Backlinks are incredibly crucial to your SEO strategy and building your online reputation. Although you may be unfamiliar with the term, understanding how a backlink works is relatively simple. It does take effort to build them, but several good backlinks can make a real impact on your website’s success.

What are Backlinks?

The simplest way to explain backlinks is by using the word itself. Backlinks are links that link back to your site. The link must come from an outside source, not your own website. When another website links to your site, you have a backlink. However, not every backlink carries the same weight.

Why are Backlinks Important to SEO?

Backlinks are hugely important to SEO because they serve to develop trust. When a well-known website links to your site, it is like that website is vouching for you. This is important to getting ranking posts on Google for keywords with a high search volume. While backlinks aren’t the only consideration Google makes when ranking sites for search results, the number of quality backlinks plays a large part. If the top-ranked site on a results page is a major corporation that everyone is familiar with, it is unlikely that a small, unheard of company will take their place. However, with enough backlinks to tell the search engine that your website is trustworthy, you stand a better chance.

How Can I Build Backlinks?

Building backlinks is often a process and doesn’t always result in a link. There are a few ways that you might build backlinks for your website. The method that you choose often depends on what you are comfortable with.

Guest Posts

Perhaps one of the most common forms of gaining backlinks is guest posting. Numerous websites accept guest posts from outside writers. As a result, these websites offer a short bio for you or your company and offer to link to your site.

Publish Research

Becoming a website that can be cited is another way to earn backlinks. This is a longer process, but it can be useful. Pay for or perform a study and publish the results on your website. When another website uses your data, they will link back to your site for proof.

Email Potential Sites that Will Backlink

It can be relatively easy to track down your competitor’s backlinks. If that website is willing to link your competitor’s website, they will likely be willing to link yours as well. This is a method that not all people are comfortable with, as it is like cold calling. However, several known website owners have had success in emailing and offering your own addition to the post in exchange for a link.

Pitch Ideas to the Media

Media sources will often look for quotes and comments for articles. HARO is one common website to pitch your own comment. When the media uses your quote, they will mention you or your website and usually link back to your site.

What Kind of Backlink Help Can I Find?

Building backlinks takes a lot of time and effort in the beginning. For help, seek out an expert in digital marketing. Adaptive Media can help you to build backlinks and improve your website’s SEO. If you want to learn more about how our team can help to improve your overall online presence, contact us today!