Link building is a tedious affair for those who fail to quickly adapt to the fast-changing rules of search engines by acquiring essential tools, skills, and perseverance. There have been a lot of discussions going around at the internet blogs about link building techniques as one of the top ranking factors. However, many SEO specialists merely focus on content and on-page SEO strategies by neglecting the importance of links by thinking they already know about it well.
However, do you actually know everything about links?
Links are vital as Google reaffirmed the fact that links are considered to be the No.1 ranking factor along with quality content. Top ranking without good links is nearly impossible now. Google now cares about the links to and from your web pages than anything else, so you should also take it as crucial.
After Google Penguin
Before 2012, it was possible for someone to buy any ranking position easily. There were many odd practices out there to gain linking benefits, and get the ranking on search engine first pages. However, that practices are long gone as the advanced spam filters of Google is now a part of the core search engine algorithm after Penguin update.
Read More: Most Important Google Search Algorithm Updates
Last year, in a Q&A session, Andrey Lipattsev of Google also confirmed that the significant two ranking factors of Google are content and links. His words go like "I shall tell you what those are, content and the links pointing towards your site." As we too now know the importance of quality links, let's dig more deeply into the backlink story.
Are all types of links offer the same value?
Many of the SEO strategists still have the wrong notion as the "the more, the better." However, this is not true anymore in case of link building. The practice of merely buying links without scrutinizing the risk involved is not good. The practical approach now is to focus on fewer high quality links rather than beating around the bush with volume links. Risky or weak backlinks will no more help the search engine rankings anymore.
Read More: Beat Panda and Penguin with Your Content Strategy
On the other hand, it can even worsen your performance and end up in cutting down your organic traffic. So, the point is that all links are not the same. You need to have a clear-cut plan and checklist maintained on.
- How many pages linking, number of domains, sub-domains, and the root domains
- Number of links per month
- The nature of links as redirects, follow, nofollow, frames, and JavaScript.
- The link Trust and Power quotient?
- Linking keywords
- Link risks etc.
As per Lasvegaswebdesignco.com experts, weighing of these factors differs in various cases. A particular type of link can be useful in some industry, which may have an adverse effect on another. The other elements define the quality of a backlink is the country, language, keywords, domestic market standards, and the search words and phrases. There is no such one-stop solution to success when it comes to making a link strategy.
Google rules
As we know by now, all links aren't equal, and you have to be very careful while building links. You need to make them relevant for your business and customers. The ultimate objective of link building is to make your users happy and share relevant information.
It is essential to ensure that the links you build are natural and never give a notion to Google as well as the users an idea that you are keen about manipulating the search algorithm to gain easy results.
As per the latest Google rules, any of the links found with an intention to manipulate the Page Rank algorithm in search results will be counted as a part of the link scheme and marked as a violation of Google Webmaster Guidelines.
It also covers any such behavior which is aimed at manipulating links to your website or the outgoing links from a page. Let's explore some good practices you can follow.
1. Requesting backlinks
It is an ideal first step if you are a beginner to link building. You can explore people in your circle as your friends, partners, business associates, clients who have a good site or blog. All you need to ask if for a quality backlink. Do ask for in-content links instead of footer or sidebar links.
2. Build connections
Relationship building is the key to success in link building. There are lots of opportunities online to build contacts. Explore your communities, forums, social media platforms, and blogs to practice this.
3. Testimonial link building
It is an excellent practice to try testimonial link building. It is acceptable to any as a win-win approach. Other business give you a chance to say good words about them and returning you the same favor.
4. Blogging
Blogging is essential in terms of link building now. But, be relevant on posting quality content. It is also essential to be persistent in blogging and specializing in a specific niche you want to build connections with.
It is also worth to list your website URL on trustworthy directories, writing excellent guest posts on other blogs, and keep track of the competitors back linking pattern. There are no options to convert all your mentions online to backlinks, which is the easiest way to attract traffic and also gain relevant SEO value.
Author Bio: Emilly is the CEO and chief strategist of Link Research. She has developed many unique link building strategies for her clients. As an avid writer, she used to write blogs and on portals like www.LasVegasWebDesignCo.com for the beginners to know it in detail.