When most people think of search engine optimization, they think of on-page SEO. We’re talking about meta tags, keyword-focused content, and the like. One of the most common mistakes companies make is ignoring off-page ways to boost your traffic.
Of all the off-page SEO techniques, backlinks are among the most crucial. A backlink, or a link from another site to your site, tells search engines you’re a reliable and referral-worthy source.
The challenge, of course, is getting other sites to link to yours. If you aren’t sure where to start, here’s your guide to getting the link advantage.
Your First Step: Great Content
Before we talk about direct ways to get backlinks, we need to start with underlying key: your content. First things first, your content needs to up valuable. It should be genuine, original, and informative.
You’ll notice most of the tips below are ways to get your content out there to inspire backlinks. This effort will go to waste if other sites’ curators look at your content and see no reason to direct their readers to it.
If you aren’t confident that your content is up to snuff, now is the time to give it a makeover. Write new content like new blogs, or hire someone to do so. When you have plenty of great content to share, you can move on with backlinking techniques.
How to Get the Link Advantage with Backlinks
There are plenty of ways to get backlinks if you know where to look. Start with these top strategies.
1. Guest Posts
Guest posts are among the most genuine and useful ways to get backlinks. Writing a guest post involves writing a blog for another side and including a link to your site within the post.
For example, let’s say you have a dermatology office. You may offer to write a guest post for a beauty blog about wrinkle reduction treatment. The content is relevant, original, and brings genuine value to the beauty blog while giving you a great backlink. It’s a win-win.
In the process, though, be careful not to overload your guest blog with links to your site. One will do the trick, and it will avoid making your post look like spam. Make sure your content is high-quality too so you get invited to do future posts as well.
2. Social Media Sharing
Social media marketing is valuable in its own right, but it’s also a great backlinking technique, too.
Throughout your social media marketing, be sure to share your best content from time to time. Paid ads can give your content more exposure.
The posts themselves are backlinks which can help your SEO. In addition, though, they spread your content throughout the web which could bring you even more backlinks.
Make sure you don’t focus your entire social media profile on your own content, though. Follow the 70/30 rule: 70% of your posts should be sharing others’ content while 30% should be your own content.
3. Press Releases
Another great way to build your web presence with backlinks is through press releases. When you publish a press release, always include a link or two to your site because these links count as backlinks.
Many companies neglect press releases but backlinks are just one way they can boost your business. The key is to publish a press release when you have something newsworthy. This could be a new product or service, an award, or an upcoming event.
On top of offering its own backlink, a press release is one more way to spread the word and establish yourself as a resource. When you post a press release, make sure you reach out to local media about the news too. If they respond and ask for an interview, there’s nothing wrong with asking that they include a link to your site in the story on their website.
4. Blog Commenting with Caution
Chances are you’ve seen at least a few of those spam comments on others’ blogs or even on your own. They sound something like, “Want to lose 20 pounds in 7 days? I did it with this miracle pill!” They always end with a link.
If you’ve seen them, you’re probably groaning at the very idea of commenting on others’ blogs. If you do it right, though, it can be a great link building strategy.
Follow blogs in your industry and comment with genuine, thoughtful input. It’s a great way to establish yourself as an expert and develop a relationship with the blogs you’re commenting on.
Those relationships can lead to organic backlinks, but should you post a link in your comments? You can, but don’t do it in a spammy way. For instance, end your comments with a professional signature including a link to your site.
5. Getting on YouTube
Chances are you’ve already heard how helpful video marketing is. It’s engaging and a popular way your audience loves to get information. There’s another way it boosts your business, though: with backlinks.
Dedicate part of your marketing budget toward creating informative, creative videos in your field of expertise. Post each of them on YouTube, and include a link to related content from your site in the description.
You can get even more backlinks for your videos if you add transcripts to each video. Within the transcripts, include links on relevant keywords. In addition to the backlinks themselves, these videos will also help you generate more notice and more traffic overall.
Backlinks as Your Site’s Backbone
As any marketer knows, there’s no magic formula for a successful business. It takes a variety of tactics that you continue to maintain and revitalize time and time again. SEO is no exception.
Backlinks are crucial for your site’s performance, but it’s an ongoing project. As helpful as it is to build a structure of backlinks, you need to keep using the techniques above for years to come to get fresh links, too.
If you’re ready to get the link advantage for your site, get started by buying great links today.
