Rackermann wrote:It is out and it is the way to go ...!
Backlinks is not the main focus for search engines and now you need to turn your focus more and more to social media, social networking, and social signals ...!
Only high, quality PR backlinks will still play a real role in your rankings ...if you do not feature on the social channels with your websites, products, and services, you have no chance of featuring high in the search engines!
I am interested in responses on this topic please - what have you heard thus far?
Featuring high on search engines means nothing if your product is no good and you do not know your niche. Savvy shoppers do not look at the links on the top half of a search results page, they look at the lower half where businesses have not paid for the ranking, used little tricks for higher placement, and have fewer affiliate links on any blogs associated with their websites.
Social media might help, but your website or blog has to be more than search engine fodder.
Also.....
Social networks are great if you send folk directly from the social website to your "storefront". Starting a niche group on a social network builds your target audience faster than trying to jump through 2 extra hoops between lead and sale.
Keep things simple and focus on your product because word of mouth has more impact than being on the top of a Google page, IMHO.