One SEO strategy is link building, which entails obtaining links from other websites to your own. So search engines like Google may consider it more authoritative and rank it higher in unpaid search results.
In essence, Google considers backlinks—specific types of links from other websites—to be endorsements. The quantity and quality of backlinks can make your website seem more trustworthy.
Of course, Google takes into account a wide range of additional ranking factors. Backlinks, however, are mentioned in four of the top ten.
Backlinks can be naturally accumulated over time. However, you can obtain or keep a competitive edge in search by actively developing links.
For your SEO, some backlinks are more beneficial than others. Some have absolutely no impact. Additionally, ones obtained by spammy backlinks may be detrimental.
The following are the primary elements to take into account when creating backlinks:
Authority
In general, a backlink's value increases with the authority of the referring (linking) website.
For instance, a backlink from a reputable website would probably affect your SEO considerably more than one from an unidentified blogger.
It takes into account three primary factors:
• Link power: The number and caliber of backlinks pointing to the website
• Organic traffic: The approximate monthly quantity of unsponsored search engine hits that the website receives
• Natural profile: The degree to which the site's backlink profile seems natural (i.e., not spammy).
Relevance
Building SEO links from websites that are closely relevant to your own is typically preferable. because it implies that professionals in the field appreciate you.
Additionally, it's preferable if a backlink is included in extremely pertinent content.
Assume that your basketball shoe line has three backlinks:
• Backlink 1 can be found in an article about plant cultivation on a gardening website. Because the website and subject matter are so irrelevant to you, it is unlikely to have much, if any, SEO weight.
• Backlink 2 can be found in a post about cardiovascular workout on a sports blog. Due to the site's similarity to your niche, this can have some SEO weight.
• Backlink 3 can be found in a basketball shoe shopping guide on a sports site. Because it implies that your page is extremely related to the subject at hand, this could have a significant SEO impact. and that readers will actually find the link helpful.
Placement of Links
The more prominent the backlink is on the page, the more important it might be for SEO.
This is due to the fact that Google may take into account a reader's propensity to click on a link depending on its location. This patent describes what is known as the "reasonable surfer model."
Links that appear in footers, sidebars, or low in the content of a page, for instance, might not be as valuable as those that appear higher in the body of the page.
Your backlink should ideally be placed early in the main body of the text.
The anchor text
SEO may benefit more from backlinks that have descriptive anchor text (the clickable, linked content).
This is so that search engines can better comprehend the content of the linked website by using anchor text. Additionally, by extension:
• The relationship between the referring page and the linked page
• What types of search terms (keywords) the linked website might rank for
A backlink with the anchor text "basketball shoes," for instance, makes it obvious what the linked page is about. On the other hand, generic anchor language such as "click here" provides no context.
However, it is crucial that the anchor text reads organically.
Google may view your website as using spammy link-building techniques if you place an excessive amount of emphasis on optimizing anchor text for search engines rather than users.
Additionally, that may result in a Google penalty that degrades your search engine ranking.
Sponsored, Nofollow, and UGC Features
A nofollow property (or another attribute) on some links instructs Google not to give the linked page any ranking weight.
Here is a brief summary of those qualities:
1. rel="nofollow": Used to identify links that the publisher doesn’t want to endorse.
2. rel="sponsored": This is used to show which links were purchased by the website they link to. Since these links aren't actual endorsements, Google disregards them.
3. rel="ugc" - Used to specify links that were added by users (for example, in comments). Because they are too easily manipulated, Google ignores them.
These backlinks are unlikely to improve your rankings, even though they might increase brand awareness and referral traffic.
A link containing the nofollow property (sometimes known as a "nofollow link") in HTML looks like this:
The URL is https://example.com or" rel="nofollow">Anchor Text
However, the link appears on the page normally.
Follow links, also known as dofollow links, are regular links that don't have a sponsored, nofollow, or user-generated content attribute. When constructing links for SEO, you want these.
You will discover the four basic methods of link building below. Some are far more effective than others.
We'll then go over nine particular methods that you can incorporate into your plan.
Get Links
Other websites link to yours without your request when you gain links.
This has the potential to be very economical. Additionally, since you are not in charge of establishing the links, you don't have to worry about their breaking Google's link spam policies.
Creating excellent content that people want to link to—also known as link bait—is the best strategy to obtain links.
People frequently link to the following kinds of content:
• Visual assets (infographics, charts, diagrams, etc.)
• Original data and research (proprietary research, surveys, industry studies, etc.)
• Calculators and tools available online
Comprehensive instructions and lessons
Request Links
Asking someone (or a group of people) to link from their website to yours is known as "asking for links."
They may link to you for two primary reasons:
• Their audience will find something of interest on your website.
• To give you credit when they reference you in their article.
Include Links
It is not a good idea to manually add your link to another website in order to build backlinks. Because links that you have (or may have) placed yourself are not counted by Google.
This includes links that have been added to:
• Profiles on social media
• Directories of businesses
• Communities, forums, and Q&A websites (such as Quora)
• Comments on blogs
• Pages with user profiles
Purchase Links
Purchasing SEO links that aim to affect your rankings is not a good idea.
Put otherwise, only backlinks that qualify with the rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" attribute should be purchased. (Instructing search engines to disregard them.)
If a sponsored link isn't eligible:
• Both websites run the danger of being punished because the link is against Google's link spam standards.
• Despite knowing that the link is sponsored, Google is likely to disregard it.
Reach Out via Email
The technique of contacting a website (or website representative) in order to convince them to provide you with a backlink is known as email outreach.
People can't link to your material without finding it, so it's crucial. To get links, even the best assets must be advertised.
Also Read :
Keyword Strategy in SEO: How to Create New Keyword
How to Understand Your Organic CTR and Make It Better
How to Use Keywords for SEO: Best Tips 2024
