If you are on the internet, you probably have clicked backlinks, also called inbound links. They are common and lead users from one website to another website. To an ordinary eye, they bear no value, but in the world of SEO, they are important.
The problem comes when online business owners don’t know what’s a backlink or how do backlinks work. So they outsource it. But link building can’t be completely handed to others. There are many pitfalls; therefore, it must be monitored.
That’s why Website owners must understand how do backlinks work. Do backlinks work when they come from irrelevant sources? And how long they take to work. In this article, you will find the SEO backlinks explained thoroughly.
What is an SEO Backlink
Backlinks are basically codes. They work as a bridge between websites. Once clicked, they lead users to another website. You’ll find these links on websites and social media. Sometimes, you’ll see them as they are. Other times, they are hidden behind words, images, or GIFs.
But what does backlink mean for SEO? Backlinks are a ranking factor on search engines. Businesses spend thousands of dollars to make backlink profiles bigger. The bigger a website’s backlink profile, the higher the chances of ranking. They also increase the odds of ranking on different keywords too.
But these links don’t always reward; some backlinks do harm.
How Do Backlinks Work
When other websites refer to something from your content, they point a link to your site. Now, the audience of that website can click and visit your website. But why do other links to you? They only do it because your content is trustworthy and relevant. In the same way, you can link to other websites that you trust. This activity improves both website’s SEO, as Google itself encourages us to do it.
Now, how does backlink work in SEO? According to Google, it finds websites by algorithm and through pages that point links to other pages. It means backlinks make the process of indexing faster. Google also uses backlinks to understand the relevancy of content. That’s why backlinks are powerful for rankings.
What Links Matter Most
All backlinks aren’t the same. Some links score better than others. For instance, a natural link that you get without paying or outreaching scores higher than other quality links.
The other two are:
- Links from authority pages: A backlink is more powerful if it comes from authority websites. These websites can be EDU, GOV, or big news websites.
- Links from the top: Backlinks placed at the beginning of content have more weight than links at the bottom, according to Neil Patel.
What Backlinks to Avoid
In SEO, some backlinks can get you organic traffic and leads; others can be the reason for Google's penalty.
Common links to avoid:
Links from irrelevant pages: Google considers links from irrelevant pages untrustworthy. They are clear indications that something is wrong. So use strategies such as Press Release cautiously.
Irrelevant directory links: You only need to write articles and pitch to directory websites to get a backlink. This is an easy method, therefore misused. So, when applying this tactic, be aware of the relevancy of directory sites.
Sites that sell backlinks: Many sites openly sell backlinks. Avoid them for three reasons.
- They are probably going to be irrelevant.
- They sell links to everyone.
- Because they sell indiscriminately, they are easy to detect.
Why Are Backlinks Important
Backlinks build trust. When you get a link from other websites, it’s proof of trust. Google considers it when it ranks pages.
Backlinks bring free traffic. Besides organic traffic, you also enjoy traffic that comes from other websites.
Exposure and Authority: when other websites mention you, it exposes your brand to different audiences. It also signals to audiences that you are trustworthy. Moreover, it signals to Google that you are an authority because no website links to poor-quality content.
Make you stand out: getting backlinks is a hard business. Not all of your competitors are going to spend time on them. So if you manage to get dozens or hundreds of backlinks, it won’t only stand out the business in the eyes of the audience but your competitor’s as well.
How Long Do Backlinks Take to Work
Now that you know what are backlinks and why are they important, it’s time to know how long they take to work. According to Luca, founder of Lucatagliaferro, it takes 7 days to 2 months. However, many factors determine how backlinks work in the future.
Backlinks from powerful websites work better than backlinks from new websites. Similarly, a natural link will work faster than an acquired one. If a site is new, it will take more time. If it is older, the process gets faster. Another factor is profile. A diverse profile is better in Google’s eyes than a profile that only gets links from a few websites.
How to Build Links
Numerous link building strategies can be applied to get links. People's favorite is guest posting. Around 60% of bloggers post 1 to 5 blog posts per month, According to ReferralRock.
To do guest posting, search “write for us plus your keyword.” you’ll find many sites that allow guest posting. Choose a relevant site, write a post and outreach.
Other strategies are buying links, exchanging favors, paid guest posting, etc. But there are also free ways to get links.
How to Get Backlinks for Free
The easy and common ways to get backlinks are by paying or guest postings. The problem is one requires money; the other requires content and outreaching every time. But there are free ways to get links. It takes patience, but they are worth it.
Make high-quality content: Nothing is better than high-quality, helpful content. When you write content, take your time. If you hire freelancers, then prioritize niche experts. Always produce and publish up-to-date and fact-checked content.
It’s crucial to Update your old content every 6 months or so or when you hear about new events or trends in your niche. People like reading updated content, so Google prioritizes them.
Moreover, make infographics. People read infographics 30 times more than written words, according to SearchLogistics.
Ask for a link from your network: If you have made a network, getting links from there is easy. But don’t make a beginner's mistake and ask for backlinks without returning anything. You must give value to them.
These are four ways to offer value:
- Guest posting: Find a website from your network that accepts guest posts. Request them to let you guest post. They are likely to prioritize you over others as they are likely to be familiar with your work.
- Broken link building: Find old, irrelevant, or dead pages to which they are linking And ask them to link to you instead.
- Skyscraper Strategy: If pages from your network are linking to a high-quality article, but that article has gaps, it’s a golden chance. Write your article, fill in those gaps, and ask them to link to your better article.
- Unlinked brand mentioned. Last but not least, if someone from your network mentions you without pointing a link, request them for it.
Repurpose your content: If you write an article, it can be a basis for a YouTube video. With some alteration, the same article can be posted on another social platform. This is content repurposing. So, Publish your content on different platforms and point a link to your original article.
How Do Backlinking Services Work
Individual experts and agencies provide backlinking services. They understand what are backlinks and how do they work comprehensively. An SEO expert finds relevant websites and produces quality content for outreach. Many experts specialize in a niche and have a network to make things faster. But still, backlinking can take weeks or months, depending on the quality and quantity of links you want.
Since link building is a difficult and time-consuming task, businesses prefer to pass it to professional hands. Hire an SEO expert or agency on Legiit. We are a marketing place for SEO. There are a decade of experienced professionals who have satisfied thousands of clients.
Conclusion
How do backlinks work is a tricky question with a lot of technicalities. But understanding them is important for business growth. Backlinks are powerful; you can’t completely rely on others to build them, as the pitfalls can stack the odds of ranking on Google on the ground.
Backlinks can be built through many techniques, such as guest posting, exchanging favors, and broken link building, but they consume too much time and need skills. So it’s best to leave this task on the professional hand if you are busy. Get help on Legiit; we are one of the best SEO marketplaces out there.
FAQS
What Are Backlinks, and Do They Still Matter?
Backlinks are incoming links from other websites to yours. Google doesn’t have another way to determine a website's authority and relevancy yet. So until Google finds a new way, backlinks are going to matter.
Link Vs Backlink: What’s the Difference?
Backlinks is the one that leads users from one website to another. And the link is a general term. For example, internal and external both are links, but only external is a backlink.
What is an example of a Backlink?
If you click HERE, it will lead you to Google Search Central and not our site.
Quality or Quantity
Quality wins quantity most of the time, But since the competition on Google is so high, we need both equally. Just steer clear of harmful links.
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