Source: http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/seochat-link-building-and-penguin-disavow/
Several top search engine optimization analysts reveal what they think about link-building and disavowing links in the Penguin age during a Twitter #SEOChat.
disavow links
– Is link-building easier with the Penguin update, or is it harder?
It is easier for some because a lot of people have started to look at quality content and social presence as good link triggers. If you’ve been content-focused, there won’t be too much of a difference. It’s difficult for some because each site should be scrutinized before you could consider getting a link on it.
– Do you consider link-building to be black hat?
A majority agree that link-building is not inherently black hat. It all depends on the intent. By providing quality content, the links will come naturally.
– Is it ethical to ask for links?
All participants believe that it is okay to ask for links if you can offer value to the host site. Just ask nicely.
– What’s your advice on link-building?
- It’s your job to know who’s linking to you. Always be aware.
- Develop your own strategy that is unique, don’t just blindly follow others.
- Be patient.
– Pruning vs Disavowing?
Generally, ridding your site of bad links takes longer than disavowing, but it is a lot better and rewarded by Google when done sooner.
– Any recommended pruning tools?
- MajesticSEO
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs
- Moz Spam Analysis Tool
– Do you always recommend a disavow?
It is the last resort. Only do it if you really suspect you’ve been penalized.
– Would you want to know if anybody disavowed you?
If you’re confident about the quality of your site, there’s no need to worry about anything. But some say that it is important to know as it could mean bad SEO or maybe even negative SEO. If that’s the case, it’s a definite call to action.