Link building for SEO helps websites rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Why?
Think of backlinks as strong recommendations that tell search engines your content is worth reading.
When your content receives quality backlinks, Google increases your domain authority — which boosts your site’s reputation and rankings. This makes it easier for people to find and trust your brand. (More on this below.)
But beyond search rankings, link building has many other benefits. Keep reading to find out what these are, why they matter, and how to create your own link-building strategy.
Why link building for SEO is essential
Did you know that 95% of pages don’t have any backlinks, and the top-ranked search results contain 3.8 more backlinks than those in the 2–10 result spot?
Backlinks, or links from other sites to yours, act as a quality check for search engines. They look at backlinks to see if your site is trustworthy, relevant, and worth showing to users.
High-quality backlinks from reliable sites signal that your content is helpful and useful. When search engines see these connections, they’re more likely to rank you higher when they see these connections.
Let’s dig into this a bit deeper.
Builds domain authority (DA)
A big part of SEO is domain authority or DA. This measures how reliable and respected your website is when you compare it to others. Websites with higher DA scores are more likely to rank better in searches.
Metrics tools like Moz, Ahrefs, and Semrush help score DA and show your site’s performance in SEO. Note that Ahrefs refers to this metric as domain rating (DR).
Building a strong network of links improves your DA and SEO results across the board.
Drives traffic
Good backlinks also help bring visitors from other sites. This extra traffic, called referral traffic, comes from users clicking on links to your site from different places.
For example, if a prestigious tech blog talking about tech tools links to one of your articles, its readers may follow the link to your site. This traffic is highly targeted. The users are more likely to be interested in your brand or the topics you specialize in.
Establishes brand awareness and trust
Link building can help your unique brand stand out as an expert in its field.
When reputable sites link to you, it adds to your authority. This shows visitors that others see you as a trusted source. Even one mention on a popular platform can build rapid brand awareness.
For example, imagine G2 references your productivity tool in a roundup article on its blog. You could see a huge boost in referral traffic just from this one mention. (Especially if the G2 team keeps the piece evergreen by updating it over time — without removing your backlink.)
Increases conversions and revenue opportunities
Backlinks can lead to conversions by directing interested users to your products or services. With strong links and more visitors, you increase the chances of turning that interest into sales.
Good links also open new revenue doors.
For example, a link from a niche blog can introduce your brand to and open the doors to a new audience segment that needs your services.
Helps build meaningful relationships with key industry players
Link building is all about making connections.
Connecting with industry peers through outreach, guest blogging, or link exchanges can build lasting relationships that benefit both sides.
Best practices when link building for SEO
There’s a lot that goes into a link building SEO plan, but there are a few core pillars you shouldn’t skip.
Here are three best practices to keep in mind when you’re link-building:
1. Create linkable assets
Helpful content pieces naturally attract links.
People share these resources because they give practical value — which gives you an easy way to earn backlinks. (You can read through some specific linkable asset ideas in the how-to section below.)
In the meantime, here’s a quick example:
2. Guest blog for high DA sites
Guest posting on authority blogs is one of the best ways to earn quality backlinks. Look for sites with high DA scores that allow “do-follow” links to your content. But make sure it’s relevant!
For example, if you’re writing a guest post about what to look for in team collaboration software, you could include a link to a review you’ve written about one of the tools.
3. Focus on content relevancy
Only work to get links from sites that align with your niche. When links are relevant, they help search engines understand what your site is about. This helps you position your business as an industry expert.
Common link building mistakes to avoid
When it comes to link building … what you shouldn’t do is just as important as what you should do.
Avoid the following mistakes to build a quality, relevant, and lasting link profile:
- Focusing on low-quality links: According to Search Engine Land, links from low-quality or spammy sites can hurt your SEO — even if they seem easy to get. Stick to high-quality links from reputable websites to protect your rankings.
- Building irrelevant links: Links from unrelated sites confuse search engines about your content’s focus. Keep your links relevant to show search engines you’re an authority in your niche.
- Inconsistent outreach: Sporadic link-building efforts can create a weak and uneven link profile. Regular outreach keeps your link-building strategy steady and helps you grow a varied profile over time.
- Using black-hat techniques: Avoid risky tactics like link farming or buying links. Search engines may penalize these shortcuts — which can set back your rankings.
- Focus on ethical link-building tactics for reliable, long-term results. (These are called white-hat practices.)
- Ignoring content quality: Poor content makes it harder to earn backlinks and can hurt your site’s credibility. High-quality, valuable content is key to attracting good links.
How to create a link building strategy
Building a successful link-building strategy takes planning, consistency, and a focus on quality.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a link building SEO strategy that works:
Step 1: Set clear goals
Define what you ideally want to achieve with link building — whether it’s improving rankings, increasing brand visibility, or driving more traffic. Clear goals from the get-go help guide your strategy and measure its success.
Step 2: Identify your audience
Know who you’re trying to reach with your content. Tailoring your content to your audience’s interests makes it easier to attract relevant, high-quality links from sites they visit.
Step 3: Research competitors’ backlinks
Study where competitors are getting their links.
Use SEO tools like Ahrefs or Moz to find quality sites linking to them and look for similar opportunities. (But be sure to create even better content than they do!)
Speaking of …
Step 4: Create linkable assets
Publish valuable content like guides, infographics, and case studies that sites in your industry will want to link to. The more helpful and unique your content is, the more likely it’ll attract quality links.
Blog posts are also great linkable assets, but they must solve a hyper-specific problem and deliver immense value to your target audience. Think articles on industry news, best practices, or original research.
Step 5: Build relationships in your industry
Reach out to industry influencers, experts, bloggers, and website owners in your niche.
Oftentimes, your direct points of contact will be:
- Digital Marketing Managers
- SEO professionals
- Content Marketers
- VP of Marketing
- CEOs
Find their email addresses using a LinkedIn email finder tool, and reach out using your business email address—test pitches to see what works best.
Here are some tips that can help.
Link building outreach tips
For effective outreach, tailor your pitch to the person you’re contacting — and have a few guest post headline options ready to go. This shows them you’ve done your research and want to provide quality content for their site.
*Try to get your hands on their guest-posting guidelines before reaching out with your topic ideas. Head to Google and search “[their website URL] + guest posting guidelines.”
Here’s an example:
The site’s guidelines will walk you through what to include in your pitch and other details to give you the best chance of getting your topic ideas accepted.
To keep the conversation going after your pitch, close out the email with an open-ended question. For instance, “Would you like to see some of the previous guest posts I’ve written to get an idea?”
But, it’s important to know that outreach is a job in and of itself. If you don’t have established partnerships, cultivating new relationships will require time.
To fast-track this part, consider partnering with an SEO team specializing in link building. They’ve already put in the elbow grease to build strong relationships with high DA sites.
And, they’ll also take care of the content creation for you. (More on this in a bit.)
Step 6: Prioritize quality over quantity
Focus on earning links from reputable sites rather than many low-quality ones. High-quality links have the most significant impact on rankings and your domain authority.
Regularly check your incoming links’ quality and relevance. Use tools like Google Search Console or Semrush to track which links are performing best — and adjust your strategy as needed.
Why it’s worth partnering with an SEO agency for link-building support
Link building can be challenging.
Many businesses struggle to find the time and expertise to develop an effective strategy. Partnering with an SEO agency can offer valuable support that simplifies the process and drives results.
Here’s why it’s worth having a link-building SEO partner:
Access to expertise
SEO agencies specialize in search engine optimization, including link building. Their team of professionals understands the key ins and outs of the latest trends and best practices in the industry.
They know what kinds of links are most valuable and how to approach outreach effectively. This expertise can save you from those silly costly mistakes and help you create a strategy that works.
Customized strategies
Every business is unique. (And every link-building strategy should reflect that.)
SEO agencies develop tailored plans based on your specific goals, audience, and industry. They conduct thorough research to identify the best opportunities for you, so your links come from relevant and reputable sites.
Time savings
Link building requires a significant investment of time and effort. From researching potential partners to crafting outreach emails, the process can quickly become overwhelming. And this doesn’t include the time you need to research, write, and edit your linkable content!
An SEO agency handles these tasks for you so you can concentrate on what you do best.
Established relationships
SEO agencies have established relationships with bloggers, influencers, and media outlets in various industries.
These connections can open doors to valuable linking opportunities that you might need help accessing on your own. Partnering with an agency can help you tap into these networks and build relationships that benefit your brand.
Continuous monitoring and adjustment
SEO is not a one-time task. It requires ongoing tracking and adjustment to see success.
Your link building partner will stay on top of this for you and make data-driven adjustments as needed.
Wrap up
Link building is a powerful part of any SEO plan. Building the right links can improve your rankings, increase traffic, and establish your brand as a trusted source.
Remember to focus on quality, relevance, and forming genuine connections to see lasting results.
Ready to grow your SEO through strategic link building? Book a demo call with uSERP now to get started.
FAQs
Why are backlinks important for SEO?
Backlinks help search engines determine your content’s relevance and authority. Quality backlinks from reputable sites can boost your domain authority and improve your search engine rankings.
This leads to more organic traffic and better visibility for your website.
How can I start building links?
To start building links, create high-quality content that others want to link to. Reach out to relevant websites and bloggers in your industry for guest posting opportunities.
What are some common link-building techniques?
Some common link-building techniques include guest blogging, creating shareable infographics, conducting expert interviews, and using broken link reclamation.
Each of these helps you acquire high-quality backlinks while providing value.
Can link building hurt my SEO?
Yes, if done incorrectly, link building can harm your SEO. Focusing on low-quality links or using black-hat techniques, like link farming, can lead to penalties from search engines. Always prioritize quality and relevance when building links.
Your best bet? Hire an SEO agency like uSERP that specializes in link building.
Should I hire an SEO agency for link building?
Yes! Hiring an SEO agency is super beneficial for many businesses.
SEO teams have expertise, time-saving strategies, and established relationships in the industry.
With the right agency, you’ll get a tailored link building strategy that perfectly aligns with your goals and boosts your search engine rankings.
How long does it take to see results from link building?
The timeline for seeing results from link building can vary. Generally, it may take a few months to notice significant changes in your search engine rankings. The key to it all is to stay consistent and focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks.
