15 replies to this topic

[hypnoticvibe]

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could obatin a link from a .gov site?

[Respree]

This guy does.

http://www.seomoz.or...ail.php?ID=1308

Edited by Respree, 05 December 2006 - 07:41 PM.

[JohnMu]

Provide content which is perceived as being valuable to users of .gov domains :-)

or be very creative (or cheat).

I imagine a lot of the links within .gov domains are on private parts of their sites, making them irrelevant for search engines. I'm not even sure I really want links from them

John

[hypnoticvibe]

@Respree:
Wow, that guy got NASA. While that article likely to be the coolest article I've read in a while (and I'm glad you showed me), I'm looking for a legit approach.

@softplus:
But how can a DJ site changed to be of use to the government?

[Cath]

But how can a DJ site changed to be of use to the government?

I'm struggling here to think of a reason why a dj site would want a link from .gov site. Are the days when music was anti-establishment gone forever?

I'm not even sure I really want links from them

I think I'm with John here I, not sure I'd want a link from the government, every time the government notice me I end up having to give them money

[A.N.Onym]

Cath, I suspect John was referring to getting links from the private parts of the government websites. I am sure he (and most of us here) would enjoy a couple of dozens links from any government website, of course.

You see, the only way to get a link from a .gov website is to be absolutely relevant to the theme (topic, direction) of the website and be the best resource on the topic.

A DJ website could, theoretically, get a link from a .gov website, if the .gov website is an institute, researching the influence of discos on youth psychology and the DJ website were providing similar research and statistics (preferrably long term, covering a wide sampling base). That's an example, of course. Find .gov websites, relative to your topic and see how you can be a resource for them.

Cooperating with government is another way, possibly, to get a mention.

Edited by A.N.Onym, 05 December 2006 - 09:17 PM.

[Cath]

Yuri, I hear what you are saying, and sorry John if I misunderstood your post, but I still feel the same way. I can only really speak about my government and would not want a link from them right now, I have no respect for them, my view is they are a bad neighbourhood

And I am still shocked to see a dj/music site wanting a link from them, where's the rebellion gone? but hey, that's just me, still a punk at heart

Cooperating with government is another way, possibly, to get a mention.

*cough, splutter, cough

Edited by Cath, 05 December 2006 - 10:26 PM.

[A.N.Onym]

Sorry to be invasive, but John didn't have a post to disagree with. I was under impression that the snippet you quoted and your comments were not coordinated.

I hear what you say, Cath. I shouldn't want to cooperate with a governmental entity that doesn't seem useful and beneficial for me, but it doesn't mean I won't cooperate with the government, when it comes to something, where it can help me and others, such as environmental protection, for instance.

I don't see how a DJ can be opposed to government. I am guessing I am not into the DJ culture, after all. But a music site may have less points of contact with the government and it will require lots of efforts just to build a relation with the government, too.

[hypnoticvibe]

@cath:
lol - I just want one because Google is speculated to rank better with it.

Edited by hypnoticvibe, 05 December 2006 - 11:07 PM.

[Cath]

lol - I just want one because Google is speculated to rank better with it.

Kids today! That google has a lot to answer for

[JohnMu]

I don't think it will be worth the effort you'd have to put in for it . I would imagine that all domains are treated the same at Google - they don't like to play manual adjustments in the algorithms (special link value per TLD). However, many .gov domains do have a lot of value which could be passed out with links. For your DJ site it would require a lot of work to get there - like A.N.Onym said - and if you managed to get that link, I think you'd most likely be lose your existing visitors, making the link almost useless. Who wants a government sponsored DJ?

I'd work on getting good normal links instead

John

[A.N.Onym]

I don't think one might lose existing customers for linking to related governmental websites. It adds trust and credibility to the website.

You know, if you invest your time in researching the topic heavily, doing your own human research on a wide base of people, probably, involve a couple of scientists there, you'll have an absolutely worthwhile piece of content. If not governments, all other related websites will link to you.

That's what working on getting links means, in my opinion - building quality content to get links (and traffic, as a bonus).

[JohnMu]

I know what you mean -- if you can get the link in addition to keeping your site the way it is. However, in this case, I think getting a link from a government entity would likely mean restructuring the site in a large way, changing the focus of the site and with it, aiming for a different visitor group. It's hard to stay young and trendy and at the same time focus on old, boring government people (as an example... but I bet they have some young and trendy government people as well ).

If you are really interested in getting a link, there are a few things you could do to find work out where it would be easiest. Go visit the .gov sites yourself and search around until you find a place which looks good to you, where you can see that a lot of nongovernmental people also hang out. Find out what they like, find out what you could offer which wouldn't require refocusing your site, and slip them a link once you're ready. If you prepared and guessed right, you might end up with a link.

Another possibility is to aim at public forums hosted on .gov sites, eg http://petitions.pm..../citizen-links/ or http://www.congress....p;content_dir=y (not .gov, but I'm sure there are similar ones - note that the link here is not active). Get involved in government, voice your opinion, and keep your link in the footer

Good luck. But don't neglect the rest of your site for just a .gov link.

John

[A.N.Onym]

While restructuring and rebranding the website to suit government is an option, it is not the best way to do this. You can simply have some piece of information, which a government can use. You don't have to target another audience to create quality content, just stay on topic.

Then again, it may be easier to stick to routine content writing and link building, than to obsess about .gov links, as John said.

[dkessaris]

Here is a suggestion

There are a lot of .gov organisations that do charity or other events. Locate the .gov sites of organizations that are located at your area and offer them your services in exchange for a backlink.

[A.N.Onym]

Or better yet, build solid relationships with them, so they'd link to you on their own will