.jpeg)
Are you looking for a legitimate way to increase your website's organic search engine rankings?
Backlinks are an essential part of SEO.
They can help you move up the SERPs and increase your website's visibility.
They can also help you build brand awareness and reputation.
In this article, we'll discuss what backlinks are and how to create them successfully in 2024.
We'll also provide tips on how to effectively use backlinks to improve your search engine rankings.
At Veza Digital, we have the tips, tools, and strategies you need to get started!
So let's get started with some definitions!
.jpg)
First Things First: What Are Backlinks?
Backlinks, otherwise known as inbound links, incoming links, or one-way links, are links from a website that direct viewers to a page on another website.
Search engines such as Google view backlinks as an endorsement of a particular page. With the abundance of these “votes of confidence”, pages often rank higher on organic search engine results.
Kick start your SEO effort with the best link-building experts.
Why Are Backlinks Important?
How is it possible for a search engine algorithm to understand what content it should prioritize?
Backlinks are like receiving votes of approval from other websites.
Search engines see these votes as an endorsement of the credibility and value of content on your website.
As a result, they certify it as worthwhile for readers.
The more "votes" you have, the higher your website will rank on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Google and other leading search engines rely heavily on this system to help them prioritize which websites should appear at the top of their list. Links have always been an essential factor in search engine algorithms.
Google's initial algorithm was founded on backlinks - commonly referred to as "PageRank".
Despite Google's numerous algorithm changes since its inception, backlinks remain a critical ranking signal. Google has officially confirmed that backlinks are still among the three most considerable search engine ranking factors.
What Types of Backlinks Are Valuable?
For SEO success, focus on gaining quality backlinks; they are more valuable than any other type of link. High-value backlinks will help to improve your ranking in the SERPs significantly.
To be clear, a single authoritative backlink is often more powerful than 1,000 low-quality links. Surprisingly enough, the best-quality inbound links possess similar characteristics.
Characteristic #1: They Come From Trusted, Authoritative Websites
The choice is yours: would you prefer an organic backlink from Harvard or a generic link on someone's website? Well, it seems Google has made its preference clear.
This concept is referred to as "Domain Authority", a measure of how much authority a website can pass on to other sites like yours with the help of links.
The greater authority that a site has, the more likely it will be able to transfer its power onto yours. Good-quality backlinks are not easy to get but they are worth every drop of sweat.
Characteristic #2: They Include Your Target Keyword In The Link’s Anchor Text
This is a gentle reminder that anchor text is the clickable part of a hyperlink visible to users. You should always think carefully when deciding what anchor text to use for your links, as including a target keyword can significantly boost the chances of ranking for that key phrase.
A recent analysis confirmed this, with results showing an unmistakable link between keywords used in anchor texts and higher rankings related to those words.
It is essential to be aware that excessive use of keyword-rich anchor text can backfire. Google's algorithm, "Google Penguin," has a filter in place that targets websites utilizing unethical link-building practices and mostly those with specific match anchor text.
Characteristic #3: The Site (and Page) Linking to You Is Topically Related To Your Site
When two websites are connected through a link, Google considers how related they are.
This process makes sense- when you publish an article about SEO, would it make more sense to have links from sites that discuss digital marketing and content creation or gardening, landscaping, and home decor? The former will carry much more weight than the latter!
That is why it is essential to try and get backlinks from websites that are relevant to yours in some way. Google deems this connection more valuable, implying more SEO value for your website.
Characteristic #4: The Link Is a “Dofollow” Link
Google and other search engines will disregard any links that are marked as "no-follow", preventing them from being indexed.
Most links on the web are "do-follow" links, which means they can help improve your website's ranking in search engine algorithms. Additionally, most links that are no-follow do not carry much weight to begin with.
Let's take a look at sources of no-follow links:
- Blog comments
- Paid advertisements
- Press releases
Since these links may not be advantageous for SEO, it's inconsequential that they're no-follow.
Characteristic #5: The Link Is From a Domain That Hasn’t Linked to You Before
Let's say you've obtained a backlink from Website X. That’s awesome! But what if Website X keeps linking to your site? Will the second, third, and fourth links be as impactful as the first one?
Unfortunately not. It turns out that continual links from the same website will have decreasing significance over time.
Put succinctly, it is typically more advantageous to receive 100 links from a variety of sources rather than 1,000 links from one website. Our research on search engine ranking has affirmed that the total amount of websites connecting back to yours has a larger impact on Google rankings than any other aspect.
Now that you understand how important backlinks are to improving your Google rankings let me show you precisely how to start obtaining them.
Best Practices for Successful Backlinking
Create Linkable Assets
If you're hoping to attract more people to your website through links, then providing something worth linking to is paramount.
This content can be referred to as "Linkable Assets." It is any content that is so interesting and noteworthy that people will want to link to can be a Linkable Asset. This could encompass blog posts, videos, quizzes, surveys, or even software - anything of value!
Unsurprisingly, the most effective linkable asset is typically an exceptional piece of content.
That is one reason why the statement 'content is king' is a popular notion in the SEO world. Also, why you should do all you can to provide quality content regularly.
Build Backlinks from Link Roundups
Picture this: amazing blog posts that are created solely to contain links to awesome content. Content just like the type you craft for your website?
It sounds great, and it's entirely real! Link roundups are the term for these dream-come-true posts - they're real and accessible now!
Link roundups are blog posts published daily, weekly, or monthly and link to remarkable content.
Here’s how it's done.
- Find Link Roundups In Your Niche: Need to find the best link roundups? Use Google search strings like “Keyword” + “link roundup” for quick and easy results.
- Pitch Your Resource: Politely request for them to add your linkable asset within the roundup post.
You'll acquire a top-notch link in return if it is an appropriate fit!
Not only may they share your content on social media, but they can also help increase your brand's reach.
Use The Moving Man Method
Here's how it's done:
- To begin, you'll search for webpages and resources that are outdated, rebranded or recently renamed.
- Subsequently, identify the sites that are still linked to these outmoded resources.
- Conclusively, you inform the people of outdated links to which they are connecting.
Broken Link Building
In comparison to the Moving Man Method, broken link building requires only searching for pages with 404 errors. To discover these broken links, you need to search in resource pages related to your niche. If you're in the eCommerce niche, try using these Google search strings to find what you need:
- "eCommerce" + "resource page"
- "eCommerce" + "resources"
- "eCommerce" + "recommended sites"
- "eCommerce" + "links"
If you're looking to gain a link, begging may not be the most efficient approach.
Instead, consider letting the site owner know of any broken links on their page by making use of the Check My Links Chrome Extension!
This app quickly finds and highlights all broken links in red, so they are effortless to identify.
With this handy tool at your disposal, obtaining an effective linkback is just moments away! Finally, you should contact the site owner regarding their non-functioning link.
Guest Posting
Guest blogging is not dead.
When you're starting, it's one of the most effective ways to acquire links for your website.
It's important to be strategic about this and write guest posts only on quality websites that align with your niche - if you own a digital marketing site and post a guest article on public health-related sites, Google will view it as spammy.
But when you create remarkable guest posts for renowned websites in your field, those links can be incredibly beneficial. Nevertheless, discovering locations to post guests can lead to a massive headache. The good news is that there's an easier method!
Here's how it works:
To start, locate someone in your industry who contributes a plethora of guest posts. Then visit one of the published entries and collect their headshot from the author bio.
Subsequently, insert this picture's URL into Google reverse image search to generate an inventory of sites that posted guest content. Utilizing this method proves highly effective in discovering potential platforms for you to submit work!
Infographics and Other Visual Assets
Even though infographics may not be as successful as they once were, they remain an impactful link-building tactic. When we reviewed the types of content that generate the most links, it was clear that infographics are near the top.
To ensure that your infographic gains the attention it deserves, use a Guestographics strategy for promotion. This method combines the power of guest blogging and infographics to draw more targeted eyes to your work!
Citations
When it comes to local SEO, citations are essential for success. By referencing your business on reliable websites, you can let Google know that your company is legitimate and up-to-date – this will help boost rankings in the area and make sure people find out about you more easily.
Citations don't just have an impact on visibility though; they also help drive traffic directly to your website. All of these factors contribute together towards better local search engine optimization results!
Establishing a complete citation with your business name, address, and phone number is vital for SEO.
The order of the information matters too; it's always best to list them in this format: name, address, and phone number. Partial citations are ineffective and won't be beneficial for improving your rankings on search engines.
Submit Testimonials
Businesses of all sizes adore showcasing customer testimonials, so, if you're fondly utilizing a certain product or service, then consider paying them the courtesy of writing your glowing review. They will typically even add a link to your website as a bonus without having to request it!
This is a relatively easy tactic to employ, but it's important to note that this form of link-building is not only about gaining links; it's also about adding value. Keep that in mind when writing your testimonials, and you'll find success with this strategy!
Blogger Reviews
If you provide a digital item, physical goods, advice service, or anything of value that you market, it's easy to create numerous top-notch backlinks. How? By providing your product to bloggers completely free of charge!
- To find bloggers that might be keen to promote your product, search to the topic of it. For instance, if you sell an information product and teach people how to create their candles, type words like “candle making” or “make candles at home” into Google for potential leads.
- Your search should return a plethora of blogs, news websites, and “how to” sites like eHow. However, eliminate the how-to websites or news platforms; you'll be left with many bloggers interested in your offer!
- Contact them through email.
Refrain from exchanging your product for a link or review, as this goes against Google Search Essentials (formerly Google's Webmaster Guidelines). Instead, send them the item and let it speak for itself; if they deem it worth talking about on their blog, great!
Use HARO
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is one of the most dependable methods to receive authoritative backlinks from reputable news websites.
Below is how HARO functions:
- Start by Signing Up To HARO as a source here.
- You'll receive three emails from reporters every day searching for knowledgeable individuals to be sources.
- Next, provide your credentials along with some helpful advice. Couldn't be simpler! Just provide a reporter with an insightful quote, and they will reward you with a backlink - it's as easy as that.
Reverse Engineer Your Competitor’s Backlinks
Crafting a successful link-building campaign requires specialized knowledge of your industry. Take some time to observe what your competitors are doing, and you'll discover opportunities designed exclusively for your niche that they have already capitalized on.
By reverse engineering their strategies, you can quickly identify the right methodologies that will help strengthen your brand's organic visibility online.
Stick to Content Formats That Generate Links
As previously mentioned, infographics are an ideal option for building backlinks. However, other content types can be equally effective in this regard.
Even though they don't get shared as frequently on social media, "Why" and "What" posts tend to generate plenty of links from external websites.
You can also use white papers, surveys, and case studies to gain authority links. Professional guides, tutorials, interviews, and product reviews can also be useful for link-building. Finally, don't forget about the power of video; many businesses are taking advantage of this medium to generate valuable backlinks from established websites.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, building backlinks can be achieved through various methods, such as offering a free product to bloggers, link reclamation, utilizing HARO, and reverse engineering your competitor's backlinks.
Furthermore, content formats like infographics and "Why" or "What" posts tend to generate a considerable amount of external links. Therefore businesses should focus on the above methods to increase their organic visibility and build backlinks.
Author
