SEO (search engine optimisation) specialists worship valuable dofollow links, primarily because Google places such high value on incoming links. But nofollow does not mean your links won’t be followed. Google admits there are nofollow links that are followed. Twittering nofollow links at Twitter can be a valuable link strategy in your search engine optimisation plans.
Search engine optimisation consultants twitter on Twitter and SEO blogs about the potential of using Twitter as a tool for search engine optimisation. While some search engine optimisation consultants declared Twitter not worthy of their time when a nofollow Twitter policy was instituted, many search engine consultants continued to garner valuable dofollow links and blog subscribers from interested followers.
Early adopters of social networking fads and communication trends jumped on Twitter at its introduction in 2006. A 600% jumped occurred in 2008, and by 2009, Pew Internet Research reported 11% of Internet users have twittered on Twitter. A “State of the Twittersphere” report by Hubspot reports there’s around 4-5 million accounts, and up to ten thousand accounts are opened daily. In January 2009, Twitter placed 3rd, following only Facebook and MySpace in a rank of social networking websites with the highest number of monthly visitors The upward trend continues. Any website that does not have a Twitter presence is not optimised for social networking growth and exposure, and thus not optimised for linking and search engine optimisation strategies.
Twitter attracts direct visits through micro-blogging from both PC and mobile phone users. Twitters can be frequent and spontaneous, and in the form of a statement or a question. When you “twitter” you can post a link. Although this link is nofollowed by a Google spider, it is not nofollowed by all search engines, and anyone seeing your post can visit your link. You have now attracted someone to your website who may have the power to “retwitter” the link to other interested parties, post your link on their blog or website, email your link, subscribe to your RSS feed, or click on your internal links. Having internal links on the web page you linked to from Twitter creates additional interest and opportunities for exposure.
Spamming Twitter with a sudden barrage of twitters will get you ignored and banned. Twitter is a social network. Joining groups and following individuals with similar interests will in turn grow your followers. Twitter profiles have an average of 70 followers. If your profile is genuine and not spammy, it is likely that the individuals and groups you choose to follow will in turn follow you – but it is up to you to take the initiative to begin your own network. Keep in mind there are twice as many tweets during the week than there are on weekends.
Your participation in Twitter and its search engine optimisation opportunities doesn’t end with subtly recruiting visitors to post inbound links to your website. There are search engines that search all conversations on Twitter. Thus, your keyword strategy should be incorporated into all of your posts and your profile. You can even add in a keyword by placing a pound sign (#) before the word. Twitter searches are just as useful to you. You can search for your keywords, see who is twittering about something you can provide, and respond with your helpful friendly link.
Search engine optimisation strategies can not ignore Twitter. The opportunities for exposure and optimisation are too frequent and too great to ignore. Search engine optimisation can start with building a network of your target market, and finding every opportunity to provide information using your keywords and links. Your natural inbound links will grow, and you’ll be able to start twittering about your website success.