By Jason McClain | May 29, 2016 | 0 Comment
Knowing how to build links that influence rankings can help your business advance more quickly. Link building is a big part of search engine optimization, especially when your audience is national or global. However, linking building is a waste of time unless you build links that influence ranking in a positive way. So, I’m going to show you how to build links to improve your position in the Google SERPs.
A Word of Caution Regarding Link Building
Link building is a fantastic strategy until one of your links becomes a problem. It is difficult enough to get good links that influence ranking, but it is even harder to get rid of links that have gone bad. The absolute best way to get links is for them to happen naturally. This was certainly Google’s intention when they made back links a ranking factor for search engine optimization. In more recent updates to their algorithm, Google has penalized sites that use spammy tactics to build links.
As we go through how to build links that influence Google ranking, be cautious against any strategy that asks for links in quantity rather than quality. Fewer links that are really good far outweigh a ton of bad links for ranking. I suggest that you build links yourself so that you maintain control of your link profile rather than hiring someone else to do it. Monitor your link profile with a quality back link checker. The key to proper back linking strategies is to not use one strategy alone and in excess, but to diversify your back links using all the tactics available.
How To Build Links That Influence Ranking
Link building tips are a dime a dozen. I’ve gone out and researched information from numerous sites, as well as using my own experience to put together this list of action steps you can take right now to build quality back links that will help your Google ranking.
- Unique content – I’m not just talking about avoiding plagiarism and duplicate content, I’m talking about writing on topics that haven’t been talked about before. Really get deep into your industry and produce content that people will want to consume and share. This will naturally build links that influence ranking.
- Use social media – Social media is a must for any business in 2016. There are simply way too many benefits your business can gain from a social media presence to ignore it anymore. At the very least, your business should be on Facebook and Twitter.
- Guest posts – Network with other bloggers and business owners in your niche and feature them on your site or write a guest post for theirs. Networking is a huge factor in getting back links.
- Write long blog posts – 300 to 500-word blog posts don’t cut it anymore. Write long posts for how-to type content. Always make sure that your content provides useful information to your target audience. Answer their questions and solve their problems.
- Visual content – Use images, video, and infographics to disperse information to your audience. Video and infographics are both virtual link magnets that really put a simple spin on link building.
- Write press releases – If your business is innovative with new launches, consider having a press release written and submitted to announce news to the public.
- Forums – If there are forums relevant to your industry, these are always a good way to bring links and traffic to your website. The key is to not spam a bunch of forums with your link and never participate in the community. This can have the opposite impact.
- Blog comments – Making well thought out comments on industry-related blogs can also garner links back to your site. Don’t just comment on any old blog, but spend time with those that are of high quality and authority.
- Q and A sites – Q and A sites like Quora, Yahoo Answers, and Stack Overflow are a great way to share you expertise and draw attention to your web presence. Set aside some time to participate on these sites a few times a month as part of your link building strategy.
- Conduct interviews – Interviews are one way that people use to build credibility in their industry. Interviewing industry experts and thought leaders can get a lot of attention and links from your audience.
Wrap Up
Have you used any of these strategies lately? How did they work for link building? Am I missing any? Let me know in the comments!
