The new trend in search engine logarithms (the formulas used to rank the relevance of websites to searches) is to measure how many related webpages are linked to a given website. Beacon pages are webpages you create to improve your website rankings by taking advantage of the new rules by linking to your main website.
More complicated search engine databases count keywords and phrases in the documents linking to your website. They can then relate those keywords to your website as well as the linking website. The actual words used in the link to your website are most important (if it's a text link).
Search engines are trying to use the fact that websites usually link to the best related websites to increase the relevance of their results.
Typically, website marketers feel the need to "trick" the system, rather than working with it. In this instance, they want to control the text of their links and the keywords of the linking document. (Hmmm... I wonder if they've talked to their psychologists about their control issues... ;-)
They have been creating pages to link to themselves, and you can too.
How do beacon pages work?
- Create a one-page website.
You can use another domain you've already leased, free space from your ISP, or free space on a free server like Tripod. If you don't mind spending a little more money, you could even lease new domain names for your beacon pages.
- Optimize it for search engine positioning.
In this case, a mainly text website with your keywords used often is best. Make sure to include headings with your keywords. Think of it as a "Doorway Page" on another server. (Remember, people may see this page! Don't make it too sloppy.)
- Include at least one link to your website.
It's probably a good idea to include links to all your major pages, while you're at it.
- Submit it to search engines for indexing.
If you're going to do this, I suggest visiting my Add URL page list.
Does linking to yourself work?
Oh, yes! With search engine positioning becoming such a competitive sport, one link from a related website could make the difference between the top ten or the top twenty. The more beacon pages you make, the better off your website will be.
"Is creating extra pages worth it?"
Actually, I recommend a steady diet of reciprochal links from real related websites instead. Links from other websites are like the beef of website marketing. They stick to your ribs, require little maintenance and could bring you significant traffic besides raising your search engine rankings.
In addition, an oft-neglected dimension of search engine positioning is that including text links on your website using keywords as anchors can increase your search engine positions, even (or perhaps especially) if you're linking to another website. Your "beacon page" could end up with better rankings than your home page!
For more information on soliciting links, visit my article on "How to Solicit Links."
Beacon pages are marketing junk food. Like sugar, they're a quick high. They won't bring you much traffic on their own and they take quite a bit of time to create.
Why spend all that time and energy creating beacon pages, when you can send a quick email and get a link from a real website that will send you it's own traffic?
The new search engine logarithms make it more important than ever to link all the related pages you control, but you shouldn't necessarily create pages just to link to your website.