Search engine optimization or SEO plays a key role in your digital marketing strategy. SEO is a powerful tool to create brand awareness, build relationships and make a website trustworthy and authoritative. There are multiple elements to a SEO strategy such as on-page SEO, keywords, optimization, etc. One of the elements that this article will discuss is link building.
When a website links to your website, Google’s search algorithms recognize your website as authoritative in your industry. Since other brands refer you, it increases your authority and this in turn improves your website’s search ranking. Similarly, when you link to other websites that also improves your authority as Google determines that you have covered all areas of a topic. The rankings of the other website matters. When a website with high-ranking links to you, it increases your ranking even more.
Let’s take a closer look at what link building is all about.
What is Link Building?
Link building is the practice of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites that link back to your website. Users can navigate between websites by clicking on links. Search engines use these hyperlinks to discover web pages on the internet. This process is called crawling. They will crawl between individual pages on your website as well as between websites.
There are different techniques on how you can find links. SEO marketers agree that link building can be quite challenging. It is a process that can take sometimes before you see results.
Why is Link Building Important?
It can help you rank better on SERP
As discussed above search engines use links to discover new web pages. In addition, links also help search engines to decide how a page ranks on its results page. When search engines crawl web pages they access the content of the pages and add it to their indexes. This way they determine the quality of the content and how it is relevant to the keywords. Along with the content, search engines also look at the links on the page. If these links are from credible websites, you have a chance to rank higher.
Links from credible websites also help you increase your domain authority. All these factors can enable your website to rank higher on Google’s search engine results page.
Building credibility
Acquiring links from quality and high-ranking websites can help you build credibility. Google looks at the quality of these websites that are referring you. Hence, you are able to increase the authority of your own website. Hence, it is very important to link with websites that have a good domain authority.
Generating more traffic
Link building can enable more flow of traffic to your website. When other websites link back to you, it gives their audience a chance to explore your website. The audience would end up on your site as they are looking for more content. The traffic coming from these websites have the potential of becoming your customers.
Do you want to increase your website? Take a look at 8 strategies to help you generate more traffic for your website.
Brand awareness
A more traffic flows to your website, it creates brand awareness. Visitors have the opportunity to know more about your business. Relevant links show the audience that you are a trustworthy source of information in your industry. This is a good way to promote your brand and be more visible.
Networking
Link building requires you to reach out to other websites so that you can pitch your content to them. This gives you a chance to get to know many people. You can build contacts with business owners, writers, guest bloggers and influencers. It increases your network and helps you build a good reputation in the industry you cater to.
How to Get Started with Link Building?
There are a number of strategies that you can use for your link building efforts. Here are some strategies that can help you kickstart your link building efforts.
Write blog content regularly
Build content on your website that is relevant and useful to your target audience. Writing good, quality content would help you get links from other websites. Ensure that you are consistent with your blogs. Research on topics that your target audience is looking for. By writing educational and informative content you can show other businesses that you are an expert in your industry. Other websites would refer you to their websites when you are a credible source of information.
Submit press releases
Press release is a free public relation tool that can help you share the latest updates and news related to your business. This gives you a chance to reach a wider audience. You can submit your press releases on any newswire websites. These websites put up your press online for a certain amount of time allowing it to be visible. This can help you gain additional backlinks.
Create citations on business directories
Adding citations on online directories is a good way to start your link building efforts. Research about various business directories that have a good domain ranking. Add your business information along with your website link. This can help you get links from these business directories. With these links Google can verify that your business is legit. This way you rank higher when someone is looking for your products or services.
Create case studies
Through a case study you can talk about your client’s success journey and how your business helped them. When you write positive things about your client they will surely agree to linking to your site. For this purpose, write case studies on the clients who have the best results. These clients should also understand your products and services for them to refer you. This is one of ways to start building your links successfully.
Write reviews
Reviews are an opportunity for you to build links. Writing well-informed and quality reviews increases the visibility of your website through backlinks. This review can be written on a blog post, books, products or services that are relevant to your industry. Reviewing content or services related to your industry is more valuable for backlink opportunities. Before you write a review ensure that the website has a good domain authority. Create an authentic review that determines the point of view of your business. Use keywords relevant to your business or industry.
When you submit the review ensure that you include your business names and website. If you have mentioned that company in any of your content, then share that link in your post as well.
Guest blogging
Guest blogging refers to posting content on other websites by collaborating with authors and experts in your own industry. Businesses invite guest authors to post blog content on their website which is beneficial to both. When you write good and quality content on a high-ranking website, you become more visible to their audience. Before you reach out to people ensure that you do research about the businesses. The website you want links from should be relevant to your business. As discussed above select a website that has a good domain ranking and is credible.
There are numerous ways to get links for your website. Link building is a process that can take long but once done correctly it can be useful to your website. The basic strategies we discussed in this article can help your business get started with link k building. Build your links slowly and gradually instead of trying to get more links quickly. This process needs a lot of research before you implement any of these strategies. Being selective about your links can ensure that you get quality links that can get you the desired results.
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