Picture your website soaring to the summit of Google’s search kingdom…
Wouldn’t that be awesome?
But hold on tight, for you’re not alone in this epic quest. Countless rivals stand in your way, all hungry for that coveted top spot.
So, how do you emerge victorious? Introducing the star of the show: Link building!
Read on to find out more about link building, and how it can help your website steal Google’s spotlight.
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Link building for dummies
We get it, you are aware of how SEO works. You have your arsenal of well-researched keywords, you have killer content, your site is optimized like Optimus Prime, and you know your competitors like the back of your hand.
But…
Have you invested ample time in link building to unlock the full potential of your website’s online success?
In 2016
Google’s Andrey Lipattsev confirmed that backlinks reign supreme as one of the top-ranking factors!
Link building is an indispensable SEO tactic in the field of digital marketing- it is the process of increasing the number and quality of inbound links to a website.
In layman’s terms, link building is the process by which other websites link back to your own site. Picture this: if we link to this page of Google that provides insight on link building, we have just gifted Google a backlink.
Thus, imagine other websites doing the same for you. And getting backlinks without asking for them is the Nirvana of SEO. And to achieve that you have to be a trusted authority on a particular topic.
Now, imagine a vast network of interconnected websites and web pages, all working together to elevate your online presence, by linking back to you. This would immediately elevate your search rankings, and propel your website at the top of SERPs.
So, how do you embark on the path of receiving these precious links? Let us show you the way.
Unlocking the backlink blueprint
The majority of link-building strategies and tactics may fall into any of these three categories outlined below.
1. Asking for links
Asking for links involves actively reaching out to a website and requesting them to include a link to your own site.
Asking for links include:
- Strategically seeking connections by engaging in proactive outreach to websites, inviting them to link to your content.
- Crafting irresistible hooks by showcasing compelling blog posts, captivating in-depth guides, valuable ebooks, stunning visual assets like infographics, insightful case studies, original research, and data-driven resources.
- Forging mutually beneficial partnerships through link requests, fostering connections that amplify your online presence.
2. Adding links
Adding links can be done by:
- Incorporating links into your social media profiles
- Including your link in various business directories
- Participating in forums, communities, and Q&A sites such as Quora, where you can add your link
- Leaving blog comments with your link
- Adding your link to user profile pages
Note: Manually adding SEO links is an easy but ineffective method of link building. These links often come from low-quality sources that Google doesn’t value highly.
Why?
Because you create them yourself, essentially self-endorsing your own website. However, this goes against what Google considers when determining the best-ranking websites.
Since these links are not editorially given (i.e., not obtained organically), they carry less weight compared to other types of links.
While these links won’t provide active assistance, they also won’t harm your website.
So your best bet? Earning those precious links.
3. Earning links
Earning links occur when other websites link to yours without any solicitation.
The best things in life are earned.
The most effective way to earn links is by creating high-quality content that people naturally want to link to.
Links are naturally obtained when others perceive your content as a valuable resource or source for further information.
Here are several types of content that tend to attract links:
- Visual assets such as infographics, charts, and diagrams
- Original research and data, including industry studies and surveys
- Online tools and calculators
- In-depth guides and tutorials
- And various other types of content.
To generate more content ideas, you can try examining the backlink profiles of your competitors.
Now, let’s tackle the obvious issue at hand.
Why link building is important for SEO?
In the midst of Google’s ever-changing algorithm, the one factor that remains constant is the importance of backlinks. That is why link building remains hailed as one of the holy grails of SEO success.
Boosting your website’s credibility through the number and quality of backlinks to your domain can be the difference between having your site rank on the first page of a results page or getting lost in the crowd.
Source: Social Media Today
(There! We just gave Social Media Today a new backlink!)
So, how does link building benefit SEO? Let’s take a closer look.
Links boost your credibility
By serving as third-party indicators of your domain’s authoritative strength, links bestow your site with undeniable credibility. Google, driven by its mission to deliver the most relevant results, recognizes the significance of these links in determining the trustworthiness and relevance of your website.
To achieve this, Google considers the concept of “domain authority” or DA. The credibility factor of your website increases as the number and quality of links directed towards your site rise.
First developed by Moz, DA refers to the overall quality of a website or webpage. The more backlinks you get, the higher your DA rises. Conversely, you should also strive to get backlinks from sites with high DA rankings. Aim to get backlinks from sites with DA scores above 50 at least. To calculate DA scores you can use the one developed by Moz here.
Factors affecting domain scores:
• Abundant backlinks from websites
• High domain scores of linking websites
• Limited outbound links from acquiring domains
Links improve your web traffic
We all want more traffic right?
And in numerous cases, a significant portion of your website’s traffic originates from referrals provided by other websites. This signifies that you strategically placed a hyperlink on a relevant website or blog, capturing the attention of visitors who were already interested enough to click on your link.
Consequently, these visitors land on your website. The fact that you are attracting high-quality traffic that aligns with your target audience and shows a willingness to explore your brand (otherwise, they wouldn’t have clicked on your link) is incredibly promising for your business.
Links help to build your brand
When executed effectively, link building becomes a powerful tool for enhancing your brand presence and establishing industry authority.
It’s crucial to position your brand as a frontrunner in your field, and content marketing strategies that involve producing exceptional content and engaging in guest posting can play a pivotal role in achieving this goal.
Demonstrating your company’s expertise goes a long way in brand development, and as a recognized authoritative voice, you’ll be renowned for your industry publications while reaping the rewards of valuable inbound links.
Links boost online visibility
Want more clicks on the SERPs page? It all depends on your page’s position. According to Sistrix’s research, 28.5% of total clicks go to the website holding the number one position.
This implies that with each endeavor you dedicate to generating valuable links, your likelihood of reaching the top position and acquiring approximately one-third of the clicks improves.
Now, the question arises: How can you utilize links to enhance your online presence?
To begin with, you must develop content that merits being linked to. This refers to content that prioritizes the needs of your customers and provides significant value to your intended audience.
For example, if you manufacture leather products, you can share valuable information that tells your reader the different types of leather processing techniques that are in use.
As more companies discover your business, you will get more backlinks, which ultimately can propel you up on the SERPs page.
Links increase online revenue
Money matters, and links help you get them!
While the primary focus of link building is often to achieve a high ranking on search engines, the ultimate outcome is determined by the amount of money you generate. Even for non-profit organizations, the goal remains to secure funds through donations.
Hence, examining the impact of link building and the positioning of web pages at the top holds the key to maximizing revenue opportunities. Consider this: the first position on Google captures 28.5% of the traffic, while the second position receives 15.7%.
If your link building campaigns have secured the second position, you won’t need to compete for the remaining 55.8% shared among other competitors below that rank. Out of the 15.7% of clicks, approximately 5% are likely to convert. As a business owner, this becomes the most effective strategy to enhance your revenue generation.
Links help in indexing your web page
Quality backlinks aid in swift webpage indexing. When authoritative websites link to your page, Google recognizes its authenticity.
Authority sites, being frequently crawled, increase the chances of Google discovering and following the link to your site. The more visits from Google, the higher the likelihood of indexing, provided your content is worth indexing.
To attain this advantage, acquire quality links from reputable websites in your niche. The greater the reputation and authority of these websites, the better. Additionally, ensure high-quality content on your site to enhance indexing potential and optimize the benefits of link building.
Links help in natural promotion
Unlike paid social or search strategies, link-building offers organic promotion. This means that link placements are not perceived as advertisements or paid recommendations by readers.
Why is this significant?
Traditional ads are disliked by web users because they interrupt positive experiences, lack information, and can be intrusive. People also prefer not to feel that their money is the sole motivation behind marketing efforts; instead, they seek assistance in their decision-making process.
Link-building promotes your website seamlessly within the surrounding content, avoiding disruptions to the web user’s positive experience and even enhancing it.
To benefit from this approach, ensure that your link-building strategy focuses on natural link placements that genuinely assist the reader.
Links help in boosting your content’s value
When a website incorporates your link into its content, it enhances the article’s value by providing additional in-depth information or validating the provided information.
How does this benefit you?
Outbound links reinforce your claims and enhance the trustworthiness of your content. Inbound links present your linked content as an authoritative resource, allowing readers to explore the subject matter in greater detail.
Readers’ perception of the linked resource extends to other content on your website, establishing your site as a valuable resource.
How can you attain this advantage?
Ensure that you link valuable content tailored to your target audience.
Wrapping it up
In the vast digital landscape, link building stands tall as the pillar of online success. It fuels your website’s visibility, credibility, and revenue potential. By strategically acquiring quality links, you pave the way for organic growth, commanding search engine rankings and captivating your audience.
Link building isn’t just a game-changer; it’s the secret ingredient that unlocks the full potential of your online presence.
Ready to take your link building efforts to the next level? Trust Nico Digital to be your strategic partner in building a robust online presence. Our expert team understands the intricacies of link building, and we’ll craft tailored strategies to elevate your website’s visibility, authority, and revenue potential.
So, let us weave your links, and watch as we propel your digital journey to new heights.