That was SEO 15 years ago. If you think that still works, you’ll be disappointed.

I don’t think it’s how it works because I see that crap daily in footers, especially in the travel industry. Open any hotel listing on TripAdvisor and count the “[something] in [location]” links in the footer.

How do you think Google knows which pages are helpful when someone searches for “[something] in [location]”? Anchor text in links plays a key role, but with search listings on sites like TripAdvisor, it’s tricky to naturally insert those links into content. Footer links is one way to do it.

I’d agree With you if those links were misleading, but they usually aren’t. They really do point to pages with “[something] in [location]”. And they really are helpful for search engines looking to give useful results for that type of query.

“I saw some hotel websites with location links in their footer, so that must be what the SEO industry is all about”

Sure.

You don’t get it. “Link building” is not 2007 stuff. You find 2022 articles with that. If you don’t believe it it’s not my problem.

Link building is still very relevant. But comment spam isn’t 2022 linkbuilding.

Sure, people still do that. Doesn’t mean that’s representative for the SEO industry.

yeah but the 2022 article was written in 2010. It just has a "Last Updated: 2022" because Google is dumb and falls for that every time.

Yeah Google is super dumb. Worst search engine ever. Thank god ahrefs is spending 60m to build something better

I don't see any https://www.marketstreethotel.co.uk

It’s that a listing on TripAdvisor? It’s not.

Travel, huh? I wonder if clickbaity links show up for things like life insurance, weight loss, and personal injury lawyers.

Don't blame SEO because capitalism necessitated that businesses use whatever means possible to get their product in front of your face.

Thankfully I don't have to deal with any of those so travel websites is what I look at the most.