July 20th, 2017
You've heard it before, but perhaps it's somewhat of an elusive concept - SEO or Search Engine Optimization. There are several means of improving where your website ranks on Google and other search engine searches, but one sure-fire way to improve your ranking is through link building.
So what is link building?
Link building is the process by which a business gets links from one website back to their own website. The more reputable the source, the better. Think about it - the more popular the website your getting linked from is, the more chances your site has to be visited from that site. Plus, Google uses 'followed links' as one of its core search engine ranking factors. This means that the key to successful link building is getting links to your website from sources that are deemed reputable by Google - Quality over quantity!
Why is link building important?
When you search for something on Google or other search engine's, how often do you click to the second or third page to see the results there? Chances are, not often at all. Research shows that on average, 71.33% of searches result in a page one organic click. Page two and three get only 5.59% of the clicks.
There's a reason why this meme has been so popular among marketers...
How can I build more quality back-links?
- Optimize your social profiles
If you haven't already, create social media accounts for your business. Once you've done that, make sure to optimize them so that the 'about' sections of each site includes your company information like, you guessed it, a link back to your website! - Share your website content on your social media channels
If you're blogging, even better! The more reasons you have to link back to your website from popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, the better chances you'll have of being found naturally. Remember you will not only get clicks from those social channels to your website, but Google recognizes those sites as 'reputable'. - Get listed on relevant and reputable hyper-local sites
Building social profiles for your business is a great way to jumpstart your link building. Next, take just a little time out of just one day to get your business listed on, and linked back from other reputable sites. Consider, for example, joining your local chamber of commerce. Find other hyperlocal resources like Alignable, Patch, Nextdoor, and searching for local business directories and other resources that maybe specific to your area. - Start a blog
Blogging will naturally provide you with more content to share on your social channels which will, in turn, generate more clicks back to your website. If you want to learn more about the perks of starting a blog, read 5 Reasons Your Business Should Blog. - Ask for referrals from your happy clients and partners
If your a B2B operation, then chances are you're not the only one looking to build up your back links. If you have happy customers or partners, ask if you could trade links back and forth from each others websites. - Become a guest blogger
If you can find relevant and reputable blogs that allow guest bloggers, reach out and see if they'll allow you to write a post on their blog. Sometimes, this may require a small fee on your part, but this will allow your to flex your muscle on another site and link back to your own. - Solicit press coverage
Pull together a press release template for your business and, whenever the opportunity presents itself, put it to use! If you've rolled out a new product, try getting some coverage in your local business journal. Good will also goes a long way. Volunteering your time for a good cause a few times a year can make for some very positive press coverage in your community. Anytime your business is covered in your local papers, magazines, blogs, etc, chances are there will be a link back to your website.