Some people say links aren't as important as they used to be. That couldn't be further from the truth. Links to your website are still an important factor. Documents from the 2024 Google API leak suggest that the anchor text of a link AND the content surrounding it both matter. Here are some strategies to help you get more backlinks without spending a whole lot more money. These techniques also save you TIME so that you don't have to do as much manual outreach.
Create Content On Your Website That Attracts Links
We are not talking about writing a big long content article on your website and waiting for it to rank. We are talking about answering FAQ keywords. Find the "People Also Ask" questions on Google that are relevant to your business and answer them thoroughly. Over time, you may find that other writers, including those using AI content platforms, cite and link to your answers. AI content writing platforms, like BrandWell, can automatically include links to other websites to support the article. It's a low-cost way to earn backlinks without buying them or doing extensive outreach.
Here is what to do:
- Do a Google search for your money keyword. In our instance, we found that "backlinks" was a good way to help us start getting some FAQ content going.
- Write an article on how to get backlinks by industry and what backlink strategy is most effective. Publish it. (AI saved us a ton of time here as we have data on backlink efficacy by industry.)
- Make sure that your article is accessible from your website in the blog. In fact, make it a sticky article.
- Watch for new backlinks in Search Console's Links report over the following months.
Key Takeaways:
Brian Dean of Backlinko is one of the best-known people in SEO. He writes extremely long-form content in order to attract links and can spend as long as 20 hours researching a post. This shorter post strategy takes about 30 to 60 minutes and can still earn you backlinks.
Set Up an Affiliate Program For Your Products Or Services
Backlinks from affiliate websites are not as good as editorial links on other websites, and affiliate links should be marked as sponsored. That being said, it's a way to scale your brand appearance on search engines very quickly. The more your brand shows up on search engines, the more traffic you will attract over time.
I'm not saying that you should bank on affiliates to build links for you. I am advocating that it's a strategy to try. Here is how it works:
- Get a PAID or FREE affiliate program platform (like UpPromote by SECOMAPP)
- Create an enticing offer for your potential affiliates.
- Launch your affiliate program.
- Promote your affiliate program on free marketplaces (UpPromote has one.)
Over time your website will start being added to coupon websites at first. Most of these will not be super high-quality links. But you will start getting some links and more brand visibility. You will also start getting reviews on other websites that are written about specific products on your website. These will have your affiliate link and will help you grow your business.
Set Up a YouTube Channel and Create Informative Videos
This is another tried and true strategy. We're not talking about creating a video with expensive studio equipment and other things. We're talking about short, easy-to-make, home videos that you do in front of your computer or on your phone. This includes fixing car parts, home repairs, etc. if you own a service business. In order to create clickable links in your description, you will need to verify your YouTube Channel.
A link from YouTube itself carries little weight, but the idea is that other websites and writers will embed or link to your video and your website.
More Link Acquisition Strategies
1. Help a Reporter Out - But Not With HARO
Journalists are constantly looking for expert sources. HARO shut down in 2024, but there are other sources available.
2. Get Links from Supplier and Manufacturer Pages
If you sell products from suppliers or manufacturers, check their websites for a "Where to Buy" or "Authorized Retailers" section. Request to be listed with a backlink to your site.
3. Reclaim Unlinked Mentions
Search for instances where your brand is mentioned online but not linked. Use tools like Ahrefs or Google Alerts to find these and request that the website add a link.
4. Publish Industry-Specific Case Studies
Write case studies that highlight real results in your industry. These often get cited by blogs and industry news sites, earning you backlinks.
5. Offer Free Tools or Calculators
If relevant to your niche, develop a free tool, quiz, or calculator that provides value. Other websites will naturally link to it as a resource.
6. Submit to Business Directories and Review Sites
Not all directories are spammy. List your business on reputable platforms like Google Business Profile, the BBB, and industry-specific directories to earn legitimate citations and links.
7. Sponsor Local Events or Charities
Sponsoring local events, charities, or scholarships often gets you featured on their website with a link to yours.
8. Network with Bloggers and Offer Expert Insights
Reach out to industry bloggers and offer your expertise for guest posts, interviews, or round-up posts.
9. Create Data-Driven Infographics
People love to share and link to valuable data. Design an engaging infographic using original research, and promote it to relevant websites.
10. Start a Podcast and Get Listed in Podcast Directories
Podcasts can earn links from directories and show pages on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Additionally, inviting guests can result in them linking to your website when they share their episode.
11. Engage in Forum Discussions and Communities
Websites like Quora, Reddit, and niche industry forums allow you to answer questions with valuable insights. If relevant, you can link back to your content. These links are usually nofollow, so the main benefit is referral traffic and visibility.
12. Partner with Complementary Businesses for Content Collaboration
Collaborate with businesses in related niches (but not direct competitors) to create co-branded content, guides, or case studies that link to both websites.
13. Leverage Broken Link Building
Find broken links on authoritative sites in your industry. Reach out to the webmaster, letting them know about the broken link and suggesting your content as a replacement.
14. Create Ultimate Guides and Resource Pages
Comprehensive, well-researched guides tend to attract backlinks. Structure them as authoritative resources that other sites want to reference.
15. Get Included in "Best of" Lists
Identify blogs that curate lists such as "Best SEO Blogs," "Top Marketing Tools," or "Best E-commerce Sites" and reach out to suggest your site for inclusion.
By combining these strategies, your website will be in a much stronger position to acquire high-quality backlinks and improve its search engine rankings.