2) Age of each of the domains is about 8 months old - no previous backlinking performed.
3) About 5-8 articles were thrown up on each of the domains at the time ... but nothing further was done - as I basically just did not have the time to carry on with them - and they have sat stagnant for a period of time.
4) Both sites have the same theme, and are self-hosted wordpress sites

Current Rankings:

1) STRATEGY 1: Not in TOP 100 (isn't this where we all start !!!)
2) STRATEGY 2: Not in TOP 100 (isn't this where we all start !!!)


Any questions - please feel free to ask.

I will be updating on a periodic basis rather than on a daily basis - and I will be tracking all the backlinking activities that I performed for each site.

ITS A RACE TO THE TOP!!!!!

subscribed..keep us updated

best of luck. keep us updated

Subbed I need this

Subcribed to this thread, im curious about this too.

Wish you Luck. Let me know if you ever need some input....

Subscribed, keep us posted with your progress

you opened two threads ?


http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...top-testing-different-ranking-strategies.html

http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...top-testing-different-ranking-strategies.html

prab1996 said:

you opened two threads ?


http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...top-testing-different-ranking-strategies.html

http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...top-testing-different-ranking-strategies.html

Click to expand...

Yeah don't know what happened there - some issue with BHW.

Anyways have asked the mods to close the one thread - this is the thread that I will update with status updates.

Status Update:


Not much to report on as yet in terms of rankings and backlinking as the day was spent forming the basis and core of the Tier 1 links.

I only create this Tier by hand - no bots or anything - and just use the standard Web 2.0 sites (Wordpress / Tumblr / Squidoo etc.) There is a nice list around somewhere on BHW - when we first started out I just used that list and found the sites that are easiest to sign up to and post on...

I do try and make them look a bit more legit by adding in Bio's and About Me pages etc .. but I do not overdo it in terms of the "padding" of the Web2.0 as some like to call it... ultimately my content is unique and well written - so have never had a problem with banning of the accounts - even if they only have like 1 or 2 posts on them.

Current Rankings:

1) STRATEGY 1: Not in TOP 100
2) STRATEGY 2: Not in TOP 100

Until later.

If I understand correctly there are no links to the money site except the web 2.0s links? Is it the strategy you use in real life? This kind of link profile looks a bit artificial for me.
Take care,
D.

subbed. look forward too seeing how you do

We are following you, keep us updated

Good study OP, will be interested to see how the sites fare.

I'm guessing the sites are on different IPs and have no footprints linking them?

Also, are you adding videos/images to the web 2.0s? How many articles per 2.0?

Really looking forward to future results

Subbed

Interesting study! Looking forward to the updates! One question though, are you only creating web 2.0's as tier 1 links? Shouldn't you diversify a bit if we are talking the effect on rankings or that's the way chose to go ahead with the experiments?

Thanks,
Akbar

This is a good but you need to be more detailed and plan a proper test environment.

gorang said:

This is a good but you need to be more detailed and plan a proper test environment.

Click to expand...

As stated initially - there will be countless variables that could skew the results of the test - but ultimately this is not a test where the results will be for proving either Strategy 1 or Strategy 2 - ultimately what I want to prove is that with any consistent linkage - either Quality or Quantity - you will ultimately get to the top.

Obviously my own opinion leans to fewer links of quality - but this is really what this is quasi-testing is trying to prove - both to the users and to myself and my team

I agree though - future tests should be conducted with proper testing environments and for the results to be more predictable.

Cheers

Quick update after creating various Tier 1 links over the weekend.

Current Rankings:

1) STRATEGY 1 (Quality based links): 93
2) STRATEGY 2 (Quantity based links): 76

At the moment I would not read anything into the rankings increase per strategy - I think the fun will start this week as we now start each particular strategy in earnest.
In fact, at the moment, the link types are exactly the same (i.e. Tier 1 links on Web2.0 type sites), all unique content on sites linking back to the money site with a diverse set of anchors.
I tend to mix it up when it comes to the anchor text, but generally we use the following ratios:
20% - direct url
30% - LSI keyword variations
20% - "click here", "more info" type anchors
30% - direct keyword

It's roughly in those proportions. We created about 8x Tier 1 buffers per site. Articles were roughly about 300 - 600 words each, include pictures to which we add "alt" tags, and generally all specific to the money site.

And to answer all the PMs - the sites are in the Travel niche

Until later

Subscribed. Keep us updated OP!