Why Is Linkbuilding Important?
Link building is a very useful SEO tactic. Each quality backlink acts as a vote of confidence from another site. It signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. If I were asked to name concrete benefits this tactic can bring, I would suggest the following three pros.
Improved Search Engine Rankings
Links determine how search engines rank your website. Each quality backlink signals to search engines like Google that your content holds value. That is why it’s so important to regularly quality-check your links — one of my favorite tools for this purpose is SEO SpyGlass toxic link checker.
A common mistake many businesses make is that they chase after many links, notwithstanding their quality. Of course, they do so because they think it will boost their rankings. But in reality, it won’t. Instead, a few high-quality links can be far more impactful. So, my sincere recommendation is to always prioritize quality over quantity.
Referral Traffic
Beyond SEO, a strategically placed link on a high-traffic website can be a direct channel for potential visitors. For instance, if you’re mentioned in a popular industry blog or news site, the influx of visitors can be substantial.
But here’s a tip: if you engage in guest posts or collaborations, produce content that aligns with your brand and offers actual value to the readers. This increases the likelihood of clicks and ensures you collect the right audience.
Brand Visibility
Every mention of your brand on a reputable platform makes it more visible and credible. It positions your brand as an authority in your niche. When users repeatedly see you associated with trusted sources, it fosters trust and recognition. However, avoid links from irrelevant or spammy sites. Such associations can harm your brand’s reputation. Instead, focus on platforms that align with your values and audience.
8 Proven Linkbuilding Strategies That WILL Help You Succeed
As we’ve already clarified, link building is very very useful. But it is only so if we are speaking about a scrutinous approach based on time-proven strategies. Here are the top eight tactics I can swear by.
1️⃣ Guest Blogging
I’ve tested and tried multiple strategies and can state that guest blogging is among the best (if not THE BEST) link building strategies. Launch cooperation with a trustworthy blog in your industry and offer them insightful content in exchange for a backlink — it’s as easy as that. But never compromise on your content, as it’s the exact thread that leads the blog’s audience (read: potential customers) to your page. The perfect combo is trustworthy content plus a reputable blog to post it.
I also recommend running regular performance checkups for your site. This way, you’ll be sure your backlinks are doing as well as you planned. For this, I usually use Website Audit Report with Custom Templates, an all-in-one tool for easy-to-run regular checks. It’s probably the only free audit tool I trust.
2️⃣ Broken Link Building
What’s better than turning your enemies into friends? Broken links can downscale your search ranking. But what if you use backlink checkers to find them on relevant websites? Once ready, request a permit to replace them with your links. Thus, both parties win: a website gets a high-quality content piece, and you receive a backlink from a reputable source.
3️⃣ Skyscraper Technique
This technique means simply creating the best content in your niche. You usually start by analyzing the content of your top-performing contenders and then aim to create something outstanding. The aim? Become the niche leader so other websites naturally want to link to you.
But at this point, I want to warn you against a common pitfall: your task is not just to rewrite or replace the content but to improve it. So, start from the gist and soon benefit from natural backlinks flaw.
4️⃣ Use Infographics
Who doesn’t like pictures? But the truth is there are hundreds of them these days. So, your task is to ensure your infographics bring additional value and contain extra information. Thus, there’s the simple rule: don’t just copy from contenders. Examine the topic and create a brand-new visual representation.
5️⃣ Local Partnerships
How do you get qualitative backlinks quickly? Well, partnering with local businesses or events is a goldmine of opportunities here. As a bonus, your brand’s local visibility will improve. But as usual, launch only relevant partnerships that match your brand’s value.
6️⃣ Testimonials
Testimonial is sharing sources you trust on your website. So why not implement them? Indeed, these are win-win solutions because you (as a site owner) offer additional relevant advice on a valuable product for your visitors. Plus, you get a chance to receive a qualitative backlink. These backlinks are incredibly precious because they are based on reputation and trust.
7️⃣ Competitor Analysis
Ever cared who’s linking to your competitors? Well, you should. By scanning through your competitors’ backlinks, you can identify curious opportunities. Your task at this point is to understand which content attracts backlinks to your sphere.
8️⃣ Engage in Relevant Forums and Communities
It is one of those ways to get your backlinks naturally. Just find time to participate in industry-related communities and you will establish yourself as an authority and earn backlinks. So, answer questions, provide relevant content, and bring genuine value. But avoid blatant self-promotion, as this can be counterproductive.
Link Building Mistakes to AVOID
Link building, while a robust SEO strategy, only works when approached wisely. To ensure your efforts are sustainable, let me clarify some common mistakes and ways to avoid them.
❌ Prioritizing Quantity Over Quality
It’s time to repeat the main rule: it’s a misconception that accumulating many backlinks will automatically boost your site’s authority. Google’s algorithms are sophisticated enough to discern the quality of your backlinks. Instead of spreading your efforts thin, focus on securing links from authoritative domains that align with your niche.
❌ Ignoring Anchor Text Diversity
Don’t over-rely on a single anchor text. This can raise red flags for search engines and make your efforts appear manipulative or spammy. So, diversify your anchor texts to
- look more natural;
- enhance user experience.
❌ Buying Links
This one is a black-hat SEO tactic that can lead to severe repercussions. Websites caught in this practice can face penalties such as drops in rankings or even de-indexing.
❌ Neglecting Internal Links
Interlink your content to distribute page authority throughout your site. You will soon notice enhanced user navigation and higher crawl efficiency.
❌ Not Tracking Your Backlinks
Without regular checks, you might miss potentially harmful links from spammy or irrelevant sites. These can dilute your backlink profile’s overall quality and lead to penalties.
To Conclude
Link building, when done right, can be of great help to your digital presence. Remember it’s the meaningful connections that count here. Stay genuine, be strategic, and watch your digital authority soar!