1. Ranked high in terms of its SERP ratings
2. Produced and developed by a reputable company in the industry that it belongs. Google for example ranks different websites by using the number of authority links (inbound or outbound) found in its website and its contents.

Since an authority webpage will be more visible in SERPs on related or even non-related keywords and topics, search engine companies like Google will consider whether other websites of the same topic and subject matter trust another webpage and recommend them to their own customers for further reading. It is traditional belief that only websites using .gov or .edu domains can be considered as authority. But since the Internet has gained popularity and has continuously grown main stream, this traditional belief, though still true, does not mean that .com websites cannot be considered as authority by search engines. More popular examples of authority websites using .com domains include Wikipedia, CNN News, and BBC News. If a company succeeds in getting links from these websites, they will become authority links for the company. But getting these is no easy task; search engines are turning an ever more meticulous eye towards website rankings, with companies like Google or Yahoo scrutinizing each website first before stamping their approval on its ranking. But once the status of authority is achieved, this will mean a big boost for the business and an increase in the website’s own trust level. With the increasing importance that web marketing serves in businesses, more and more companies are taking advantage of the web market by implementing their own individual strategies.

1. Thorough competitor review: One method that can be beneficial to any website trying to rise up in search engine rankings is to have a thorough review on the website of industry competitors. The back links used by competitors in the same industry can be used as links that can pull up one’s authority rankings in search engine companies. There are tools available in the Internet that do the job of reviewing competitor websites. One of these is Yahoo’s “Site Explorer.”
2. Researching authority links: Now, not all links in a competitor’s website can be considered authority. The trick is to review these websites and use only those that have high search engine rankings and are considered authority or high PR by search engine companies. High PR links can be press releases from certain authority websites like CNN, articles from other news websites, or other joint venture websites maintained by the competitor.
3. Review web content: It is good to review the pieces and contents of these websites and compare them to one’s own. It is also important to know what channels the competitors use to distribute their products or market their websites. This can be through press releases via various news websites like Yahoo or blogs via popular social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Digg.

Analyzing the approaches one’s close competitor took to get their authority status can be a framework in developing one’s own strategy to obtaining authority from search engine websites. The progress in achieving authority status and higher search engine rankings does not depend on one’s efforts and strategies alone. Though much of the credit goes to the right strategies implemented by the company, reviewing the steps taken by the competition is something very important and also something that needs to be taken into consideration. If other website owners are more consistent, more reliable, and more focused in their marketing, there's a good chance that they will outrank you. Attaining top rank in search engines is a long and arduous process. With myriad websites, and blogs popping up daily, being the authority in a category is not that easy. But after all the strategies and methods are implemented, what is still very important, no matter what, is to always be able to produce quality web content. This is the primary tool that entices visitors to a website. Without this, no amount of search engine optimization can salvage a site from obscurity.

Obtaining authority links depends on what type of links the company might need.

1. Absolute Authority Links: These links come from websites that are, as the name suggests, absolute authority in the World Wide Web. CNN News and Harvard University websites are examples of absolute authority links, as well as other .edu or .gov websites. The benefits that can be obtained from linking into these said websites will most probably be increase in traffic and trust from visitors. Since these are already considered authority, getting links from them means being considered a relevant and trustworthy website.
2. Relative Authority Links: On the other hand, there are niche links that are considered authority in their own fields and industries. Relative authority websites tend to focus more on specific subjects and markets than absolute authority links. Usually smaller in operations, relative authority links are beneficial for companies that tackle or market specific products.

There are various power linking methods available for business in the Internet today and picking the right ones is important in achieving web marketing success.

1. Directory Submissions: Companies can first try to submit their websites to a few authority and noteworthy directories like Digg or Yahoo. This way, company websites can penetrate into the general market and score a few absolute authority links. The next step is to submit the company websites to some directories directed at the specific niche they are targeting. Submitting to these directories and similar social media channels is a great way to obtain relative authority links.
2. Relative Link Exchange: Searching the web for keywords related to the products marketed by a company is another step in the process of power linking. Patiently searching the web for “diamonds in the rough” is hard, although it can be greatly rewarding at the same time. Another strategy is to trade links with other authority websites, especially for companies who do power linking on a very limited basis and with the focus solely on getting highly relevant authority links.
3. Contributing Relative Web Content: Writing relevant web content for other companies can also be another way of establishing connections and even marketing a company’s own product on other websites. It works both ways because this is a way of building the company’s brand and getting relevant authority links.
4. Paid Link Campaigns: Companies can also resort to buying links in the market from companies that sell them. They can also ask competitors or authority directories about their criteria for creating links from their websites. Since having a volume of power links in your own website will definitely boost a website’s page rankings from search engine companies, many companies are continuously finding it beneficial to buy links and/or link to competition.

To be successful in the SEO and web marketing business, one has to have the right tools, people and ideas. Surviving in the Internet business landscape is something that takes a lot of effort and time to master. Being tech savvy does not ensure one’s success in this ultra-competitive market. With the Internet influencing a lot of the things people do nowadays, the opportunities offered and established everyday by authority link building and creating link popularity is just too big to let pass. Establishing a stronghold in the search engine rankings through making the right connections to authority websites should be one of the primary missions that every link building company should set out to achieve.

There are several power linking methods used to get authority backlinks from trusted websites:

1. Produce excellent web content and then syndicating them around the Internet. Once it gets relative links from other web sites in the same niche, other authority websites will surely make sure to check out the articles. This can boost rankings little by little until it is good enough to be considered by search engines as authority.
2. Check out the backlinks used by competitors in the same niche. A competitor’s site can be checked for authority links by using tools that can be found in the Internet like Yahoo’s “Site Explorer.” These tools let its users see websites that are linking to the competitor’s page.
3. Review all of these links and separate the “power” ones from the high PR and low PR ones. The criteria that can be used to evaluate web pages include the page’s content, subject and quality. It is advantageous to know these factors so the effective techniques and methods can be implemented in one’s own page or be used as a model that can be further improved. It is also wise to know how the contents were released, either via press or through blog sites. Follow this up by knowing whether the page was promoted on popular social media sites like Digg, Twitter or Facebook.

Knowing the process of getting the authority brand is more important than just implementing another website’s technique to one’s own. It is here that the old adage applies: one thing might work well for one person/company, but not so much for another. For search engine optimization, it is always important to look at a competitor’s activities while also developing one’s own. It is also imperative that companies consistently write excellent and quality web content because this will be the ammo that will be used in the war for higher search engine rankings. The process goes on and on as long as the Internet and web marketing exists. It is important for companies to keep in mind that after getting and achieving their goals, their work does not end there. Maintaining and continuously improving SEO business strategies will ensure success, especially in the ever growing world of the Internet.

Forum pages are valued by search engines and are hence visible to non-participants of the forum. The visibility and credibility that could be potentially reaped out of your participation in an online forum has the potential to direct traffic toward your site and possibly get links pointed to it to establish link popularity. The original intent for any forum participant is to interact with others in a meaningful discussion of topics. From a link building point of view, forums provide a venue where you can add your URL(s) to your profile as well as your post footer. If your forum posts and ideas stand out, a direct result could be minimal link juice for your site and a perfect opportunity to grab the attention of a viewer to visit your web page. Forums shun direct advertising, so great care has to be taken when putting up posts. How does one maximize the potential of forum participation as a link building method? Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Forum participation is all about contribution. Forum participation is worthless when you have nothing significant to contribute to the discussion itself. For any post to be considered significant, it has to count in terms of how it can enlighten people on a given subject. Posting lines such as “I agree” or “Me, too” on a forum discussion will not help you build a good reputation. What you write and say to other commentators on the forum has to have substance. When your opinions stand out or make sense, it receives attention of other participants. In link building, attention goes a long way. It may earn you visitors, readers, and followers, who will contribute to traffic, possibly free back links that search engines love, and ultimately, link popularity. Spamming is taboo in online forums. Avoid it by all means.
2. Be respectful. Some people love to disagree online on the basis that being disagreeable is more interesting and more attention-grabbing. While this may be true and opposing opinions are inevitable, it is important to present arguments in a respectful manner. Picking fights at online forums achieve absolutely nothing for link popularity. In the end, relevant forum threads may get deleted and the link building opportunity wasted.
3. Obey the rules. Forums are established with their own rules in place. Your participation to the forum is in itself a commitment to abide by a set of rules. Once you disobey the rules, you will get yourself booted out. This will prove injurious to your reputation. Forums vary in terms of posting rules. Some allow signature lines, while others do not. If the forum permits signature lines, leaving a simple and concise signature line with a URL or two at most, will be enough to earn you traffic based on the quality of your post.

The link juice that can be expected from forum participation may be minimal, but it remains one of the best reputation building techniques that can provide you with natural and quality links needed to create link popularity and bolster your position in the search engine rankings. The most important thing to remember is to conduct yourself appropriately, stand out in the posts you contribute, and build relationships in order to maximize the benefits of forum participation as a link building technique.