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[av_heading tag=’h1′ padding=’10’ heading=’Your Web Designer Is Stealing Your Search Rankings’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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How do you know if your web development company is stealing from you?
Well, there is a way. But, did you have your website made by a web design company?
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Read time: 4~6 mins
Want to read this later? Click here đ
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Then it’s probably happening to you!
But just to be sure:
Go to your website and scroll all the way down to the bottom. Is there a “developed by {web company}” link?
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Is it there? Yes?
You’re probably asking, “why’s that even important?”
I’m glad you asked. Let’s begin with a story:
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For the past 3 years, youâve had a vision in your mind for the âperfect house.â
Youâve had (what feels like) a thousand of conversations with your wife about design, layout and even what color drapes the living room will have.
Finally, the day to make everything real comes:
You go and hire a contractor.
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Your contractor does an amazing job. Your house is everything you wanted it to be.
The kitchen cabinets are the perfect stain. The marble countertops match the floor and the grass is greener than you could have imagined.
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You walk out the front door away from the house, walk into the grass and turn to stare (a little) at your dream house.
From the foundation to the roof, everything is what you pictured.
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…a banner, advertising the construction company?
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You start thinking, âWhere was that in the contract? Did I sign off on that?â
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No…you probably didnât.
And that happens online all the time – except itâs hidden in plain site.
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If you had someone build your website for you, you probably have âwebsite byâ on the bottom of your site – including a link to their site.
And that âfooter linkâ is on every page of your new site.
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Itâs Old-School SEO 101:
Get as many links as possible.
Maybe they haven’t heard, Google cares (had to dig through the archives) where your links are coming from…
…and, it kinda IS stealing – especially if it wasnât discussed with you.
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Just a little background on why itâs stealing. Donât worry, this wonât get too technical!
In the SEO field, we refer to something called âlink juice.â Basically, itâs like an endorsement.
If someone links to you, you must be important. The more “link juice” you have, the better.
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Thatâs an extremely watered down version of how websites are âranked.â
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Links coming into your website are an important ranking factor.
Think of your website like a contestant in a beauty contest, and links are judges votes.
You want to have more votes than your competitors.
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But these days, non-contextual links are extremely devalued to Google. The same way NBA players get to the all-star game (votes from other players), is the same way you get ranked.
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Meaning:
You want links from people in your industry.
To get those coveted rankings, you have to be just like an NBA superstar.
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So yes, they technically are powering their site with yours. But, it isnât doing them much good…
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Well, it could be hurting your rankings too. AND, if theyâre doing your SEO for youâŠ
How?
You’re judged on who you link out to. Relevant outbound links help.
But more than likely, they aren’t relevant to you…
…and your sight’s linked to them a ton!
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AND, if theyâre doing your SEO for youâŠ
GOOD LUCK!
My biggest issue is most people wouldnât know how to take the footer link off if they wanted – itâs usually not like other page links and a lot harder to get to. Plus, most
Plus, most customers donât know the value of a footer link.
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Thank about it like this:
If your website has 10 pages, you’re sending the web dev company 10 links. If your site has 500 pages, youâre sending them 500 links.
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Those are all links AWAY from your site.
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AND, if they were worth their retainer (SEO-wise), they wouldnât do that to you…
…or their own site.
No one really wins in that scenarioâŠ
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…plus, if Iâm paying you to build my online house, why would I want you advertising on it without my permission?
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If you’re a web developer and are really that hard up for links (we should talk), just ask your client.
More than likely theyâd say yes anyway.
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You know why?
If someone like me (an SEO) uses a couple search operators, I can find ALL YOUR CLIENTS.
Or better yet, your competition (who really knows what they were doing) can too – and take them from you.
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If youâre transparent, it wonât matter if your competitor finds your clients.
Just donât keep doing something just because itâs a common industry practiceâŠ
…please
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Let’s end with a PSA to web developers who want to genuinely help their clients:
Donât keep doing something just because itâs a common industry practiceâŠ
…please
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Reliably,
Adam “Search Operator” Leech
PS. Want to see the health of your website? Click here for a website audit. Want the hands-on approach? Click here to fill out our business breakthrough form.
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