Rumor has it Google has a secret link quality score.
Maybe. Maybe not.
But there is something real going on in today’s search world.
In this episode of The AI Search Briefing, Ralph Peterson of 7Trillion SEO explains why the question is no longer just, “Who links to you?”
The better question is, “Does that link make sense?”
A link from your local Chamber of Commerce makes sense.
A link from a local news story makes sense.
A link from a trade association in your industry makes sense.
But a link from some random blog that writes about crypto, dog food, roof repair, celebrity gossip, and carpet cleaning?
That does not make sense.
And if it does not make sense to a person, there is a good chance it does not make sense to the machine either.
Listen to the Episode
Key Takeaways
Links still matter, but relevance matters more than random authority.
A backlink should make logical sense to a person before you expect it to make sense to Google or AI Search.
Local links from trusted sources like Chambers of Commerce, local news sites, trade associations, and community organizations can help reinforce authority.
Random guest posts from unrelated websites may not support your business the way old-school SEO tools suggest.
The story around the link matters. The surrounding text should clearly explain who you are, what you do, and where you do it.
Questions This Episode Answers
Does Google have a secret link quality score?
Maybe. Maybe not. But the bigger issue is whether your backlinks make sense, support your authority, and help Google understand your business.
Are all backlinks valuable for SEO?
No. A backlink from a relevant, trusted source is usually more valuable than a random link from an unrelated website.
What kind of links make sense for a local business?
Links from a local Chamber of Commerce, local directories, community organizations, local news stories, trade associations, vendors, suppliers, partners, and real customer stories can make sense.
Why are random guest post links risky?
Many guest post websites cover unrelated topics and exist mainly to sell links. If the website has no clear topical focus or logical connection to your business, that link may not help much.
What should the text around a link say?
When possible, the surrounding text should clearly explain who your business is, what services you provide, and where you provide them.
Episode Transcript
Hi, I’m Ralph Peterson of 7Trillion SEO, and this is The AI Search Briefing.
Rumor has it Google has a secret link quality score.
Now, I do not know if I would call it a secret score, but I do think there is something real going on here.
Because in today’s search world, and especially in AI Search, the question is not just:
Who links to you?
The better question is:
Does that link make sense?
That is the part a lot of businesses miss.
A link from your local Chamber of Commerce makes sense.
A link from a local news story makes sense.
A link from a trade association in your industry makes sense.
But a link from some random blog that writes about crypto, dog food, roof repair, celebrity gossip, and carpet cleaning?
That does not make sense.
And if it does not make sense to a person, there is a pretty good chance it does not make sense to a machine either.
So no, I would not tell a local business owner to go buy a bunch of random guest posts.
I would tell them to build real-world authority.
Join the Chamber.
Get listed in trusted local directories.
Sponsor something in the community.
And when possible, make sure the surrounding text clearly says who you are, what you do, and where you do it.
Because not only does the link matter, but the story around the link matters just as much.
So, rumor has it Google has a secret link score.
Eh, maybe. Maybe not.
But here is what I do know.
The best links are the ones that make sense before you even open an SEO tool.
Stop buying random authority.
Start building relevant trust.
I’m Ralph Peterson of 7Trillion SEO.
Think Big.
Be Trusted.
Be Recommended.
#AISearch #AEO #AISEO #LocalSEO #LinkBuilding #Backlinks #GoogleSearch #SEO #SmallBusinessMarketing #TrustSignals #7TrillionSEO #TheAISearchBriefing
