Source: Unsplash
Backlinks are essential for boosting search engine rankings. Yet, only 5% of all websites have inbound links pointing back to them. Most marketers know that a webpage with lots of high-quality links can appear on the first page of Google search results. This is why most brands are willing to spend a significant chunk of their SEO budget on link-building alone. But it takes more than that to make your website link-worthy.
Link building requires the right blend of resources and expertise. This is why it is not shocking that 41% of large firms need help with their link-building campaigns, and most outsource it to specialists. Even then, far too many variables can affect the final outcome. Besides, not everyone can afford to assign a big budget for it. In fact, some small businesses prefer to do it themselves. If this describes you or you are curious about how this works, settle in. This article will highlight what you can do to build links like a pro.
Why an Uncoordinated Link-building Campaign Can Be Dangerous
Many brands understand that high-quality links can boost their search rankings. Some approach it by trying out every trick and hack out there. This kind of uncoordinated link-building campaign can cause more harm than good. One way to spot such poor planning is by checking if there are any metrics in place to track progress. Another one is slappy resource management. This happens when companies assign a single employee to link building and content creation. Besides, some regions are more competitive than others. For example, the overheated American market makes link-building in the USA more complicated. That’s why the cost of the service might be an issue for many businesses.
Uncoordinated link-building campaigns always show weak results. In fact, such an approach is often a waste of everyone’s time and efforts, including the resources invested. Worse, such tactics can kill enthusiasm. Even when these campaigns manage to generate some links somehow, their quality is often questionable. All the while, the search rankings remain the same or even sink lower. Link building must be carefully planned to get more traffic and high rankings.
What Are the Benefits of High-Quality SEO Links?
When marketers talk about using links to boost search rankings, they mean SEO links. This distinction is essential because all links do not carry the same weight. For example, a link from a reputable website like Forbes or TechCrunch will have a far better impact on your ranking than one from a new random blog. So what you want is an inbound link from niche-relevant sites with high domain authority (DA).
The more high-quality SEO links you get, the easier your brand can build credibility. This ramps up your overall rankings and boosts your web visibility. Unsurprisingly, having many strong backlinks attracts even more links to you. The result is a positive feedback loop that puts your site next to the top dogs in your industry.
Effective Ways to Execute a Link-Building Strategy
A successful link-building campaign is not an accident. It can take months or even years to reach the point where the results become visibly self-sustaining. Start with the following steps if you want to craft and execute a profitable link-building strategy.
#1 Create Topical Content That Ranks
Low-quality content often ranks low, and this is not a coincidence. When you craft quality content, it directly boosts your link attraction potential. But, if your site has poorly written text, most people would quickly click away from it. The high bounce rate can give a negative signal to search engine algorithms, lowering your rankings. You must prioritize keyword research as essential to your content creation process. This will help you make blogs other sites want to link to. Next is to put effort into regular updates. And be sure to diversify content types and adapt to trends as needed.
#2 Work on Improving Technical SEO
Your technical SEO is as important as the content for your link-building campaign. For smaller businesses, there may be even fewer strategies to get more links. So, working on technical SEO might be on the same level as picking the right marketing strategy. Factors like page speed, mobile responsiveness, and site architecture are a few areas you can start improving immediately. Neglecting these areas can make it difficult for the algorithm to understand how to index and rank your site. Besides, when you work on your technical SEO, it improves users’ experience. This encourages them to stick around for longer and come around more often.
#3 Be Methodical
You need to develop a method for your link-building campaigns. You must actively look for linking opportunities, whether through competitor analysis, collaborating with influencers, or even guest blogging. Whatever you choose, don’t use the same approach everywhere. A good rule of thumb is to try cold outreach for sites with lower to medium domain ratings while using creative assets to court those with higher DRs of 60-90. One good example of utilizing creative assets is using branded infographics to share critical data and statistics. Having a strategy frees you up to better manage your time and resources to make faster progress. Remember to tweak your tactics from time to time, too, for maximum results.
#4 Utilize Social Media Promotion Tactics
Almost every big brand has several active social media profiles. Having one increases your brand visibility, boosts credibility, and creates linking opportunities. But first, you need to optimize your SM profiles for SEO. If you need help figuring out where to start, socialbu.com recommends Instagram and gives tips to improve your IG rankings. Next, make sure you follow prominent thought leaders in your industry. Also, find ways to connect with other knowledgeable bloggers in your niche. If you share their posts (with due credit), they might also try to return the favor. You can build on this relationship further for more linking opportunities.
Bonus Tips on Quality Link Building
The truth is that there are hundreds of good tips on quality link building, and we can’t cover them all in one article. Here are a few bonus hacks that you can use to enhance your link-building campaign strategy and make your website stand out.
- A good link-building strategy is a team effort. Create a good synergy between your marketing, SEO, public relations, and sales departments.
- Identify areas where you need to improve to stand out and do the work. This kind of investment pays off as you see returns across all business areas.
- Link building often requires a multi-approach, so learn to be flexible. If something doesn’t work, try another way.
- Get help when you need it. This will ensure your time and resources are not wasted. There’s a reason why most marketers say link building is the most challenging part of SEO, and many businesses outsource it. You can also do the same.
- Be consistent. Slacking off when you’ve built up a good momentum can change your results.
- Keep track of everything. You must know how many links you get, from where, and when. This is essential for developing better strategies in the future.
Conclusion
Many brands fail at link-building campaigns due to their inability to understand the big picture. Most see it as a separate process instead of an interconnected aspect of the overall marketing strategy. So, while having many backlinks is great, only high-quality SEO backlinks can positively impact your site rankings. If applied correctly, the tips in this article can help you execute a successful link-building strategy that brings long-term benefits.
Mary Hunter is a successful American freelance lifestyle blogger with advanced writing skills. She had experience in editing, marketing, and her works appeared in different publications and website articles. Her main goal in life is not to set up any goals and keep working every day.
