4 Link Building Strategies to Help Increase Your Rank
Although Google views authoritative and relevant links as an important ranking signal for search, they continually suggest to people that they should focus on building great content rather than great links. And they’re right, great content is extremely important, without it, the links won’t matter. But, you can and should make link building a part of your portfolio of SEO tactics, you just have to make sure that you go about it in the right way.
Below we outline 4 link building strategies that are the right way to build authority and credibility in the eyes of Google. We also point you to link building strategies that are the wrong way to go about it and will only result in a negative impact to your search rank.
#1 Create Great Content
Yes, great content leads naturally to people reading it and other sites wanting to link to it. 80% of your link building strategy should be invested in creating great content that your target audience will love. There’s just not much more to say than this.
#2 Tell People About Your Great Content
If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Great content isn’t going to make a difference if no one knows it exists. Another 10% of your link building strategy should be to ensure that you promote your great content so people know it’s there. They won’t read or engage or link to your great content if they don’t know it’s there in the first place. So, how do you let people know? Social media, press releases, blog posts, legitimate guest blog posts (that are relevant to the reader and the other blog), online directories (although considered a low-level link by Google, there’s no harm done by being included in online directories as long as they’re legitimate), online advertising, SEO and so on.
#3 Put Your Content In Front of Influencers
Although this potentially falls under telling people about your great content, it’s so important, I wanted to make it its own point. A great way to gain readers and credibility is for influencers to link to your content. Get your content in front of them in the hope that they reference it or learn from it. You can also look into advertising or sponsoring influencers, which is another way to obtain the same benefits.
#4 Personalized Outreach Campaigns To Other Websites
If you want to increase backlinks to your site, implement a personalized outreach campaign to other relevant websites, which tell the companies/web masters/marketing departments about your great content and why they should link to you or offers reciprocal linking (when it makes sense and is relevant). The more personalized and specific your approach the greater chance of success. Take the time to do your research and only send emails to people where the content is really relevant.
Avoid These Link Building Strategies
Anything that goes against Google’s Web Master Guidelines is something that you should not engage in. Google outlines all the link building schemes you should avoid and you should take their words of advice very seriously.
Link Building isn’t rocket science, but it does take time. Contact us to learn about how we can help.