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Tiered Link Building: The Good and The Ugly

In Link Building 9 Mins Read

By now, you’ve already known that not all backlinks are made equal and that’s because there are various different ways to make them. One is through a strategy called tiered link building. It can be a great addition to your campaigns, it can also be the worst. Understand what it brings to the table and whether or not it is the right one for you.

Before everything else, the first step is understanding what tiered link building pertains to. The concept of backlinks is that you have sites mention your link on theirs. Those sites are called first tier links. In most cases, link builders settle with only that. However, you can progress it even more.

The idea of tiered link building is that you create links not just for your sites, but for the sites where you are being linked. So, those first-tier links? You find ways to create links for them. Those sites are then called second-tier links, and those who mention them are then called third tier links.

You end up having a tree of links wherein those on the bottom support the ones on the top. The idea is that it is hard to come up with first-tier links, ones that involve guest posting and other laborious but quality efforts. So, best case scenario, you can only get a handful of them. What you do instead is find lower quality but cheaper link building opportunities to support first-tier links to further grow their rank, in turn, growing the rank of your original backlink as well.

By definition, tiered link building sounds complicated, and it is. Compared to the basic approach of link building, it requires a lot more steps. However, it is not all for nothing. Other than the benefit of growing your SEO rank, tiered link building brings several other things to the table as well.

The reason why tiered link building is even a thing is because of financial constraints. Putting up guest posts on high-ranking sites can get expensive. One may not be a problem, but in link building, you need to have a lot in order to make an impact on your SEO rank. That’s when money becomes a problem.

While first-tier links are expensive, second- and third-tier ones are significantly cheaper. You can buy them a dime a dozen. Though, they may not have the same SEO effect that first-tier links have, they make it up with quantity.

Easily Cut Risks

Since most of your links are not directly connected to your site, it is easy to cut them off when those backlinks do go bad. For example, you don’t necessarily have to address links going bad one-by-one. Instead, you just have to go a tier up and cut every single one off.

What you gain out from this is that you can cut your losses as early as possible without compromising the rest of your links. You also save the time of having to go through every single one.

More Room for Error

You already know that black-hat links are strongly frowned upon by Google. Dubious efforts to grow links are immediately filtered and penalized. You can even get your main site deindexed for it.

With tiered link building, you no longer have to worry about that. Since most of your links are not connected to your main site, you don’t get to experience the full consequences of your experimentation and mistakes. So, you are able to take more risks, because who knows, that one leap of faith can bring you the SEO success you need.

Links were factored in Google’s search engine algorithm because the logic makes sense. If a link is frequently mentioned then it just means that it is of high quality and reputation. Therefore, it should come out first when certain keywords are searched. Google had no intention for people to exploit this with link building strategies.

Generally, there is no approved way of link building. All types fall under the category of manipulation and Google doesn’t like that. Even those legitimate guest posts? Those are still not accepted. That’s why Google discretely specifies that link building strategies may negatively affect SEO rankings. Emphasis on the word “may”, because it’s just a matter of being caught.

Guest posting doesn’t get caught because it is hard to filter out which is link building and which ones aren’t. In the same context, tiered link building provides variation that makes it impossible for a search engine to find a discernable pattern that they can flag as manipulation. Therefore, your backlink becomes more believable and is able to hold more value.

It’s all good and great with tiered link building, up until now. Honestly, there is no perfectly great strategy. If there was, it would be significantly easier to create backlinks.

Instead, what you have are strategies that have their fair share of bad things, the same way that they have good features. It can be the best for you if you use them the right way, but also can be the worst if you don’t consider their disadvantages. So, here are what tiered link building delivers on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Marginal Improvements

The key points here is that you are not directly supporting your main site and that you are using cheaper forms of backlinks. Put those two things together and what you have is a strategy that doesn’t greatly contribute to your main backlinks.

This is not to say that tiered link building is useless, you just have to set your expectations. It only functions as an aid to further improve your rank when all else has been done. With that said, this doesn’t stand as a singular strategy that you can live with, but a final step to further magnify results, no matter how miniscule that may be. Because small improvements are better than no improvement at all.

Risk of Heavy Penalties

One of the key benefits of tiered link building is the ability to have more room for error so you can experiment better. However, that doesn’t mean that you should go all out without any regard for consequences. The functional word here is “more”, not entirely have all the room for error.

While the ability to experiment is there, you still need to practice it with caution. Don’t push tiered link building to its limits. Because, at the end of the day, there is still the potential of dubious link building activities to be traced back to your main site and that could cause you to get deindexed. The worst kind of penalty.

It Can Be Short-Lived

If you are not too careful, you might be finding yourself investing too much on cheap links. While you have the capacity to evade the potential consequences, you can’t escape losing all the progress you have made.

Remember that cheap and dubious link strategies don’t last forever. Their effects are mostly short-lived before they get caught and filtered out. So, going back, tiered link building is not a general link building strategy you can enforce by itself. Because at some point, the positive effects to your SEO rank are bound to reverse itself sooner or later.

The question now is, what counts as tier one links? When you are looking at creating tier one links, these are going to be ones that are directly connected to your site. As a result, they should have the most quality.

In general, these are your regular backlinks that deliver the most quality. The ones you get from guest posting, creating quality content, and the likes.

It is in second-tiered links that link building gets more relaxed. You no longer have to capitalize on content or quality sites. Though, that doesn’t mean that you can use spam websites.

You still need to use high authority websites, but you no longer need to put the link alongside content. You can simply squeeze them in where ever they can fit, as long as it is not spammy in nature. Among the places you can put them includes article directories, profile links, and social bookmarks.

Everything that doesn’t fall in either the first- or second-tiered links is categorized as a tier three link. It is the most relaxed as it doesn’t follow any form of quality or standard. To be frank, it is the lowest type of link and is mostly frowned upon by search engines. However, they are going to be the cheapest you can find. Again, buying them a dime a dozen.

Automatically generated blog comments, poor quality directories, and bookmark websites are just some examples of tier three links. They have the least impact and are likely going to be filtered our or not even be indexed, so they have to be by the thousands in order to be effective.

In Conclusion

Tiered link building is not something worth investing too much on, but it is also not something you can ignore. While it has its fair share of downsides, it also brings a lot to the table. So, at the end of the day, you need to completely understand how it can affect your needs and whether or not it is the right one for you.

In most cases, you are going to need tiered link building. Not so much as an overall link building strategy, but an additive to maximize the potential of your campaigns. Because no matter how little it may be, it can make all the difference in your link building success.

If you think that there is just too much to remember and learn, you don’t necessarily have to give up. What you need is the assistance of the best digital marketing agency to guide you from start to finish. So, contact us today for a free strategy consultation.

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Link Building Experts Share Their Real and Effective Tactics

In Link Building 7 Mins Read

While it is easy to go to Google and search what link building is and how to do it, it is beyond that. It is a technical skill that needs to be mastered and there are actually experts on the field. So, who better to listen to but the link building experts to know what’s right from wrong and where you should put your efforts on.

Target High Domain Authority Sites Within Your Industry

Link Building Expert: Adam Franklin, Bluewire Media

If you want to have the most results, Adam says that you need to target getting links from high domain sites. In his own words, “it will move the needle the most when it comes to getting a better Google rank”.

It’s true. Search engine algorithms put more consideration on links that are placed on high domain websites. However, it shouldn’t just be high ranking, it should also be related to your industry. It is important to remember that the relevance of the content of your backlink and where it is being backlinked plays an impact on your SEO rank.

Link Building Expert: Jeremy Moser, uSERP

Truth be told, as a new website, it is close to impossible to have your backlinks in high domain sites. So, according to Jeremy, you shouldn’t aim too high at the start. Instead, domains with rankings between 50-75 should be your go to.

Being approved by these sites are much more likely. So, you are increasing your approval rate, as well as gradually growing your reputation. In the future, this compounded progress will open new doors for you and that includes becoming closer and more likely to be published by larger publications.

Offer Value When Reaching Out

Link Building Expert: Brian Dean, Backlinko

One of the most common ways to create links is through reaching out to sites. But according to statistics, around 90% of outreach goes unanswered. As a matter of fact, only 8% become successful. So, where do people go wrong?

The question isn’t so much as what people are doing wrong, but what these websites already have had enough. You aren’t the only person pitching an idea, there are tens of thousands of you. So, these websites no longer see any real value to the majority of the content being pitched.

According to Brian, it is time to make a shift. Instead of trying to persuade sites that you have value, proceed to ones where the value of your content is apparent. Because real value doesn’t need to be proved.

He says that hunting for broken links should be the new outreach. When you reach out to someone and tell them that you can substitute something better for a link that no longer works, the value of what you have to offer is immediately apparent. So, your approval rate is much higher, plus it still counts as quality links just like any other.

Link Building Expert: Alllstair Dodds, Ever Increasing Circles

On the concept of deadlinks, Alllstair expounds on the idea. He says that deadlinks shouldn’t just be substituted with new functional links. Instead, it is better to check what those deadlinks looked before they disappeared and put in place ones that are closely similar.

The concept behind it is that it creates for better quality links that are translated and accepted better by search engine algorithms.

Give and Take

Link Building Expert: Lesley Vos, Bid 4 Papers

As a website, you want your backlink to be placed on a different site. Conversely, there are also going to be sites who want their links to be placed on yours. And according to Lesley, don’t be too selfish when it comes to that.

Link building is give and take. As much as you want to put your links in quality sites, you must also put links from quality sites on to yours if they ask. That way, you create exceptional relations and connections which you can use in the future.

According to her, it’s just simple psychology. When you say yes to offers, it will be hard for them to say no when it is your time to ask for a favor. So, spreading your links will no longer be that hard and can be done with as simple as a moment’s notice.

Link Building Expert: Sara McGuire, Venngage

Most link building failure stems from the fact that marketers are too keen on creating links alone. They pull out their contacts book and then burn through each contact one-by-one. According to Sara, instead of prioritizing links, creating relationships should be what comes first.

When you ask a site for a backlink, the immediate response would always be no. It’s either they are not open to the opportunity or they don’t have any to offer. With that said, it’s always going to be more of a miss because you need to rely on luck that by the time you reach out, everything is in your favor. That the site is need of backlinks or have an opportunity they can bargain with.

On the other hand, if you concentrate on building a relationship, like understanding one another’s product and asking if they would be open to a partnership, it is easier to find opportunities for one another. There may not be any as of the moment, but since you have established that the two of you can benefit from each other, you’ll be running back to one another when the time is ripe.

Leverage on What You Already Have

Link Building Expert: Britney Muller, Moz

The very first thing that link builders do is pull out their contacts list and start outreaching. According to Britney, it’s such a common response that one of the easiest ways to create links is overlooked and that is reaching out to contacts that are already readily available.

Your client (if you are a link builder) or you already have connections within the industry you are working with. Either you have partners or acquaintances, people who already know you. If there is someone who can do you a favor, it’s going to be these people.

So, why reach out to strangers who are likely going to be skeptical with your offer? When you can approach close contacts that are going to give you what you want?

All these advices come from people who have worked in the link building industry. They have practiced what they preached and they have seen the results. It’s no longer a matter of theory that needs to be tested, but real-world applications that have been proven.

With that said, if there is a fast way to exponentially reach success with link building, it’s listening to these advices. You no longer have to come up with a strategy from nothing. You can use all of these in your favor to come up with an effective campaign. When you save yourself from the burden of trial and error, it all becomes a matter of reaping the results.

There are seven mentioned here, but there are a lot more experts out there, each with different advices and opinions. You can’t come to them one-by-one and internalize everything they have to say. But you know what’s better than listening to the experts? It’s having them actually help you with your link building endeavors. So, contact us today for a free strategy consultation.

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Outsource Link Building: When to, When Not to, and How

In Link Building 14 Mins Read

What is link building? If you are on the path of SEO success, it is something that you have mastered in its core essence. However, mastery of its concepts doesn’t necessarily mean mastery in its application. What may be simple on paper is actually hard in real life. So, you might be running to one of the easier choices available and that is to outsource link building.

It can be tempting to outsource link building. There are indeed a lot of benefits to it. Though, it is not a shortcut, but instead, it is or is not the right one for you. So, when do you know that it is time to seek the services of an agency?

Before you jump on the internet and begin your hunt for the best agency to outsource your link building, first check if you are within any of these categories. Because you don’t want to make use of something when it is not necessarily the right one for your needs.

When You Are on A Budget

The first and most important reason why you would want to outsource link building is with your available budget. No doubt that link building is a costly pursuit, especially if you do it manually and by yourself. There are a lot of things to do, along with hiring the right people with the right skills for the job.

When you outsource, you get yourself somebody who is both experience and well-equipped with the tasks at hand. You also no longer need to provide the necessary resources such as link building tools. So, in every aspect, it is much cheaper than running your own personal in-house team.

Link building is an investment for your SEO success. And you know how important SEO is when it comes to marketing and the success of your business overall. With all that, what you want are fast progress and immediate results.

If you outsource your link building, there is a high chance that you will get the progress you are looking for. Since they already have the experience, skills, and connections, it is much easier to acquire the necessary links.

Compare that to creating your own team that still needs to come up with your own strategy, creating important relations with different niches and industries, and having to know what is the right way to pitch an idea that will get you high approval rates from websites.

When You Need A Professional That Can Help Your Overall Team

Okay, you know what link building is, but there is a lot more to it than you would expect. There are white label link building, black links, cheap links, free links, and so much more. Knowing the definition of link building isn’t enough, you also need to have insight and practice to uncover everything.

However, you can’t necessarily have that when you don’t know where to begin. That’s why you hire an outsourcing agency so that you have someone who is skilled on board. Through your journey, you are able to understand and further expand your knowledge about link building, along with your own personal team. As a result, you are able to have better informed decisions in regards to link building strategies. Compare that to diving into link building without any sort of guide.

Because outsourcing link building is so attractive, a lot of people tend to jump into it. However, little do they know, it is not for everybody. In the end, they spend money over something that doesn’t reap the same number of results.

What this means is that it is important to know when to say that it is not the right one for you. When you are able to identify your situation, you can opt for a much better alternative. Or, you could adjust your situation to make outsourcing the most effective strategy for your link building success.

You Don’t Have Any Real SEO Strategy

Whether you like it or not, link building and SEO are like peas and carrots. One cannot exist without the other. More specifically, link building is a crucial element in SEO. There is no other reason why you are going to want to do link building but for SEO success.

So, it would be useless to try to build your links when your goal is not about improving your SEO ranking. If your only goal is to spread links and not so much to grow your SEO rank, you are better off not seeking an outsourcing agency.

To make the most out of outsourced link building, it should be paired with the right and effective SEO strategies.

When You Want Something Strictly Followed

As the owner of your website or business, nobody knows it better than you. Your opinion and decision matters. However, you also need to consider that outsourcing agencies are experts in their field. They know what’s right from wrong when it comes to link building, whether you believe them or not.

So, if you want to uphold your own opinions and criteria, you are better off hiring your own team. There is no purpose of hiring an experienced team if you are not going to listen to them. Or have them concentrate on something you believe is right but doesn’t actually make any real impact.

If you want them to put all their attention on certain websites like blogs or social media pages, use certain type of content, or limit their use of the right keyword and effective website placement, you are better off hiring your own team instead.

No Time to Communicate with The Agency

As mentioned, nobody knows your business like you do. So, while it is the agency that does most of the leg work, you still need to put in your assessment and input on the matter. Otherwise, the experts working on creating your links wouldn’t know if they are targeting the right industries and gaining results that will be most beneficial to your business.

So, if you don’t have time to reorganize with your hired team, you are not making the most out of them. In turn, that means you are just making an investment on something that is not bound to be the best choice for you.

No Immediate Budget

Despite the cheaper option, budget is still an issue when it comes to outsource link building. Because link building is a constant pursuit, and not so much a singular goal that can be achieved within a month, most agencies will seek long-term contracts as they see fit.

When a month-to-month basis is not what you have, it can demand a huge lump of money up front. So, when you don’t have any financial reserves to currently pay for your investment, might as well opt with slowly building up your team from scratch.

So, you’ve ruled out that outsourcing your link building needs is what’s right for you. With that, the next step would be choosing the right agency. Take heed, not all are going to be the same. Some are going to promise great results but don’t have any workflow in place. There are going to be ones that promise a cheap price, but in return, they deliver cheap links as well.

You must stir away from these “agencies” that would do you more harm than good. Because in reality, there are a lot who would take the shortcut just to make the most profit out of your investment. So, how do you make sure you stir clear of them? Just follow these reminders.

Ask for Work Samples (Track Records)

These agencies can lie to your face and you would have no idea if what they are saying is true. However, there is one thing you can check and it is going to be undeniable. That is their work or track record. Ask for it. Demand for the websites where they link, samples of their links, and so on.

You can check a lot of things, but there are two main ones that you should make sure to keep an eye on.

  1. Quality of post and the website itself – are they using marketing websites or spam websites? Make sure they are using sites that are real and functional, ones that hold SEO value.
  2. Quality of the content – where do they put the links? Is it infused in an ad banner? Or is it a post that is only less than one hundred words long? Make sure that there isn’t just content for the sake of having one, but real content that holds value that will be searched and the link is naturally included inside it.

If an agency promises great results, they should also be able to back it up with how they get it. It’s common sense. You can’t guarantee results if you don’t have a standardized workflow in place.

Among the questions you should be asking are:

  • What is the setup?
  • What do they do first up until the last step?
  • How do they track campaign progress and everything else?
  • How do they come up and present their pitches?

Talk About Budget and Fees

If only you have all the money you can spend, then there wouldn’t be any problem. But in reality, that is not the case. You are working with a limited budget and you want to make sure that you spend the least amount but with the highest return.

So, when it comes to choosing to outsource link building, discussing about budget and fees should be one of the top priorities. You don’t want to put your money on something that you can get for less. You also don’t want to defeat the purpose of link building if you are spending more on something that is expected to not have that much of an impact on the overall goal of your business.

Be wary of hidden fees. What you pay up front may not entirely be everything. Some agencies have additional charges depending on the situation that comes up and demands you additionally make down the road. So, make sure you know and agree to all of this instead of being met with a massive bill that could compromise all of your marketing strategies.

Don’t underestimate the time and effort needed to acquire links. They may just be words on a website, but it is not easy to make them happen. You have to do the research, find relevant sites, market to the right people, and make sure to manage all your communications.

Realistically speaking, it is impossible to make links for $20 or less, and that is already a conservative number. If you are looking at real quality links, $50 is not going to be enough.

With that said, be wary if you are offered with these prices. Ask yourself, where do you think they are cutting corners to pack so much work in a small price? You may be looking at spam link building approaches rather than legitimate and SEO worthy results.

Depending on your needs, search for the right contract duration. Are you a beginner and have no link building output and strategies in place? Then, opting for a long-term contract would be best. Let a team mold everything from start to finish for the best results, instead of repeatedly changing teams.

However, when you are continuing from where you have left off or have strategies in place, you are going to want a month-to-month program. You just want help when you need it and additional insight and input to fill in strategical gaps in your link building campaigns.

As mentioned, when you outsource link building, you are handing over the work to an experienced team. However, that doesn’t mean you no longer have to face them ever again. It is your business and website, and you know what its nature and goals are. If you want to see the best implementation and results, it is going to require something from you.

So, here are the best practices you should follow.

Set Ground Rules

The agency knows what to do, but at the same time, you also have some ideas on what to and not to do. Instead of having to correct a strategy in the middle of it, set ground rules in the beginning so everything can proceed smoothly.

In this part, you are able to let your team know what you are trying to avoid and the general market you are targeting. Because, nobody knows the industry you are working on other than yourself.

Maybe you want some websites to be avoided? Or you have preferred communication channels? How about your opinion regarding sponsored content? You might even also want to review pitches, topics, and contents before they roll out.

Remember that link building is not too far off from marketing. It is an approach that takes time and does not reap results the next day. What this means is that it is hard to put a value on what you have achieved and immediately calculate the ROI.

Don’t be one of those people who are always on the look for progress. Instead, be patient and set realistic expectations. It is not fast nor immediate, you are going to have to wait and that means not having accurate numbers right there and then.

When you know what’s possible or not, you are able to determine much more effectively if you are succeeding or not. You are also able to implement next steps that are realistically viable. Because if everything is always out of reach, you are going to be in a perpetual cycle of believing you are failing. And that doesn’t help you make informed decisions.

Help with The Project (Especially in The Beginning)

As they say, starting is always the hardest part. And in order for the agency to get off its feet and have everything running, they need to be consistently in contact with you. They need to know what your opinions are, target market, preferred strategies, and everything else.

Even the professionals themselves need a little guidance from the client (you). Not only that, how you start your link building will ultimately tell what direction you will go to. So not only is starting the hardest part, it is also the most crucial part.

Emphasize What Your Long-Term Plans Are

It’s hard to come up with strategies when time is not being factored into the picture. If you are looking for long-term contracts with your agency, you should make it a point to discuss what you aim to achieve. During a specified time frame, what should have been done and when should the next steps be implemented.

Knowing what you want to have plays a huge role in ensuring that you are staying on track. It also helps you have identifiable and reachable goals instead of just link building aimlessly. Remember, you are doing this for a purpose, so make sure to define that purpose both short-term and long-term.

At the End of The Day…

We know what you are thinking, that sure is a lot to remember. And it should be, link building is at the core of SEO. If there is one thing that is going to affect your SEO rank greatly, it’s going to be link building. So, it is going to take every hammer and nail to build it up from the ground.

However, the hardest part is always the beginning. As time goes on, everything becomes a routine and a part of a workflow that will help you reach the goals you aim to achieve. Before then, you just need to take one step after another and learn every step of the way.

Now, if you really find it difficult to choose the right link building agency, then you can always seek out one that has been tested and proven. So, contact us today for a free strategy consultation. As a digital marketing agency, you don’t just get to outsource link building, you also get help for all your digital marketing needs from start to finish.

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Free Backlinks VS Paid Backlinks: Everything You Need to Know

In Link Building 7 Mins Read

The concept of link building can be simple on the surface, but when you dwell deeper, that’s when things start to get more complicated. One of the concepts you are going to come by are free backlinks. You’d wonder what they are. You’d start to question if there are paid backlinks. All of that will be answered here.

What makes the concept of free backlinks complicated is that there is no singular definition for it. It can encompass all backlinks that are gained through organic means. Though, it can also account for services which guarantees to deliver free backlinks.

So, the first step to completely understanding free backlinks is knowing what it could possibly pertain to. Here are some key points in regards to this topic.

One of the most common ways to earn backlinks is through organic means. You don’t pay anybody or any website, you simply capitalize on the quality of your backlink. As a result, sites have the tendency to naturally link to you, whether you ask them or not. No sponsorship involved or any exchange of money. In the end, your backlinks appear naturally on the site that uses it.

While it may not technically be free because you have to spend on improving the quality of your backlink and marketing it, the site integrates it naturally as it is their personal choice. They don’t associate it with a paid ad or whatsoever.

The vagueness of the term “free backlinks” has been exploited by a number of services. So, if you look around, you are going to find generators to claim to deliver free backlinks. This doesn’t immediately mean that they are bad, instead, be wary of how they try to achieve this.

Some services claim that they have a huge database of influencers and vloggers that would immediately use your backlink into their site. Others have a more technical explanation how they do this, like squeezing your link into website evaluations that are being indexed online. The former is credible and could be a possible choice, but the latter is no different from spreading your backlink wherever it can be squeezed even if it has no real function.

Since there are free backlinks, does that mean that there are paid ones too? Yes. And just like free backlinks, there is vagueness to the word. So, here are some key concepts to remember about it.

Be wary of services that for a price, they will get your backlinks into different websites. In most cases, your backlink is not going to be used in a way that will deliver quality. You’d be looking at your link being integrated into an ad banner, inserted into a random comment on a random website, or even simply squeezed into a spam website.

In most cases, paid backlinks concentrate more on quantity rather than on quality. It aims to spread your link throughout the internet through every means possible, without actually considering its actual purpose.

At the end of the day, you are not just spending on something that will not reap any results. You are even looking at detrimental effects because links of these kind are flagged by search engines, consequently negatively affecting your ranking which you are supposed to be growing.

Are there any good paid backlinks? While generally, paid backlinks are discouraged by Google, there are still ones that can escape the search engine’s algorithm.

One way is to create quality content and pay a related website to publish it. While it involves an exchange of cash, your backlink is placed strategically and properly on a content which means that it holds value that will contribute to your SEO ranking. Also, there is no way for a search engine to know that there is any money involved because your backlink is naturally published into the website.

Which are better? Paid or free backlinks? Neither. The important thing to keep in mind is that a backlink should be naturally placed and holds quality in order to make any real SEO contribution. You can use different link building tools to analyze your backlinks. So, it doesn’t matter if it is technically free or paid.

The next question is, how can you grow your backlinks without having to subscribe to any service? Here are the five ways to do so.

The quality of your backlink determines whether you are worth linking to. No matter how much you pay websites, if the content in your backlink doesn’t hold any value, they are not bound to accept your offer. However, if your backlink does contribute to their website, you don’t even have to put up an offer.

Because link building is a two-way process. It doesn’t just benefit you, but also the website that will publish your backlink. So, it will be hard for them to resist if you are giving them something that can help them.

Reach Out to Different Websites

The best kind of free backlink is the one that sites use naturally on their own. When they need a source and you are one that is credible for them to use. However, if you just wait for this to happen, it is going to take a lot of time before you could grow your SEO ranking.

To speed things up, take the time to reach out to websites. Introduce to them something that they are likely going to be searching for. Because they no longer have to look far if you put it in front of them.

Repurpose Content

Do you have an article? Great. You can reach out to websites and have them publish it with your backlink. But how about for websites that are more inclined towards other types of content? Should you just miss those opportunities?

What you can do instead is repurpose your content. Convert it to something that is compatible with the needs of different sites. For example, turn that article into an infographic, audio book, or a video.

Use Social Media

If there is one place you can put your backlink by yourself, it’s social media. Make posts and reach out to other pages to do the same and you can easily grow your total number of backlinks.

While there may be arguments whether or not social media backlinks affect SEO ranking, according to recent research, at some extent, it definitely does. When your post goes viral, it is more likely to come up on the first page as opposed to when it wasn’t.

Create High-Value Comments

Putting your backlink in comments in related websites that is accompanied with quality discussion doesn’t count as quality backlinks that will affect your SEO ranking. Instead, its purpose is entirely for marketing and outreach.

When you engage in an intellectual conversation and use your backlink as a source of your knowledge, you increase the chances of getting new visitors. You never know which ones are going to use your backlink on their page or site.

The Final Verdict

No doubt that link building is a complicated and wide topic. What you can do is tackle one concept after another until you get the full grasp of its entirety. While it may be difficult and a long pursuit, at some point, you are going to reach the end and be finally able to call yourself an expert on the matter.

While you still aren’t, keep a close eye on paid and free backlinks because you never know which ones are going to be the most beneficial for your pursuit. At the end of the day, what you want are only the ones that will make a positive impact on your SEO ranking.

Do you want to speed up the entire process? Can’t risk to trust the process and rely on trial and error? Fortunately, you have a choice and that is with the help of the best digital marketing agency. If you need the assistance, contact us today for a free strategy consultation just right for your needs.

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The Best Link Building Tools You Should Get Your Hands On!

In Link Building 17 Mins Read

Everybody needs a little bit of help here and there, especially if it is regarding acquiring high quality links. Because the task is no walk in the park, it is a complicated process that needs some time to master and get used to. With your business desperately in need of immediate success and exposure, that help comes in the form of link building tools.

Don’t get that smile just yet, because you’ll be greeted by a lot of them as soon as you make your search. While the more options there are, the better, when it starts to get overwhelming and confusing, it becomes more of a hassle than a help.

Fortunately, you don’t have to try and test out every single one for yourself in order to know what’s best. Because out of the hundreds to thousands available tools, we narrowed them down to ten. It is then up to you to know which one works best for your budget and needs.

1.      Linkody

When you are just in the middle, not too advanced and need something more than basic, Linkody is something you should be looking it. It might be simpler than most link building tools out there, but it is capable of all the necessary features. You can track links, analyze backlinks, and manage all links and domains.

If there is one thing to enjoy about this tool, it is simplicity. You don’t have to look far and wide for the features you need to use. They are all laid out intuitively and accessibly with a click of a button.

Another thing worth mentioning is the fact that this has a 30-day trial period. It asks nothing, so you can try it risk-free. At least, you will be able to test out the waters if it is the right tool for you, before committing and making an investment.

Pricing:

$14.90/month

Something to Lookout For:

With all the good things said, you should be wary of the limited features it brings. In most cases, you’d be able to work enough with the available choices, but keep in mind that the tool is unable to identify link-building opportunities or to reach out for links.

Putting the good and the bad together, this tool is best when it comes to people who are neither a beginner or a professional in link building. It has enough features that are easy to use and for a cheap and flexible pricing option.

2.      Ahrefs

They say, leave the best for last. But this one is too great to wait. If there is one tool that makes rounds around the internet for being a great link building tool, it’s Ahrefs.

If you are looking for an all-in-one tool that you can use for all your SEO strategies, not just link building, this is what you should pick. Because despite the expansive range of link building features, it also has a lot that concentrates on SEO. That includes rank tracking, keyword research tool, and even a SEO site audit feature.

Only interested with link building? It won’t disappoint you with its end-to-end link building capabilities and bulk analysis. To say the least, it has everything you need and more, so you will surely be left learning new productivity tools that will help your website further succeed.

Since this is such a great tool with various features, it is hard to say what to like the most, because there are so many. One is the link intersect feature which allows you to identify websites that are using different links, except yours. This allows you to know which websites to put your link into and identify your competition.

If that isn’t enough, be ready to sort your pages based on their link growth. It makes it extremely easy to know which ones are effectively growing.

Pricing:

$99 – $999/month

Something to Lookout For:

The tool is so great that it is hard to find a flaw. It is one of the pioneers in the field so they have perfected it for their clients. But if you really need to look out for something, that would be the price. Because, it can easily get expensive the more features you add.

As they say, if you want an all-in-one tool, get Ahrefs. And that is true. If you are working with various tools and that includes working with SEO, you are better off getting this one. Not only are you greeted with more features than you would get anywhere else, it is also easy to use.

3.      JustReachOut

Are you having problems whom to reach out? It’s one thing to know that link building is about approaching the right websites, and another to know what those websites actually are. Fortunately, JustReachOut makes that a lot simpler by providing an updated list of journalists and influencers that you can reach out to.

The name of the tool emphasizes its purpose, making link building easier by just having to reach out. However, as you would know, the limitation is with personalities, nothing more. So, while it may be of huge help, don’t treat it like a perfect tool.

While the purpose of the tool is to reach out, you don’t necessarily have to annoy journalists. There is a feature that allows you to search for source requests. What this means is that you are able to know what journalists want so you can reach out to ones who have an inclination towards you.

That paired with the inbuilt CRM makes this more than a niche tool, but rather something that you can use frequently. One way or the other, it will come in handy more frequently than you would expect.

Pricing:

$159/month

Something to Lookout For:

Looking at the price, it is not the most expensive out there. Considering the features, it’s not so much of a loss either. You might even say that it’s a bargain. However, look again, your monthly bill is billed annually. So, you need to pay for a year’s worth, which makes it more expensive than the others on this list.

So, unless you are willing to commit and use this tool for a very long time. You might be better off reevaluating your choices.

A niche product that requires long-term commitment to use. It is perfect for people who are looking to capitalize on journalists and influencers on their link-building strategies, it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional. Though, it would help beginners the most, people who don’t have any form of connection just yet.

Another pioneer in the SEO and link building game is Moz. You should never doubt what this brings to the table because it is in the level of Ahrefs.

You are looking at what every link building tool can bring and that includes backlink profile analysis, link opportunities, identify and remove bad links, and repair broken links.

If you have any particular need, the Moz Link Explorer will surely be able to provide for that. It has all the features you are going to ever need to effectively grow your links.

Just like any great all-in-one link building tool, it is hard to find the best thing to like about this tool. But if there is something that makes it stand out, it should be the ability to know what websites are linking to a competition. Imagine, you can type in a website and know where the link is being mentioned. When you know where your competition is, it is fairly easy to know where you should strive to put your links next.

Pricing:

$99/month

Something to Lookout For:

While Moz is an astounding tool already, if you compare it to Ahrefs, there is one thing to remember: it is a distant second from it. Why? The link database of Moz is much smaller than that of Ahrefs. So, if that is your priority, you should prefer it over Moz, otherwise, you’ll be disappointed.

The people who are using Ahrefs are going to be the ones who’ll consider Moz Link Explorer. Those who know their link building strategies and tools. It can be professionals as well as those in the middle. Not entirely the best for beginners, but after a little learning curve, it is easy to get used to.

5.      BuzzStream

The backbone of link building is outreach. You can’t earn links of you don’t reach out to websites. BuzzStream aims to alleviate that struggle with its features. Because, for the most part, it is an outreach platform. Instead of having to scour the internet to find who to contact for a specific website, you can just search it in the software.

Since it concentrates on outreach, it is optimized for that specific purpose. You are going to experience comprehensive and intuitive management for every outreach you’ve ever made. There is a compilation of all the emails sent and your position regarding a certain link opportunity.

The great thing about BuzzStream is the wide range of flexibility you get in terms of outreach. For example, you can track and categorize a contact whether they are someone you have marketed to, agreed to a link, or you’ve been rejected. You can even create templates for your outreach emails to make it more effective to whom you are trying to convince.

Pricing:

$24/month

Something to Lookout For:

While it is an excellent outreach tool, it doesn’t do anything else. There aren’t many bells and whistles to this when it comes to other link building features. What that means is that you might need a different tool for everything else. So, be wary about that. This is not going to be an all-in-one tool and it wasn’t intended for such purpose.

Is this for you? With its intuitive setup and easy-to-use features, whether you are a beginner or a professional, this can be the right tool for you. However, if you are looking for more advanced capabilities, you might need to look elsewhere.

6.      NinjaOutreach

From its name, this tool is another one of those outreach-centric link building tools. There are a lot of them you’d say, but that’s the core essence of link building. It’s all about reaching out to as many websites as possible to have them use your link.

What sets this apart from the others is that it is more centered towards relevant influencers. Not only that, it has a huge database of them, more than any other. To give you a perspective, it is in the millions. So, if you are looking to have an influencer use your link, you are bound to find them in this tool.

Using influencers to create links is mostly seen as not great because their presence is dominantly in social media. However, with this tool, you are able to find ones that have a website. You can even evaluate their site to know whether or not they are worth your time. Be able to know the domain authority, page authority, and number of backlinks before reaching out to an influencer.

Pricing:

$299/month ($119/month when paid annually)

Something to Lookout For:

You are getting quality service for a tool like this. Imagine getting a hold of millions of influencers in one place and be able to know whether or not they are worth your investment. Though, that comes with a price. The tool is much more costly than the rest that do similar work. So, if you don’t necessarily need the extensive database it offers, better find a much cheaper alternative.

With an interface that is simple to use and features that are easy to understand, even a beginner is not going to find it hard to use. However, only those more experienced and know what their link building strategies are will be the ones who can make the most out of the range of options it provides.

Are you tired of searching for potential websites that can link to you? Worry not because Link Prospector is here. Its name is indicative of what it does. It helps you prospect for sites that can potentially use your link.

What makes it great to use is it has a lot of link building opportunities you can use. That includes sponsorship opportunities, link addition opportunities, and many more. There are even hundreds of pre-made search strings built into the tool so that you only have to input relevant keywords and it will narrow down the most applicable choices for you.

If all the comprehensive link prospecting service still doesn’t content you, there is one last thing that will blow your mind. Unlike searching in Google where you get returned with thousands of results which you have to scour through one-by-one, there is a ranking system that allows you to immediately choose the ones most relevant to your link.

Pricing:

$47/month

Something to Lookout For:

Confusing is an understatement to describe the entire tool. There is a lot to take note and there definitely is a learning curve to be aware of.

It is one of the cheaper tools out there, but it isn’t entirely meant for beginners. As a matter of fact, it is intended for full-time link builders and SEO agencies. So, newbies, stir clear from this tool since it might get too complicated and become more of a hassle rather than a help to your link building strategy.

8.      Pitchbox

Mainly functioning as an influencer outreach tool, Pitchbox is not something to be taken lightly. It allows you to reach out to top influencers with ease, along with searching for the right link building opportunities.

Does it end there? There is something that makes it worth the investment and that is its specialization towards SEO. Take note, it is integrated with SEO tools so you can pull out metrics for link vetting. Making sure to choose the best websites to market your link to.

The workflow of Pitchbox is something worth emphasizing because it is built right into it. What this means is that when you start a campaign, it’s a step-by-step process from start to finish. You begin with finding high quality prospects then grab their contacts before finally sending them your outreach emails.

Pricing:

$195-$395/month

Something to Lookout For:

It’s hard to find a flaw with a seemingly perfect and well-balanced tool. But if you are looking for something to be cautious about, it’s the fact that there is no free trial here. While not the only tool that doesn’t provide it, it still means that you either invest on it or you don’t. There is no way for you to test out the waters first so you better be ready to commit right there and then.

Beginners are going to find the integrated and intuitive workflow extremely helpful. It is also the best for people who are quite experienced in link building considering the wide array of things you can do with it.

9.      Majestic

An all-in-one tool for discovering and analyzing links, so you only have to go to one place. Diving deeper into Majestic, you can choose from a number of backlink analysis options such as total number of backlinks, referring domains, and even analyzing the performance of an anchor text.

There isn’t really much to say with this tool, other than it is Majestic.

What stands out the most with this tool is that you can optimize the way you discover links. You can do this by finding links based on their position on a page.

Pricing:

$49.99/month

Something to Lookout For:

It can be tempting for every beginner and amateur to seek out an all-in-one tool for all their link building needs. However, be wary, this has repeatedly received comments regarding its ancient and hard to use user interface. So, there is definitely a learning curve, along with confusion here and there.

This is a hard to answer question because it should be the right tool for amateurs considering that it is an all-in-one tool. But with its complex user interface, it ends up not becoming the best choice. So, this is for those who are in the middle. If you are not entirely a newbie but need something to do everything in one place.

A majority of the tools on this list target either the intermediate or professional, but how about the beginners? One tool that addresses that need is Monitor Backlinks. It is specifically intended to be a backlink tool for those who are completely new to the SEO world.

What it does, for the most part, is pulls link data from other tools such as Moz and Majestic. It brings everything into a single dashboard so you get a lot of data all in one place. You are also given bonus features like SERP position tracking and detailed reporting.

Black hat links are not something you want and this tool makes them easily identifiable so that you can just add them to a disavow file. No complex process, just a few clicks of a button.

Pricing:

$25 – 144/ month

Something to Lookout For:

If you use this tool, don’t try to compare it to the rest of what’s available in the market. It doesn’t even come close to the likes of Ahrefs. But for its price, it is to be expected. So, if you want more, this is not for you.

A tool that was specifically designed and made for beginners is going to be the best for beginners. Those who don’t have the skills of link building just yet, or those who are still in the middle of mastering their SEO and link building strategies.

It is simply a stepping stone. At some point, you are going to become more skilled and would want to do more. But before that, this is going to be the best tool to get you to learn without risking all your strategies and campaigns.

Did We Miss Anything?

There are definitely a lot more tools out in the market, but nothing beats these ten. They are the best in their class and if you want something that will work for you the most, these are going to be your best bet.

It’s not easy choosing from the ten when you only need one or two tools. But one thing is for sure, as long as you get one that is inline with your needs, you are bound to have the best experience.

With link building being a crucial part in SEO, these tools are going to be your best friends. And you can’t afford not to utilize them in their utmost capacity.

Don’t think you have what it takes to choose and implement a link building strategy? What you need is a little help from the best digital marketing agency. Contact us today for a free strategy consultation right for your needs.

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The Beginner’s Guide to White Label Link Building

In Link Building 8 Mins Read

If you want to rank high in search engine results, you need to do a number of things. That includes creating quality content, optimizing website SEO, and lastly, creating links. While all of them are no walk in the park, the last one is going to be a big challenge. Because link building is an expansive topic that covers various types of links. One of which is white label link building which we will be talking about in this article. What is it? Why do you need it? And what are the best practices?

Creating links is crucial in ranking high in search engines. The main idea is that, the more websites that mention your link, the more relevant you are. And it makes sense. If you are not worth knowing, then why are websites mentioning your URL link? That is why links are being used as a huge part in search engine algorithms.

However, you just can’t wait for websites to discover your content and everything else. Unfortunately, it is quite ironic. You need websites to use you as a reference to be more discoverable. But you can’t be used by websites if you aren’t discoverable in the first place. It’s a loophole and that’s where your dilemma begins.

The solution is link building. Instead of waiting for websites to discover you, you make the effort to approach high ranking websites and make them mention your link. That can come in the form of publishing content.

That is link building in its simplest definition and function. Now, let’s take that a step further with white label link building. With white label links, you are not just settling with publishing content on foreign websites. Instead, you have them create specific pages that markets your products. In simple terms, it’s like an extension of your website on a different website.

It is hard to imagine what white label link building is just by reading the definition. To further visualize how this works, let’s take a look at the most common application in different industries.

If you go to retail websites or any online business that takes payments, you are going to find either Mastercard or Visa options. However, it’s not just a link but an entire page that manifests their entire banking service.

What happens is that despite a retail website completely different from banking, there is a banking and payment system that can be found. If you look at it objectively, it is nowhere far from having Mastercard and Visa operating on the retail site itself.

That kind of white label link building provides a functional purpose. Though, you don’t necessarily have to be functional to the website you are creating your link in. You can have a beverage business and have a white label link in a gambling website. Your purpose for white label link building can be entirely marketing.

As you’ve read in its definition and application, the difference of white label links from traditional link building is that you are creating an entire functional service in a different website, instead of just having your link mentioned. Therefore, it is much more difficult, making you ask why you would even want to do it.

To understand the significance of white label links, you need to first know that not all links are the same. Not every single link is given the same attention and credit by search engines. A link that is anchored to an irrelevant text on a low-ranking website is going to be given less credit compared to one that is positioned and used properly in a website.

With that said, white label links that are actual and completely functional extensions of your service on a different website easily topples the value of any traditional type of link. Therefore, it will make you rank higher in search engine results faster.

The great thing about white label link building doesn’t end just yet. While its main benefit comes in when talking about SEO, it features a lot of positive things beyond that.

Expands Your Services

Expanding the reach of your website is not easy. Just like your typical SEO strategy, it takes some hard work and a lot of patience. When you only rely on that, it may take a while before you can get any sales or clients for your service.

Since white label links are all about making your service available on a completely different website, it is one way to widen your reach. You are able to display your service to a different audience, thus further diversifying your expansion to people who may have never heard of you before.

Develops Better Marketing Strategies

Your marketing is only as good as the mediums you use. It goes without saying that the more avenues you market, the better the chances of you getting discovered. White label link building allows you to expans where you perform your marketing. With that, you can implement various campaign options that could potentially work best with what you are offering.

Improves Return on Investment

As mentioned, you are able to expand your services. That in turn results in more customers which are the people who will bring more revenue. When the flow of cash is faster, it is guaranteed that your marketing investments is going to see a much faster rate of return.

Widens Your Revenue Stream

When you create the right kind of page on the most applicable websites, you are not just catching more attention to your brand. Instead, you are providing much easier avenues for your customers to conduct business with you. Imagine, people not only discover you much faster, but are able to make a purchase right there and then.

With all the great things about white label link building, it can be tempting to immediately jump into it. However, just like everything else, you need to know everything there is to make the right informed decision.

White label link building is only as good as how you implement it. If you do amateur mistakes or fail to practice it skillfully, then all the benefits will go down the drain. So, remember these tips.

1.      Seek the Help of Google

As comprehensive this article is, there is still a lot more to know about white label link building. That includes the entire process and that is going to vary depending on your industry and your target market.

No article can talk about white label link building with complete accuracy because it is a case-by-case basis. So, you should always learn to ask and seek for help when you do try to make your own approaches. And there is no place better to search for answers than from Google itself.

Remember, if you have doubts, always get the answers you need before taking another step.

2.      Outsourcing Can Be the Best Option

You do you. If there is one person that knows your business, that would be you. So, your decisions and what you think is best should always come first. But also, always consider that outsourcing white label link building is an option.

Most first timers don’t want to take the risk of outsourcing. While it entails handing down a crucial responsibility to an agency you barely know, it can still be the best choice. Therefore, always keep an open mind and don’t push outsourcing out of the table.

Some of the benefits of outsourcing includes being more economical, having access to extensive skills, and quality links, among many others.

At the end of the day, the services that are being marketed on other websites are still your own. So, the quality of that link will be a representation of you and not of the website that published it. What this means is that while it can be found in their website, the risk and consequences will still be on you. So, never rely too much on the home website and take the time to make sure that those white label links are in their best functional state.

The Icing on the Cake…

White label link building is not for everybody. It can be an additional step that doesn’t reap enough benefits to justify your expenses, or it can be the single thing that will exponentially skyrocket your success. Just like anything else, it is a matter of knowing what’s best for your website or business.

In the event that white label link building does get on the table, always consider it given all the benefits that it brings.

Which brings us to the last point, being a beginner of the topic can be dreadful. You have to go over every single concept and you have to practice everything by hand. The question is, do you have the time to spare? In most cases, you wouldn’t. However, that doesn’t mean that you should just give up. What you simple need is the help of the best digital marketing agency to walk you through every step of the way. Contact us today for a free strategy consultation.

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Link Building Ultimate Guide: An Answer to All Your Questions!

In Link Building 12 Mins Read

Whether it may be an online business or your personal website, you are going to want to do SEO on it. No matter how great your product or content may be, if it doesn’t land on the first page of Google, it won’t receive any traffic. There are a lot of concepts behind SEO and one of them is link building. The idea is fairly easy, but according to a bunch of SEO specialists, this is what they consider as their hardest responsibility. 

The concept of link building is having as many websites mention your website link that you want to promote. That’s as short as the definition can get, but it is not all that simple. There are right and wrong ways to achieve this and the latter could mean catastrophic for your SEO ranking.

Google has been constantly developing their search engine algorithm. In 1990, they started considering how “trustworthy” a website is by how many websites reference it. Translation: the more websites that mention the link you are trying to promote, the more likely it will land on the first page on Google’s results.

Apparently, it is one of the major influences in search result ranking, therefore, much attention must be given. It is the hardest task to accomplish for a reason.

So, why did Google see link building as an essential part in their rankings? Imagine yourself being out on a vacation and you ask five people what’s the best restaurant around. If all answered restaurant x, you are likely going to opt for that choice. 

Every time a different website mentions your link, it means they are using you as a reference. The more you get referenced, the more relevant and reliable your reputation becomes. Google sees this and understands that you are a top choice.

It has provided people searching for answers with the most relevant results in Google ever since. As a result, it has continuously been a part of the search engine’s algorithm even decades after its introduction.

While the concept of link building might be self explanatory at this point, the problem lies within how to achieve it. Getting your link mentioned in different websites is not all that it takes. Google has made updates throughout the decades to ensure that the mentions are relevant and of value in an effort to filter out manipulative tactics.

So, what websites should be mentioning your links? A simple acronym comes into mind: EAT. Must be considered as experts on a certain field, authoritative in nature, and trustworthy. The higher the reputation of a website under all these three categories, the higher the value of their mention on your search engine ranking.

Another thing to keep an eye on are nofollow links. Just like not all websites can help you rank higher, not all links necessarily count as “mentions” and improve your ranking. When a website mentions your link but puts the “nofollow” attribute to it, it informs Google not to consider it as a reliable mention. Therefore, it has no impact or whatsoever in your SEO ranking.

The nofollow attribute is added in various situations. It may be because the website mentioned you as a bad example or doesn’t see you as a completely reliable source. There are also a number of situations wherein the nofollow attribute is the default such as blog comments, forum posts, and Yahoo! Answers.

In another situation, if you purchase paid ads that link to your website, Google requires that these should have the nofollow attribute. Paying for links is considered manipulation and does not put reliable value to your website.

Now that you know what qualifies as link building and the things that do not, the next thing is what are your choices in creating high quality links? While it may seem that there are a lot of ways to achieve link building, we were able to simplify the best choices down to only four.

Create Quality Link Building Content

The most foolproof and best way to have websites reference you is by making quality content that is worth referencing. When you create material of value, it then does the rest. However, your content is not immediately going to land on the first page of the search engine, making it hard to come by. 

Ironic as it is, you need websites to reference you to have a good search result rank, but you can’t be referenced if you can’t be seen. Nevertheless, as long as you have great quality content, it is much easier to find websites that are able to use it as a reference. 

You just can’t wait for websites to mention your link. Instead, you need to approach them and strike up a deal. Find reputable websites that you can provide your product to and have them write a review or a blog post. You can also approach websites in the same industry and help each other out by mentioning one another’s link.

High Quality Guest Posting

Guest posting is the process where you publish your content in other websites. You don’t get paid, but what you earn in the end is promoting your content and referencing your link. 

However, it is not always going to be easy. The hard part is that certain websites have preferred topics and they make sure to only publish high quality content on their platform. Therefore, you need to generate great material that would be within the criterion of those websites. 

The competition is tough especially that you are not just going to be the one pitching your material into their platform. You are going to receive rejection here and there but the list of websites you can approach is inexhaustive. 

Content Promoting

You don’t necessarily have to wait for somebody else to promote your link, you can do that yourself as well. Use other platforms to cite your website link such as Qoura, YouTube, and Slideshare. Create content and mention your link as your reference. 

In a different aspect, you can re-purpose your old content. If you published an article a couple of months ago, update it and market it as a better reference. This allows you to concentrate your attention on certain materials and build on from what you missed since you already know which ones stood out and those that did not.

If you want a marketing strategy that is more content-centric. We suggest you take a look at inbound marketing.

As you already know, not all links will help your SEO rank. However, other than the nofollow attribute and the reputation of the website that mentions your link, there are other factors that will affect its value. It is important to know what are the features of a good link that will definitely help your SEO score.

Putting your link in your guest posts or on your content is not enough. You should place it naturally as well. If it is an article, the link must be editorially placed and must fit coherently to the overall purpose of the material. Don’t put it randomly just for the sake that you are able to mention it.

While Google checks the reputation of the website that uses your link, it also checks the relevance. If you are a business that sells dog cages, it doesn’t make sense for it to be found in a computer software website. Therefore , only reach out to websites that are in the same field as yours.

Anchor Text is Descriptive and Relevant

Your links should be anchored to text that is of value. For example, if you are selling dog cages, your link should be on a word in the article that is relevant to it. It could be “cage” or “dog houses”. Your anchor text is as important as the placement of your link. 

Google considers the anchor text in its search results. When your link is commonly used for a certain anchor text, it is likely to be associated with that phrase and come up as a result when searched.

Don’t concentrate too much on the SEO benefits of link building. There is a lot more to earn than ranking high in search engine results. Therefore, nofollow links may not be as useless as you think they are. Same goes for low quality mentions in social media sites. Here are just some reasons to continue your link building campaign even if it doesn’t affect your SEO ranking.

Building Relationships

Reaching out to websites allows you to create a relationship with them, especially with ones that are still starting out. What began as a link exchange can potentially progress to other future initiatives that could help both of your business out. 

Referral Traffic

Nofollow links may not help your SEO ranking, but it still places your link out there for people to see. At the end of the day, it still generates web traffic from people who see and decide to click on it. So even if social media sites or blog comments that mention your link may not be completely helpful in SEO, it can potentially bring you visitors and give your business the exposure it needs.

Brand Building

The more frequent your link gets mentioned, the more the name of your business or website is placed out there. As a result, you get more known and that builds the reputation of your brand. The outcome is going to even be better if you are positively referenced.

We have mentioned a couple types of links that do not contribute to the SEO purpose of link building, but that wasn’t all of them. There are still a couple more to look out for and here are them.

Social Media Mentions

There is nothing wrong with wanting to promote your business or website in every platform possible. You might even go as far as putting your website in your social media bio to let everybody know that you are associated with it. However, remember that this doesn’t in any way help your SEO ranking.

Comments/Posts

As much as mentions in social media are not influential to SEO ranking, the same goes for comments and posts made in the same platforms. Google has purposely omitted them in their algorithm as they are links with no measurable value. Remember that when you are making a number of posts on your social media accounts.

Web Directories

There are websites that function as directories, but even if your link appears in them, they do not impact your SEO ranking. So, before you get a little bit tempted in putting your links in them, it is important to remember that they may not have the results you expect them to have.

While the goal of link building is to spread your link in order to improve your SEO ranking, it should never be done excessively. Best practices should be followed instead of finding loopholes and manipulating Google’s algorithm. Through the decades, the search engine has refined its program that it is able to track malicious link building activities. The consequence of getting caught is that Google removes your link entirely from being a result in their search engine. 

If you are a beginner, you might be wondering what are some link building manipulation methods. It is essential to know what they are in order to stir away from them especially if you are seeking to hire an SEO specialist.

It is what the title suggests. Paying websites or seeking services that would have them mention your link is a big no. While it may seem that it is hard for a search engine to differentiate what is paid or not, there are going to be tell tale signs most of the time. Might as well not take the risk because it is not going to be worth it considering the consequence.

The keyword here is “excessive”. There is nothing wrong with link exchanging as long as it is not spammed. We did mention earlier that it is one of the ways to build your network of links. Just remember to only exchange links with quality websites that are also affiliated or related in some form to what you are marketing.

With people wanting to manipulate SEO ranking comes a service specifically aimed for that. What happens here is a large number of web directories will post your link, thus increasing your ranking. It used to be a common manipulation technique but Google has caught on to the trend. Nevertheless, the paid service still exists out there and it may be tempting for a fast way to climb the ranks. 

Conclusion

SEO is essential in marketing your website or business. Link building plays a huge role in that. However, it is both a complex and tedious task. To make things worse, there are a lot of things to keep in mind and stir away from. Unless you are a profession, you might find all of it overwhelming. If you do try to do this all by yourself, you might find your website spiraling down a rabbit hole. What we suggest is to contact our marketing company today for a free strategy consultation.

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