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Would you rather have a squidangel blessing or a quality link?

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I'd rather have a quality link than a squidangel blessing

Would you rather have a squidangel blessing or a quality link?

I'd rather have a quality link. A quality link makes it more likely that my lens (and from that my website) gets found in google. That will ultimately do my lens more good than a squidangel blessing. A squidangel blessing brings a temporary lensrank boost. That is great, don't get me wrong. But a quality link will get me dozens more visitors - and sometimes hundreds. All potential regulars. All potentials customers. Some of them may even link to my lens. All of which will ALSO give my lens a boost in lensrank.

Links are the motor of the web

The main thing is: links are the motor of the web. Google decides how to rank webpages based on links. In squidoo terms that means lensrolls, featured lenses and ordinary links. Links are what makes the web tick. In other words: links don't just matter on squidoo, they impact the whole internet.

Why links matter for Google

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Votes and Squidangel blessings matter ONLY within squidoo

Votes and squidoo angel blessings both make a difference only within squidoo. However great that is - I'm not here to have great lensrank on each of my lenses. I'm here mainly because squidoo gives great backlinks to my other web projects. Yes I make a bit of cash here too, but that's a sideline. Though I have to admit: it helps.
The thing is though: squidoo ONLY makes a great backlink if your lenses and your profile get good links within squidoo. It used to be that the tagpages themselves gave you great backlinks on their own, but those days are gone.

The way to get some of squidoo's pagerank on your lenses is now: groups (that actually list your lenses on the group page), lenses that feature other lenses, lensrolls. Squidoo-related blogs are also great.

The best links are those you get from a prominent site about your subject (nothing to do with squidoo).

Getting and giving links WITHIN squidoo

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Lensrank explained

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Would you rather have a squidangel blessing or a quality link?

Which means: I'd rather have your link than your rating. I'd rather have a link than a squidangel blessing.
Of course it would be best to have both....

do you agree? Are links better than blessings?

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Yes, links help my lenses get found

mrniceguy11 says:

I can't wait to have some good backlinks. That being said I've only benefited from blessings. I'd love some good backlinks, though.

Posted May 12, 2011

LensSeller says:

Being greedy I want both but I think quality backlinks will help to spread the word about your lens much further. Plus backlinks, which are freely given, are a true recognition of the lens value to the internet as a whole.

Posted April 22, 2011

River88 says:

I have to say yes even though I've just been invited to be a Squid Angel when my name comes up. (I'm actually rather proud of this and worked very hard for it.)

Posted December 09, 2010

squidoohelp says:

Automated backlinks are either immoral (on sites that aren't giving them voluntarily, aka through hacking), or not quality backlinks. Either way: not a good idea.

Posted August 02, 2010

Get2TopinGoogle says:

Quality backlinks - which is why I use the tools I do (getting automated, quality links).

Posted August 01, 2010

revrev3 says:

A quality link is not temporary and can carry the whole content of your website.
Also a link is potential profit.

Posted February 16, 2010

lisadh says:

I deinitely appreciate blessings and ratings, but a good backlink will be more useful in the long run.

Posted June 14, 2009

justlucky7 says:

When I have my links found I will get my blessing.

Posted February 27, 2009

kiwisoutback says:

Since blessings are only temporary and only help a little bit within Squidoo, definitley I would choose a quality link.

Posted February 18, 2009

JaguarJulie says:

Honestly? Well, not to devalue Squid Angel heavenly blessings as these angels do perform a function -- and it surely doesn't hurt to have a blessing or two. However, in the long run, lensmasters should be creating quality lenses that can stand on their own merit -- so that somebody might want to provide a quality link to it. That's what is about -- quality content that brings in the traffic and encourages the readers to visit time and time again!

Posted January 02, 2009

GrowWear says:

Gotta be practical.

Posted November 23, 2008

poutine says:

Yes, I believe that links have a much longer utility.

Posted November 21, 2008

flowski says:

Squid Angel blessings are a wonderful boost at Squidoo and it's always nice to be recognized for a job well done, but quality linking is smart long term strategy for building a websites authority online.

Posted November 13, 2008

Pastiche says:

Although I am grateful for each blessing, as a successful SEO pro and long time web marketer, I know the value of a back link from a high-ranking related page, so I would rather get a quality link if I must choose.

Posted November 10, 2008

bcarter says:

I definitely have to say that I'd rather have a quality link. Angel blessings only last for so long, where a link lasts as long as the webmaster leaves it up; hopefully forever.

Posted October 25, 2008

BFuniv.com says:

Links usually don't have an expiration date. In fact links from relevant, quality sites increase in value over time.

I love the blessings, but quality links have more value at reaching, and continuing to reach, readers.

Posted October 24, 2008

mulberry says:

Yes, quality back links are the real key. Ugh why does the good stuff always require so much work! ;)

Posted October 21, 2008

Squidster says:

Blessings are not a substitute for hard work, they're an acknowledgment of it. SquidAngels are the fabrication of the Squidoo community and as such their temporary "magic" has a mainly internal impact. If you want magic in the real world you'd have to make friends with a GoogleAngel ^:)^

Posted October 21, 2008

JudyDunn says:

I agree. The fact that blessings fade over time make them great for a temporary boost, and a nice acknowledgment of quality, but as far as sustainable traffic, a quality link is the best.

Posted October 21, 2008

Jimmie says:

The angel blessing is temporary and only affects lensrank. So, sure, the link is superior in the long run.

BUT... a blessing sure is a nice encouragement!

Posted October 21, 2008

No way, blessings give me better lensrank

PosterChildSmile says:

I'm straddling the fence on this one. Links are going to last long than a blessing...but the real blessings feel so darn good!

Posted May 16, 2009

spirituality says:

I do agree with that actually :) Yes, squidangels are one of the ways quality gets distinguished from spam on squidoo. Which is good: we need such mechanisms here.

Posted March 12, 2009

Greekgeek says:

I think I'll give a plug for Angels just to be different. Yes, a quality link is good, and at first I was going to vote for that. But quality lenses will draw links anyway, sooner or later.

What Squid Angels do is try to help boost real quality lenses above the junk. They're the front line in raising Squidoo's online reputation and quality as a whole. That's valuable to all of us, albeit indirectly.

Also, getting in the Top 100 list is a lot easier with Angel dust. Those lists are quality links, I think, or at least they do help earn some traffic.

I won't lie. Quality links matter more than lensrank, which is only useful internally (for your earnings) unless you make a Top 100 list.

But want to recognize the more subtle way that Squid Angels help make Squidoo better for all of us.

Posted March 12, 2009

 
view all 24 comments

Short and sweet: what do you prefer, squidangel blessings or quality editorial links?

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I'm a squidangel myself these days...

This debate has new meaning now that I am a squidangel myself. One of the reasons why I feature lenses I've blessed on my blog every once in a while is that I really do feel the best way to bless a lens, is to link to it... But for those of you who want BOTH, check out what I'm looking for.
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