Matt Cuts (Google’s spokesman) has provided a pretty good explanation about how Google values inbound links from Twitter and Facebook.
It’s a natural question. If you have inbound links that is good. If you have inbound links from highly ranked websites that is better. Facebook and Twitter are obviously very highly ranked although you must consider the value of the page and not just the value of the website, i.e., a link from Facebook’s Home page would be more valuable than a link from a fan page.
I actually start to think that a well crafted Facebook listing for an accommodation is a good thing, but not for links. I think it’s possible to create a fan page that would allow guests to make comments on what they think of the property and area and use that to make recommendations to their friend – a classic social networking model.
But for inbound links…. doesn’t look like it will have much effect.
About Mark
Founder of Web Reservation Systems, focused on helping businesses in the Australian Accommodation travel sector get more value from Internet Marketing.
Originally, we opened up in 2001 as a supplier of Front Office Software linked to Online Booking facilities. That allowed motels and hotels to add booking buttons to their websites as well as sell through Global Distribution Systems. You could say this was an early 'Channel Manager' because it allowed the property manager to simply control price and availability for a diverse array of wholesale and retails websites.
Next, we started building websites to profile our customers (Australian Holiday Guide). That lead to building websites for customers as a favour. Now do about 80 websites a year using BurgundySky and Joomla.
For small businesses I recommend using BurgundySky as it is very easy to start and manage. Joomla is also great, but harder to install and maintain for a small business. For a large website, Joomla is great - here's what we did for Golden Chain Motels, Australia largest accommodation provider with over 335 locations.
Our business is based in Byron Bay, NSW. Byron Bay is a great place to live and work. I have 2 kids (12 and 14) who are both born here and my wife, Shobhan Oliver)is a successful artist.
