backlinking and key word (wp blog, tumpler etc), PK & Squidoo Question

[MaximH]

Dear Challenge fellows,

Question1

please excuse the question, I still have some understanding issues regarding the backlinks and the key word.

Lets say I am trying to dominate a niche called "nichexyz", however I could not register my domain with that particular word as it was taken. Therefore I have chosen www.Enichexyz.

When I create accounts on wp and tumblr and create a backlinks to my main page (www.enichexyz) is it better to name the link a. nichexyz or b.Enichexyz?

Question2
Over module 2 I have created a squidoo linse, should I always post something on it and keep it up to date or is it enough that we have created once that particular linse with the link to the main page (www.nichexyz)?

Question3
Since the lesson where PK was explained I have not used PK at all. Should I always post the content to PK that I also post to posterous?I only use posterous so far, when and why should I use PK?

Thank you everyone for your replies! Every ones help is appreciated!

Lots of luck and Happiness to all challengers!

[Christina90]

Hi Maxim,

1. Either way should be fine. When creating backlinks on other sites (not on your niche site), you can link to your blog with the keywords in a sentence (example: I've found that [keyword phrase here - link to site] is an important part of...) or you can introduce your site (might be useful for the first post on Tumblr or WP) directly, linking to your site using the site name as anchor text (example: For more information, visit [site name - link to site]). More often, though, you'll probably link to your site with the keywords (first example above). I hope this makes sense?

2. From what I've read, people doing The Challenge only recommend to set up the Squidoo lens initially (don't have to update it, though you can). This is because you're only testing your niche before you make a final decision on whether you want to keep going with this niche or start a new one. So, no, you don't have to update the lens. Just get a lens published and make sure it's linking to at least your niche site homepage, with maybe a few links going to individual articles as well. If you decide to keep going with this niche, you can then add more content to your lens, create new lenses, or whatever you wish.

3. From what I understand, The Challenge recommends to post all unique links to Ping Kaching. Ping Kaching is basically there to get your content indexed so that your site (new articles, backlinks, and so on) can start being crawled by search engines. When new content is indexed, only then will your backlinks actually count. Ping Kaching just allows you to index content faster, rather than just waiting for search engine bots to find your content. Posterous, on the other hand, is a good way to build quick backlinks. And since you're essentially creating new articles that link back to your site, The Challenge recommends to put those links into Ping Kaching as well (though, be careful - since you don't want to spam Twitter with links if you have both Twitter on your Ping Kaching and Posterous accounts - try unchecking Twitter from Posterous if you're also going to ping the article with Ping Kaching).

I hope I helped!

Christina

[MaximH]

Thanks Christina, I will review the PK tutorial, as I havent used it since then, however it seems like it is an important tool.

How long does it usually take to test the niche, unfortunately due to work and illness I have been doing the challenge for about three months now and I am only on module 3 day 5... Quite bad, isn't it? Probably I should post less articles and make sure I finish the challenge to complete the test and focus then on content.
What do you think?

Kindly Regards,

Max

[DeanRichards]

Excellent answers, Christina.

I would just add to the backlinking info that you keep in mind the idea of relevance. When you say "name the link" I'm assuming that you're talking about anchor text and it that case it is always best to think about relevance. You're not really trying to rank for the word "Enichexyz" and the content you're linking to isn't about "Enichexyz" so it isn't really a relevant link to use that in your anchor text. The anchor text should always contain the actual keywords you're targeting. So if you're making a link to an article about your category keywords, you use those category keywords in the link.

Probably I should post less articles and make sure I finish the challenge to complete the test and focus then on content.

I'm not really sure I understand you. The Challenge is step by step process and so when you complete one step (Day), you do the next. If you have times between steps, that is fine, but once you complete a step, then do the next, no matter how long between steps.

[MaximH]

Thanks for the clarification with the anchor text, I did still had some doubts weather I understood Christina the right way or not. I now am certain to put the key word in to the anchor text although my web page is eNichexyz.

Thanks everyone, it is a pleasure knowing there is some people trying to help you when you need them.

Regards,

Max