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.
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Defining Free Backlinks
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.
Organic and Naturally Gained Backlinks are Considered Free Backlinks
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.
Be Wary of Generators of Free Backlinks
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.
Understanding the Different Types of Paid Backlinks
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.
Paid Backlinks That Have No Quality
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.
The Good Type of Paid Backlinks
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.
How to Earn Free Backlinks?
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.
Analyze Backlink Profile
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.
