Boost Google Ranking by Citing Sources

Many online writers resist citing sources claiming they are already an expert on the topic and don't need references to support what they know. Although your many years of experience in the field may qualify you as an expert in your own right, when it comes to Google, citing sources boosts your ranking. To get your articles in front of the right people, ranking well with Google is part of the game.

All Sources are Not Created Equal

Aunt Martha's personal blog may have the absolute best info on making Apple Butter, but unless her last name is Stewart, linking to it isn't likely to help you with SEO. I'm not suggesting you ignore Aunt Martha or link to less relevant sites, but adding other more recognized sites boosts your ranking with Google.

It seems, Google has an order of preference and ranks .gov sites first on the list, followed by .edu with .org and .com bringing up the rear, according to Vaughn's Summaries on Google Ranking Factors.

Gov domains are reserved for official government sites and must comply with regulations to insure their credibility and accuracy. According to the dotGov, government domains are restricting from providing any non-government advertising or political campaigns, and must comply with a two-year eligibility period and receive mandated reviews to assure the site "promotes the best possible services to the public."

Edu domains typically denote an educational institution. According to educause, for dates after October 29, 2001 post-secondary institutions seeking the edu domain must be accredited in all programs. Those with edu domains before that date have been "grandfathered" and may not be accredited post-secondary institutions. According to the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, not all pages found on an edu site are sponsored by the institution. Staff members or students may post pages that may not be sponsored.

The Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives explains that .com, .net and .org domains can be registered by an individual without restrictions to the quality of the information contained on the site. Although some may provide accurate information, without regulation that quality is unverified.

Keep Links Relevant

Google looks for relevant links and rewards those that contain keywords from your article. Adding random gov or edu sites isn't likely to increase your ranking with Google. Take the time to find the right sources and attribute them in your text when possible.

Beyond Google Ranking: Building Credibility

Google ranking may be important, but it shouldn't be your only concern. Citing your sources to support the information in your article builds your credibility as a writer and instills confidence in your readers. Without reader confidence, it won't matter how well your work ranks with Google.

SOURCES:
Google Ranking Factors.Vaughn's Summaries
Government Internet Program Guidelines.dotGov
Eligibility for the edu Domain.educause
Evaluating and Citing Other Electronic Sources on Your Website.Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives