Link building is inarguably the most intimidating part of search engine optimization.
This is why most people struggle to build links that actually move the needle.
In this blog post, we’ll tell you the 8 best link building strategies that work.
By the end, you’ll also know how to implement these link building ideas.
Let’s get started.
How to Do Link Building Step-by-Step
Step 1: Research
Start by defining a clear goal, whether it’s attracting backlinks, building long-term relationships, or getting more traffic.
Next, do some research and create a list of websites in your niche with a high domain rating or authority.
Now, find the right person to contact. LinkedIn can be a perfect place to find content managers.
As soon as you get their email addresses, it’s time to reach out to them with a powerful pitch.
Step 2: Outreach
While reaching out, keep your message clear and to the point.
Add a link to your website or a social media profile where they can verify your credibility.
Start your email with a personalized sentence to hook the reader.
This is where studying their website will help.
Next, offer something concrete in exchange for the link.
Unfortunately, a generic blog post might not help your cause.
You want to offer something of equal value, if not more.
Also, if you’re asking for a guest post, send them a list of potential topics and let them choose one.
Step 3: Follow Up
If you don’t get a response the first time, send a follow-up email.
A single outreach email isn’t going to be enough most of the time.
Most of the recipients will either oversee your email or ignore it altogether.
Following up also shows that you’re committed to building a long-term relationship with the other person
But, how long should you wait before sending the second email? In most cases, 2 days is more than enough.
If they haven’t responded in a couple of days, they probably don’t want to respond or have just forgotten about it.
Step 4: Track and Measure
Measuring the performance of a link building method helps you make informed decisions moving forward.
It tells you if you’ve achieved your ROI goal. Plus, you can refine your strategy based on what’s working for you.
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Targeted Guest Post Outreach
In link building, outreach refers to getting in touch with other website owners and asking them to link to your site.
Guest post outreach is when you offer to publish a high-quality piece of content on their website.
But, before you reach out, ask yourself, what it is that makes your content unique?
Why should someone publish your blog post on their website?
Are you offering them enough in exchange for a backlink?
To find guest post opportunities in your niche, use simple Google search operators like:
- Your keyword + "guest post"
- Your keyword + "write for us"
Create a list of websites you want to publish guest posts on.
While reaching out, personalize your pitch and include potential guest post topics. Let them choose one.
Also, follow all guest post guidelines while writing the post.
Find Broken Links and Ask for Replacements
Broken link building also involves outreach.
But, the process is a little different.
The first step is to find a website you want a link from.
Next, analyze it for any broken link with a tool like “Check My Links”. It’s a Chrome extension.
All you’ll need to do is visit the web page and click on the extension tab.
Even a single invalid link on that page is an opportunity to get a backlink from it.
As soon as you find one, simply reach out to the owner and offer your link as a replacement.
Let them know how your link adds value to the user experience.
Reverse-Engineer Your Competitors
In link building, reverse-engineering means finding websites that are linking to your competitor.
It involves using a paid tool like Semrush to analyze the backlink profile of a competing website.
Simply enter the URL of a competitor and the tool will provide you with the list of domains linking to it.
Next, come up with a strategy to build links from those domains.
For instance, reach out to the owners and get them to publish a guest post.
The best thing about reserve engineering is that it eliminates guesswork.
It tells you exactly what to do to outrank a competing web page.
Respond to HARO Queries
Help A Reporter Out is a service that acts as a bridge between journalists and content specialists.
Journalists and media publications need subject matter specialists all the time, in virtually every industry.
HARO link building starts with you signing up on the official website as a resource.
After signing up, you can set up your preferences.
Here’s an example list of general HARO queries you’ll receive in your email inbox:
And, here’s an example of a query:
By responding to these queries with helpful content, you can get your website featured in top publications in your industry.
With this technique, you can get backlinks from super-high-authority websites like:
- The New York Times
- Mashable
- TIME
- The Wall Street Journal
- Among others
Attract Attention with Digital PR
Digital PR is a relatively broader field that’s often used to improve brand awareness. The PR in digital PR stands for “Public Relations”.
The link building method involves building relationships with bloggers, journalists, and professionals.
Some examples of digital PR are:
- Influencer marketing
- Press release sharing
- Relationship building
For instance, if you’ve launched a new product, probably the best way to get the word out about it is by publishing a press release.
And while doing that, you can also attract some super-high-quality backlinks.
Create Linkable Assets
Google recommends content pieces that naturally attract backlinks.
These include infographics, ultimate guides, how-to articles, and anything that packs a lot of value.
Long-form content tends to be shareable, which makes it a great link magnet.
But, what type of linkable assets should you create for your website?
Understand your target audience and see what your competitors are doing.
For instance, if you’re working in the SEO niche, try creating infographics on sub-topics.
But, remember that people only want to share unique content, so you want to avoid repetition.
Now, attracting links naturally with long-form content is a great long-term strategy, but it simply isn’t enough.
You want to be proactive in your approach and use other effective link building strategies as well.
Regain Missing Links
In addition to working on new link building strategies, trying to regain the lost ones is also worth spending time on.
Do a quick backlink analysis with your favorite SEO tool and see which backlinks have gone missing.
Backlinks can go missing for several reasons:
- The site owner replaced it with a different one
- The page was deleted
- The site is down temporarily
Only the site owner can tell you the exact reason.
So, if you find a broken link, reach out to them and ask for the details.
If it’s not possible to recover the link, ask them to add your link to a different page.
Unlinked Brand Mentions
Unlinked brand mentions are one of the quickest ways to build backlinks.
When someone mentions your brand on their website, they already know about your brand.
Therefore, you won’t have to do a lot to convince them for a backlink.
But, how do you know when someone mentions your brand?
Use a tool like “Brand Mentions”.
Or, you can use Semrush’s Brand Monitoring tool.
Analyze these brand mentions and filter out the ones that aren’t linking to your site.
Next, simply reach out with a request to add your link.
However, make sure the article sentiment is “Positive” or “Favorable” towards your brand.
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Link Building Methods: FAQs
What is Link Building Techniques?
Link building techniques are strategies marketers use to build backlinks to their websites. Some of the best link building techniques include guest posting, broken link building, and HARO.
What are the Different Types of Link Building?
One popular link building example is guest posting. Other types of link building methods are broken link building, HARO link building, infographics, content creation, networking, and more. Most of these methods involve outreach and relationship building.
What is the Best Link Building Approach?
Creating high-quality, link-worthy content regularly is one of the best link building practices. However, it’s important to not stick with one method and use a variety of ways to acquire high-quality backlinks.
What Should You Avoid in a Link Building?
Avoid black hat tactics like using an anchor text too many times, using link farms, and building toxic links. Avoid working on shady tactics that could potentially harm your site’s SEO.
Conclusion
Link building doesn’t have to be hard. The 8 link building tactics we shared above work for all websites.
- Guest posting
- Broken link building
- HARO link building
- Reverse engineering
- Digital PR
- Creating linkable assets
- Regain missing links
- Unlinked brand mentions
Now, some of them might be better than others. But, you can’t tell without executing them one by one.
So, test each links strategy, see which one works for you, and scale your efforts from that point onwards.
Plus, make sure to diversify your strategy links to maintain a balanced profile.
Lastly, here’s a quick recap of the three-step link building process:
- Start by finding a list of websites you want links from
- Reach out to the right person with a well-crafted email pitch
- Send a follow-up email as a reminder, emphasizing the benefits of working together
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