The skinny on Links

Some link factors to consider:

Link building is very valuable no doubt but how valuable is a matter of testing. Links must be a part of any Search Engine Optimization strategy but not to the point where you get locked in to absolutes.

A link simply passes value through the "anchor text" and/or the quality of the originating site. It really depends on the value of the site.

Points to consider:

.gov and .edu websites tend to have great backlinks and links from these sites seem to be treated better than links from .com. .net and .org

The alt text accompanying an image when put inside a link carries the same or similar weight to the link text alone.

Keyword rich anchor text still remains extremely important. Make sure it is relevant!

Reciprocal links are not quite as valuable as a one-way link. Reciprocal links are ok but better to acquire the one-way type.

Relevancy is extremely important. Get links from pages that match your subject matter.

Links from authority sites are absolutely the best!

Google seems to place importance on the age of the domain. Do some research on your potential link partners.