What is Link Building?

Link building is a crucial aspect of SEO and digital marketing. As a link development company, we understand the importance of high-quality backlinks and how they can significantly improve a website’s performance. This is why we started LinkVerse and we why work to earn our clients high-value links from major publications like Realtor.com, Shopify.com, Upcity.com and more.

In this article, we will discuss what link building is, why it matters, and how to approach it effectively.

Table of Contents

Link building is the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own. These links, also known as backlinks or inbound links, help search engines like Google and Bing navigate the web and understand the relationship between different pages. Links are a necessary aspect of the internet and are vital to search engines.

When search engines crawl the internet, they use links to discover new pages and determine their ranking on the search engine results page (SERP). The more high-quality links pointing to your website, the more likely it is to rank well for relevant keywords. Link strategies are used by businesses of all sizes, ranging from major corporations to small, local organizations.

While there are many link-building strategies available, the key is to acquire links that come from reputable sites that have been around for a long time. The more credible and relatable a site’s content is to your own, the better.

Link building is essential for several reasons:

  • Improves search engine rankings: High-quality backlinks signal to search engines that your website is a valuable and authoritative resource. This can lead to improved rankings on SERPs for targeted keywords, driving organic traffic to your site.
  • Increases website visibility: When your website is linked to by other reputable sites, it increases the chances of users discovering your content and visiting your site.
  • Enhances credibility and trust: When authoritative websites link to your site, it acts as a vote of confidence in the eyes of users and search engines. This can help build trust and credibility with your target audience.

There are three main types of links in SEO:

  • Natural or Editorial Links: These are links that other websites choose to include in their content without any direct input from you. This is the best type of link because it shows that your website provides valuable content that others want to share. While these are ideal, they’re not always easily obtained.
  • Manual or Outreach Links: These links are obtained through direct efforts such as contacting other websites, guest posting, or submitting your site to directories. While these links can be beneficial, they require more effort on your part to acquire.
  • Self-Created or Non-Editorial Links: These are links that you create yourself, such as blog comments, forum signatures, and user-generated content sites. These types of links are often seen as spammy and carry less weight in search engine algorithms. While these types of links were great in the early days of SEO, they have little to no value today.
  • Quoted Links: These links are acquired when your information is quoted or mentioned in an article. Typically, the author of these links is a journalist who requests information through a service like HARO and in exchange for the information, provides a link. These are high-quality links and have a huge impact on SEO.

Here are some proven strategies for earning high-quality backlinks:

  • Create valuable, shareable content: The foundation of any successful link-building campaign is creating high-quality, informative content that others want to link to. Focus on providing value to your audience and addressing their pain points.
  • Guest posting: Writing guest posts for reputable websites in your niche can help you gain exposure and earn valuable backlinks. Make sure to follow the website’s guidelines and provide high-quality, unique content.
  • Pitch journalists: Journalists need content and expert opinions. By pitching them your content, you have the opportunity to earn a valuable link to your site.
  • Leverage social media: Share your content on social media platforms to increase visibility and encourage others to link to your website. Depending on your brand’s following, you could earn several links by simply sharing your content.
  • Broken link building: Identify broken links on other websites and offer to replace them with a link to your relevant, high-quality content. This provides a great user experience for their readers and earns you a link.
  • Resource page link building: Look for resource pages in your industry and reach out to the website owners, suggesting your content as a valuable addition to their list.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Link Building

Here are some common link-building mistakes you want to avoid:

  • Focusing on quantity over quality: Acquiring a large number of low-quality links can do more harm than good. Focus on earning high-quality backlinks from reputable websites.
  • Using automated link-building tools: These tools often create spammy, low-quality links that can result in search engine penalties. Be sure to avoid these tools or you put your brand and website at risk.
  • Ignoring anchor text diversity: Using the same anchor text for all your backlinks can appear unnatural and may lead to search engine penalties. Aim for a diverse mix of anchor text using branded keywords and generic keywords.
  • Purchasing links: Buying links is against Google’s guidelines and can result in severe penalties. Avoid spammy link sellers on platforms like Fiverr as they can get you into trouble with search engines. While you may pay a partner or consultant to earn links on your behalf, you want to avoid outright paying for links.

Hiring a professional link acquisition partner can save you time and ensure that your efforts are successful. When choosing a link vendor, consider the following factors:

  • Experience and expertise: Look for a provider with a proven track record in SEO and link building. They should have a deep understanding of the latest industry trends and best practices.
  • Transparent communication: The organization should provide regular updates and reports on their progress and be open to answering any questions you may have.
  • Customized approach: Every website is unique, and so are its link-building needs. The company should tailor their strategy to your specific goals and target audience.
  • White-hat techniques: Ensure that the agency follows ethical, white-hat link-building practices to avoid search engine penalties.

In summary, link development is an essential aspect of SEO that can significantly impact your website’s performance. By understanding the different types of links, employing effective strategies, and avoiding common mistakes, you can build a strong backlink profile that drives organic traffic and improves your search engine rankings.

At LinkVerse, we specialize in earning links through journalist pitches. This strategy earns very valuable links from reputable domains that help move the needle for your SEO. Check out examples of links we’ve developed and contact us with any questions.

Have Questions?

We’re here to help. Reach us anytime at support@linkverse.io.