In today’s digital market, SEO is all-important. Specifically, white hat SEO is all-important. A common tactic is white hat link building.

But what is white hat link building? For that matter, what is white hat SEO and how does it differ from regular SEO?

Read on to find out.

What Is SEO?

SEO is short for search engine optimization.

Every search engine is programmed with algorithms. Those algorithms help it pick out web pages that are relevant to Internet users’ searches. Additionally, the algorithms sort out potentially poor web pages and place them below better web pages.

This process is called ranking.

Thanks to their algorithms, search engines take a number of factors into account when ranking a page. Common factors include relevance, safety, reliability, and popularity.

White Hat SEO Versus Black Hat SEO

There are a variety of techniques that web pages can employ to rank higher. Unfortunately, not all of these techniques are recommended or helpful. Some of even hurt web pages’ SEO.

Proper SEO is called “white hat SEO.” In contrast, unhelpful and harmful SEO is called “black hat SEO.”

White hat SEO entails using fair techniques to influence search engine techniques. One of the most common techniques of white hat SEO is link building. Other common techniques include keyword usage and high-quality content.

Black hat SEO, on the other hand, stoops to using cheap tricks to manipulate search engines. Switch-and-bait content, invisible text, and keyword stuffing are all considered black hat SEO tactics.

Search engine technology has come quite a long way since SEO was first conceived. Now search engines can recognize black hat SEO on a web page and rank the page lower as a result.

For that reason, it is imperative that you stick to white hat SEO while developing websites and website content.

The Importance of White Hat Link Building

Search engines use links to rank websites’ relevance and trustworthiness.

In the past, web developers could get away with linking any word or phrase to any site on the web. In fact, the more links your content had, the higher your site’s pages were ranked.

That isn’t the case anymore. Search engine bots crawl over every readable part of web pages, including the links. Poorly implemented or irrelevant links are tossed to the bottom of the pile.

7 Techniques for White Hat Link Building

Thankfully, there are numerous techniques for white hat link building.

Let’s check out seven of them below.

1. Affiliation Links

One of the easiest white hat link building techniques is getting friends and partners to put a link to your site on theirs. In return, you’re expected to include links to their sites on your site.

Affiliation links are valuable in terms of SEO and networking.

Relevant, appropriate links both to and from your site are a sign of credibility and trustworthiness. As such, search engines rank sites with such links higher.

Site features on other sites also increase traffic to your site.

2. Directories

There are numerous business-oriented directories online.

Universal directories include Google My Business and Yellow Pages. Some directories host information for professionals in certain fields. For example, there are numerous directories just for lawyers, doctors, and dentists.

Search engine bots also crawl over these sites during the ranking process. Search engine algorithms read multiple instances of the same information as a sign of credibility. As a result, search engines rank websites with business profiles higher.

For that reason, it is important to open as many business profiles as possible. Once you’ve opened your profiles, include a link back to your website.

3. Linked Mentions

Often times, other websites post about products and services without linking to the products’ and services’ brand website. Common “mentions” include reviews, analyses, and recommendations.

Make a list of the sites that talk about your product. Reach out the web hosts and ask for a link back to your website.

A link back isn’t an unreasonable request. After all, the content that they’ve posted is about something you offer.

Additionally, keep track of the sites that praise your products and services. Linking to those sites in future content is a nice gesture that could further your networking opportunities.

4. Guest Blog Entries

Currently, guest blog entries are one of the most efficient white hat link building techniques.

Many websites have a blog area. Occasionally, web hosts will let a guest contribute a blog entry. The entry should be optimized like the rest of the website.

Guest blog entries are an excellent networking and SEO opportunity. Not only can you include links back to your website, you can develop a relationship with the site runners. The better the relationship, the more likely they’ll link to your site or invite you to guest blog for them again.

5. Regular Blog Entries

Don’t forget about maintaining your own blog!

A blog is a valuable opportunity for websites. In their blogs, web hosts can cover a variety of material related to their products and services.

The more material you cover, the more audiences you can appeal to. More material also means more space for white hat link building and keyword usage.

6. Visuals

Consumers love infographics and other visuals. In fact, 65% of consumers identify themselves as visual learners.

As such, be sure to include infographics on your website and in your blog entries. Make sure they’re easy — as well as fun — to read. Many infographics include cartoons and bright colors to help demonstrate facts and figures.

Easily absorbed information will make your website more likely to receive a link back.

7. Internal Links

An important but often overlooked white hat link building technique is internal links.

Internal links are links that go elsewhere on your website. They are most commonly used in blogs. Newer blog entries often reference older entries and thus include a link to them.

Search engines read these links as any other links. As a result, internal links help build your online credibility.

Internal links also funnel traffic to older material and give that material a view boost.

Need More Link Building Tips? Contact Us!

At BackLinks.com, we know you rely on link building to boost your website’s SEO. For that reason, we facilitate the buying and selling of links. We also provide our customers with online resources about SEO.

For more link building tips, please feel free to contact us!