| When analyzing links to a site, many speculate that | | | | link ads. University of Michigan sells some on an inner |
| Google really likes what are referred to as "Edu" sites | | | | site, however this is somewhat of a rarity or at least |
| and Edu links. A Edu domain is one commonly found in | | | | I believe so. Colleges are very careful about the links |
| university websites throughout the U.S. | | | | they put on their website. Google knows and |
| Why does Google like universities so much? | | | | respects any link which has gone through a stringent |
| With the insanely fast growth rate of the internet, | | | | screening process by actual human beings as |
| Google needs to rely on sites to help it determine | | | | opposed to robots. |
| the most relevant results for any particular set of | | | | Obtaining these links is not as hard as one would |
| keywords. In past articles, I have touched on the | | | | imagine. If you own a company or are a wiz at online |
| various factors in which the search engine uses to | | | | marketing and have an A+ blog or website, below |
| determine the worth of a link back to any website or | | | | you will find a 3 great and creative ways to not only |
| blog regardless of topic or industry. | | | | get Edu links, but to help younger college students |
| Here's a recap and a very broad overview of 4 | | | | while you're at it. |
| factors Google uses to judge how important any | | | | 1. Many colleges have a list of "Employers Which |
| particular link it - | | | | Recruit" or some variation of the term on their |
| 1. Google Page Rank | | | | website. Unless you are Disney, get on this list, you |
| 2. Alexa Rating | | | | have to either pay money to the school to attend a |
| 3. Relevancy of the site linking to your webpage | | | | career fair or do a big favor for the career |
| 4. Authority of the site linking to your webpage | | | | department. Trust me, in most instances, the former |
| To give you an idea of relevancy, if you own a | | | | is easier. After contacting the career department, |
| drycleaner and buy a link from a software site, it is | | | | don't just buy your link and leave without helping. |
| not going to matter as much as if that link was from | | | | Offer to mentor a student or two. Many college |
| a SuperPages directory listing various drycleaners in | | | | students are hardworking and eager to learn. |
| your area. The "authority" of the website linking to | | | | Mentoring does take some time, but you get as |
| your site is how much Google believes that source to | | | | much out of it as they do. |
| be relevant to a particular, let's say, your industry. It's | | | | 2. Advertising your company. Many colleges, if you |
| sort of like a hot news lead for a reporter. Is the | | | | are a viable company, will allow you to advertise on |
| source credible? If it is, then you have a great link. | | | | their website. Some will let you with a donation of |
| Getting back to the main point, the reason why a link | | | | around $300 for the year. Again, you know that the |
| from a Edu is so highly recognized by Google is that | | | | money is going towards something positive. Nobody |
| not everybody can have a Edu domain for their | | | | is getting a commission on this donation. At least I |
| website. You and I could not just register it online for | | | | hope they aren't. |
| $9.99 a year. To obtain this kind of URL, colleges | | | | 3. Writing articles. Many universities are more than |
| have to go through a strict screening process of not | | | | happy to look over any material which would help |
| only their university and educational philosophies, but | | | | their students. If you kiss up enough (career |
| the subsequent school website as well. This is all | | | | departments love and require adulation from anyone |
| done by a non-for-profit organization. Therefore, if a | | | | applying to get their site added) and your article is |
| Edu URL links to a particular site, more likely than not, | | | | that good, you may get onto the website through |
| this is a very trusting source for the search engine. | | | | this channel. I would label this route the hardest to be |
| It's a hot lead. | | | | successful at, though weirder things have happened |
| Additionally, most college websites do not sell text | | | | in this world. |