EDU Links are still desired and valuable
.Edu links and .Gov links have long been accepted as authority valuable links. Search engines count them as higher votes. Everyone knows this. But lately that theory has come into question.
Google claims outright that their algorithm is not skewed to add any additional value to an .edu domain. Matt Cutts has been quoted claiming this, even has a blog page from 2005 blatantly stating that the EDU is just not given any weight over a .com.
But then why do they work, Google? Well maybe it is not from the 3 letters on the end of the domain, but by the inherent value that tends to be associated with the .edu link. Because they do still work, like a charm. And your SEO competitors are buying or obtaining them whenver they can.
4 Reasons why an EDU link is more valuable:
1. Old grandaddy domains. Established. Not going anywhere. That equals value in Google’s eyes.
2. EDUs are not public domains, not anyone can get a link there. Thus edu links are harder to obtain.
3. High page ranks on EDUs, coupled with excessive inbound links and traffic, add to the value in Google’s algorithm.
4. Content on .edu domains tends to be worthwhile and respected inherently.
Ideas pop up in forums all the time on how to obtain edu links. The classified ad idea surfaces now and again, and it worked for awhile, but most have a no-follow now. College papers sometimes sell off some links but again that method is dated and less effective.
The Link Building 101 rules still apply, though not with as much credence, as the edu link will overshadow some of these. However, you still want ideally a link in content, that is the current effective link building tip that is garnering results. Avoid sidebar or footer links, or sitewide links, typically sold cheap on college rags (cheap for a reason!)
When I get hit with an email linking to a forum ragging on the EDU link, inevitably I read the rest of the thread and there are countless supporters explaining the WHY and HOW of the edu link. Read and think for yourself, get edu links, and watch firsthand.
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