If you search in Google asking for the top SEO ranking factors, you will find Links occupying a very prominent place. Google’s Andrey Lipattsev, a Search Quality Senior Strategist at Google, feels that Links are the most dependable factor in scaling the search algorithm.

So, why is link building important?

In times preceding the internet and Google you will remember how important and relevant references were for your notes and thesis and how they helped scale your research work notches high. Well, the same theory works now. Except that content creation has multiplied in millions and Google alone publishes over 4.4 million blog posts in a day. According to data published in March 2019, over 409 million people read more than 20 billion pages on WordPress each month in 2020. 71% of all content is published in English. Awesome! Isn’t it?

It is perfectly normal to get lost in this milieu of overcrowded words. Sometimes you want to read a written article over and over again and sometimes you just want to block the page or smash your laptop. Yes, content makes a huge difference. You link to a good content that enhances the point you are trying to make or you link with one that holds little or no credibility to what you are trying to say and will nullify your own words. So, earning links is more important than burning links!

What is earning links?

Most analysts and strategists feel that your content needs to be trustworthy, meaningful and hold water for a longer time. A link does not guarantee conversion, that depends on your product and website. But it creates awareness and exposure to your brand. It also matters who is using your link. If your link is shared by a very credible source like lonely planet then it is likely that your article will reach readers on a larger scale. Conversely, a small blog may not generate the same amount of readership but if it reaches your target, then the job is well done. So, links add authority and value to your brand and search engines and therefore Search Engines feature you on a higher level when they find other trustworthy brands are linking to you.

One thing that you need to understand is that link building is not a marketing ploy. It is how your content is making a difference to the community that reads you and wants to link their own content with you. You are not only creating content that matters but sharing thoughts and building a community that agrees with your way of thinking. In a way, you are strengthening relationships.

However, building a strategy to create excellent content is not easy, but surely doable. The first thing to do is to create a roadmap that will help you to fine tune the way you plan to approach your content.

Guest Posting 

Your first marketing mantra guest post or guest blogging is publishing content on other websites. The articles will include your byline and the editor of the website gives it a special promo with words like from our guest writer/author/contributor. You may or may not be paid, but a greater benefit will be the link or backlink with your personal website, bringing traffic to your other content as well.

What are the pluses of guest blogging?

• It elevates your profile to that of an industry leader and authority
• Creates your brand presence
• You can grow a following and invite subscription
• Your SEO performance will naturally improve
• Backlinking with relevant content will bring more traffic to the website from the anchor content.
• This will help you to build a partnership and help you in the future with stronger and relevant contacts, better references and even customers.

But before you begin to write for your guest post several things needs to be taken care of.

• Set specific goals that are doable.
• Choose subjects that relate to your business
• Look for guest blogging sites that hold a reputation
• Do complete research of the guest blogging site to measure its outreach
• After preparing the groundwork sit down to write
• Now, just do not sit with it. Keep checking its performance from time to time.

Web 2.0 Blog Post (with high-quality content)

Web 2.0 is a link building process where you sign up in websites that publish all kinds of social media content that includes microblogging sites. This gives you access to a subdomain where you can publish a blog and link them. You can link your blogs with other authors and important profile as well. Owing to its expansive freedom, Web 2.0 links such as Tumblr, Reddit, Alexa, Medium, SlideShare Quora etc. have been unapologetically misused by linking freely with spammer website. But if you can link rich quality content, then Web 2.0 links will help you gain traction at lightning speed. John Mueller Senior Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google feels that content that accounts for interesting and profitable read with natural links instead of random links is resilient.

Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking proves to be beneficial for link building and helping to raise your page rank in the search engine. How is it done? You post quality content in good bookmarking sites. The Search engine crawls through your content and if your content is good with targeted keywords, it indexes the site link giving your website high rank. So always remember to bookmark your website link or any other link to get a sure and high PR backlink.

• What do you need to consider before posting your blog or content in a social bookmarking site?
• A unique title is your first consideration in a social bookmarking link
• Write a good link submission description of 50-100 words on your social bookmarking activity
• Select tags and keywords you will be using for social bookmarking

Follow these methods for posting and link submission on social bookmarking sites to get the best results.

Quora Answering

Quora works in a unique model. It engages an online community and asks questions from people who are skilled in a particular subject. People around the world are in the Quora forum. Since Google too is in the business of answering questions, in fact, all search engines are, and if Quora answers dedicated questions then naturally Google or search engines will prefer Quora. While answering, you can add your website link to your response to add greater relevance to your response. However, if that does not enhance the value of your response, then it could be considered as spamming. Focusing on useful answers than misleading and this should be your way to link earning in Quora.

Blog commenting (only quality)

Commenting on blog posts with meaningful and quality comments and posting links that direct to your website is one of the best way to draw traffic to your service or product. This is hailed as a great marketing tool. However, be specific while commenting. Your comments should be supported with thorough research and again if your website or blog link adds greater validity to your comment then add a link of the same.

Competitor’s backlinks

Your business rivals may not always be your SEO competitors and visa versa. These are people who compete with you in SERPs. It is important to identify these competitors. They are your domain and topic competitors. Analyze their content for you need to close the keyword gaps in your own content. Use the right density of keywords with TF-IDF tools. Ideas have no legacy, so borrow content ideas unabashedly, from your competitors. Study your competitor’s backlinks and look for new prospects. Don’t stop tracking your competitor’s ranking and backlink and watch how their backlink profile changes.

Infographic Marketing (If needed)

High-Quality infographics help you with top ranks on Google. Infographics are attention-grabbers and the quality of graphics with rich information make them popular and shareable. There are many infographics all over the Internet. Don’t forget to add a link of your website in the infographic that will help traffic return to your website.

Broken Link building (Depends on the client’s website authority)

Search for broken links in high traffic websites and there is a good chance you can replace your URL with the broken link. However, it is not always easy to do so as the websites keep checking links that have been placed on the pages. Another way is to shoot an email to the websites with a broken link suggesting that you have some content pertinent the page so if they find it relevant they can use your URL instead of the broken link. Sites like Moz.com has many broken links.

Link Reclamation (Only works if your brand is popular enough)

When reputed website shows error 404 then it gives a bad experience to the user.No matter how high the reputation of the site, the user will never forget the bad experience. For such reputed sites, it is important to reclaim their broken links and update them. It helps to maintain positive user feedback and improves SEO ranking.

Local Business Listings (For local businesses)

Local results really matter when it comes to Google ranking. Most searches come from areas around you and if you do not have your presence in the Google map then your business is almost lost. Add all the information that is required for customers to easily find you. Your physical address, telephone number, category and attributes should be kept updated for users’ benefit. Mention the opening and closing hour of your business. Answer questions or reviews that have been sent on your contact us page. Try to solve the customer query if there is any negative review. Add photos to your listing so that customers know what they are looking at.  Add landmarks so that customers know the exact location. You can also add a few lines of the best places to visit near your location. All these add value to your local presence.

SlideShare Presentations

Your content will find easier recognition in slide share than in Google as the competition is lesser. This B2B LinkedIn platform allows presentations to be made within its scope of aesthetics and there are higher chances of getting more relevant views than in any other place. This could really help in your search engine ranking.

Following the above strategy, make the backlinks profile as natural as possible. This will naturally drive traffic to your website and also give you a high and strong position in the search engine.

Avoid low-quality Off-Page SEO Techniques

However, it is important to know what google does not value. Avoid low-quality Off-Page SEO Techniques they will not help your webpage to get a good SEO ranking instead deindex your page.

Directory submission

You might be tempted to go for a free directory submission thinking it to be an easy way to increase your Off-page SEO rank, but the risks are high. Many directories are spurious, and you can spot an unclear PageRank or no visible toolbars.

In most cases these directories are automatic without care for editorial inclusion. If at all, you are terribly keen, make them a very small part of your backlinking strategy. Directories that allow you to select your own anchor text are suspicious. Some SEO expert may suggest free directory submission, regard your business type, and look for directories that can be trusted. But in most cases, we advise if at all rely on them the least.

Article Submission: (A Useless Technique)

The idea behind article directories was great but with time they fell in the wrong practice of duplicate content. The exercise was a 300-500 word rich content, with author bio, a relevant keyword with about 2-3 links posted on the article directory. If someone finds it useful, they add it to their webpage. But the quality of the content is rather low. Article directories, who accept these submissions en masse, do not review these articles and just upload them hoping for someone to use them in their site. Matt Cutts, Google’s former head says, “Don’t Try To Build Links Through Article Directories.” However, he also suggests that they could be used for deriving article ideas and written with greater relevance for one’s own site.

Buying or Selling Backlinks: (Highly Risky)

Buying/selling backlinks is an extensive practice that many companies have tried, to save time and acquire a higher SEO rank. But it’s is dangerous and strictly against Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. If you are caught, there is a straight manual action against your site, and your organic search traffic is ruined. Create a productive service instead, for no matter how good your SEO rank is, if you aren’t offering the right product, no one will purchase from you.

 Link Exchange: Google Doesn’t Like

Google strictly forbids any kind of buying or selling of links be it through monetary interests, a post exchange, exchange of service or a seller sending a free product in exchange of a link —no barters no bribes on link building. Google has no patience for excessive link building.

Spam Comments on Other Blogs:

This is a technique that many bloggers use by leaving a comment on someone else’s blog along with their own page link. This does not seem relevant and Google dismisses it. This technique is called “comment spam” and does not help at all. Google offers a no-follow tag to fight blog comment spam.

Conclusion

As Adam Riemer, from SearchEngineJournal.com says “Focusing on quality [backlinks] over quantity is what can help to protect your site as Google updates”. Emphasize on the quality of your content and backlinks will come automatically. I hope our article has helped you to understand the best practice and what should be avoided in improving your Google rank through backlinking. Stay connected to https://www.carneytechnologies.com/ for more insightful content.