Why do Bloggers Love Backlinks for Faster Post Ranking?
Backlinks play a crucial role in the blogging world, and here’s why they are beloved by bloggers. A backlink occurs when one website links to another using anchor text. You can often find these backlinks in articles that direct you to additional sources or relevant websites. Popular blog sites are especially known for incorporating backlinks to connect their readers with valuable content.
So, why are backlinks so important to bloggers?
Rankings Boost
Search engines like Google perceive backlinks as votes of confidence. In general, the more backlinks your web pages receive, the higher the likelihood of ranking well for relevant search queries. We’ve conducted several studies on link-based ranking factors, consistently finding a strong correlation between the number of backlinks from unique websites (referring domains) and organic search traffic.
Enhanced Discoverability
Search engines discover new content by revisiting pages they are already familiar with, primarily to check for new links. As popular pages are visited more frequently than less popular ones, securing backlinks from such pages can lead to faster discovery of your content.
Increased Referral Traffic
Backlinks serve the purpose of directing people to valuable resources. When someone clicks on a link to your website, it generates referral traffic, which can contribute to higher visibility and engagement.
So, what makes a backlink valuable?
Not all backlinks are created equal. Let’s explore some key attributes that determine the quality and usefulness of a backlink.
Relevance: Google places greater importance on relevant backlinks since people are more likely to click on them. This concept is emphasized in Google’s “reasonable surfer” patent. In practical terms, if a plumber has backlinks from two pages, one discussing cats and the other focusing on boiler installation, the latter is likely to be more valuable.
Authority: Backlinks from authoritative web pages tend to carry more “authority” compared to those from weaker ones. We have studied page-level authority multiple times and consistently found a direct correlation between page authority and organic traffic. However, it’s worth noting that backlinks from strong pages don’t always transfer more authority. According to Google’s original patent, authority is divided equally among all outbound links on a web page. If you have backlinks from two pages, and one has fewer outbound links than the other, the link from the page with fewer outbound links will likely transfer more authority, assuming all other factors are equal.
While it may not be as simple as it used to be, with Google employing various methods to assign value to backlinks, it’s evident that internal backlinks also contribute to a page’s authority.
In summary, bloggers cherish backlinks for their ability to expedite post ranking, increase discoverability, and drive referral traffic. The quality and relevance of backlinks are essential factors that influence their impact on search engine rankings and audience engagement.
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Boosting Traffic through Effective Backlinks
When it comes to backlinks, the traffic originating from high-traffic pages tends to generate more referral traffic compared to low-traffic pages. However, the real question is whether backlinks from high-traffic pages have a greater positive impact on search engine rankings than those from low-traffic pages.
To shed light on this matter, we conducted an extensive analysis. We examined the top-ranking pages for 45,589 non-branded keywords and evaluated the organic traffic directed toward the pages that link to them.
Here’s what we discovered:
In summary, we found a clear yet modest correlation between rankings and backlinks from pages with organic search traffic. However, it appears that the sheer number of backlinks from unique websites (referring domains) and the authority of the individual pages hold greater significance.
Optimizing Link Placement for Enhanced Authority
The placement of links on web pages can greatly influence their authority and impact. As noted by Bill Slawski in his analysis of Google’s updated “reasonable surfer” patent, certain factors contribute to a link’s likelihood of being clicked and its potential to pass along PageRank.
For instance, if a link is situated within the main content area of a page, stands out with an attention-grabbing font and color, and employs compelling text, it is more likely to transfer a significant amount of PageRank. On the other hand, a link placed inconspicuously in the footer, employing the same color and font as the surrounding text, and using uninteresting anchor text may not pass along much PageRank.
Bill Slawski, Founder of SEO by the Sea, emphasizes considering these factors when pursuing links. If your link is destined to be buried in the site’s footer or among numerous other sites in the sidebar, it’s advisable to invest your efforts elsewhere.
The Influence of Followed and Nofollowed Links
Typically, nofollowed backlinks do not directly impact the rankings of the linked page, although exceptions can occur.
Given that link building requires time and effort, it is generally recommended to prioritize acquiring followed links. However, if you happen to obtain a nofollowed link, it may still possess some SEO value. Don’t be overly concerned, as it can contribute to your overall link profile.
For further insights, you may find it helpful to read: “What Is a Nofollow Link? Everything You Need to Know.”
Unraveling the Significance of Anchor Text
Anchor text represents the clickable words that compose a backlink.
Google acknowledges the influence of anchor text on rankings in their original patent, where they employ various techniques to enhance search quality, including page rank, anchor text, and proximity information.
Nevertheless, our examination of the relationship between anchor text and rankings across 384,614 pages revealed weak correlations. While anchor text does hold some importance, it is not as crucial as other factors.
When building backlinks through outreach, it is important to note that you often have limited control over the anchor text used when linking to your site. However, this lack of control is beneficial, as it promotes natural link profiles and indicates the quality of the acquired link.
Unveiling the 9 Best Types of Backlinks
Depending on the websites, there exist eight distinct types of backlinks, each varying in terms of importance. Understanding these different types of backlinks empowers you to develop effective link-building strategies that will greatly benefit your SEO efforts.
Getting Links from Articles and High-Quality Content
One of the best types of backlinks you can obtain is an editorial backlink. These are links embedded within relevant, high-quality content, such as articles or infographics. Editorial backlinks are usually formed when your content is referenced as a source of information, when a business representative is quoted, or when your website is featured in a link roundup on a specific topic. To earn editorial backlinks, it’s important to create evergreen content that establishes you as a thought leader in your industry. Aim to produce shareable and engaging content that has the potential to go viral. You can also utilize SEO tools to identify popular keywords and subjects that your competitors have mastered but you haven’t addressed yet.
Acquiring Backlinks through Guest Blogging
Another effective way to obtain backlinks is through guest blogging. When you contribute articles to established websites, you can often include a link back to your own site within the content. It’s crucial to focus on finding high-quality sites for these opportunities. Guest blogging outreach should be a significant part of your SEO strategy.
Utilizing Backlinks in Business Profiles
When you create digital profiles for your business on platforms like business listing websites, social networks, industry directories, and review sites, you typically have the option to include links to your website. Search engines consider these entries as evidence that your site has been around for a while. Take advantage of these backlink opportunities by ensuring your business profiles are complete and include relevant links.
Gaining Backlinks from Webinars
Webinars, along with their recordings, can provide valuable information that other websites would be willing to link to. Many websites feature webinars to promote your company and share insights about your industry. You can generate backlinks by employing strategies similar to those used for promoting blog content. Your webinar can serve as a resource for the websites you are targeting for guest blogging opportunities.
Harnessing the Power of Free Tools for Backlinks
Offering a useful tool for free is an effective way to attract attention and gain backlinks, which can have a significant and long-term impact on SEO. Consider creating a simple yet valuable tool, such as a cost calculator relevant to your industry or a free version of a commercial app. To generate backlinks, promote the tool to websites that have a similar readership to yours (use SEO tools to find them) as well as the sites you target for guest blogging.
Building Recognition with Acknowledgment Backlinks
When a company makes a donation, has a representative speak at an industry event, or supports a cause, websites often display acknowledgments. By identifying your competitors’ backlink sources, you can devise a strategy to obtain similar recognition for your website through acknowledgment backlinks.
Leveraging Guest Post Bio Links
If a website that accepts guest blogging doesn’t allow backlinks within the article itself, they usually permit them in the author’s bio section. Although these backlinks may not be directly associated with editorial content, they still impact SEO because guest bloggers often link to websites with a larger readership. Guest bloggers have insights into popular platforms where people go to read blogs, and articles, or find resources.
Creating Badge Backlinks
Developing a badge that other companies can display as recognition for their achievements or positions is a clever approach for earning backlinks. When websites proudly showcase the badge, they provide a link back to your website. Once again, use SEO tools to identify websites with similar target audiences to yours and identify potential targets for your badge program.
Commenting to Generate Backlinks
When you leave comments on blog articles, you often have the opportunity to include a link back to your website. While spammers may exploit this, genuine comments on high-quality blog posts can help increase traffic to your site and raise brand awareness.
Additionally, it’s important to be aware of two other types of links:
Sponsored or Paid Links (rel=”sponsored”): These are links that are paid for by the website owner or advertiser. They should include the rel=”sponsored” attribute to inform search engines that they are paid links. It’s crucial to disclose and identify these links as sponsored or paid to comply with Google’s guidelines.
UGC Links (rel=”ugc”): UGC links are created by users or customers of a website. They should include the rel=”ugc” attribute to indicate to search engines that they are user-generated content. UGC links are valuable for SEO as they can demonstrate that a website has an engaged and active community.
15 Easy and Effective Ways to Acquire Backlinks
Discovering quality backlinks for your website is crucial for improving its visibility and search engine rankings. Here, we present you with 15 quick and simple strategies to obtain valuable backlinks. Let’s dive right in!
Identify Backlink Opportunities from Top Referral Sources
Start by examining the websites that refer visitors to your site. These sources already link to your content, making them potential opportunities for acquiring backlinks.
By understanding the types of websites that link back to yours and the content they prefer, you can uncover new possibilities and create similar content to earn backlinks.
You can access your referral sources through Google Analytics. Navigate to Acquisition » User Acquisition to view them. Alternatively, use MonsterInsights, the excellent WordPress plugin for Google Analytics, which conveniently displays reports in your WordPress dashboard. Go to Insights » Reports to find your top referral sources.
Leverage Outbound Links for Building Partnerships
Another method to discover backlink opportunities is to examine your outbound links. If you frequently link to high-authority websites and send them significant traffic, you can reach out to establish a partnership.
While Google Analytics doesn’t provide an outbound links report by default, you can utilize MonsterInsights to easily access your top outbound links. Install the plugin and go to Insights » Reports » Publishers, then navigate to the Top Outbound Links report.
This report displays the external links on your website that receive the most clicks. From there, you can send an outreach email to these websites, highlighting your post and expressing how their content has been valuable to you as a source.
Mention your interest in a partnership opportunity and suggest collaborating on content, such as a case study. If they’re receptive, you can secure valuable backlinks, increase traffic, and establish a mutually beneficial relationship.
Harness Google Search Console Reports for Backlink Opportunities
Google Search Console is a free tool that provides invaluable data to enhance your website’s performance, including identifying backlink opportunities.
One of its useful reports is the “Top linking sites” report, which displays websites that have previously linked to your site. By reviewing these backlinks, you can discern the type of content they appreciated and link to.
Since these domains have already linked to your website in the past, they may be open to providing additional backlinks. Your task is to identify relevant sites and reach out to them with compelling content.
For more guidance on leveraging Google Search Console, refer to our comprehensive guide on doubling your website traffic.
Analyze Competitors for Insights
Have you ever wondered where your competitors acquire their backlinks from? Understanding their organic strategies and content approach can help you stay informed about industry trends and developments.
Ethically spying on your competitors allows you to uncover backlink sources, examine their organic keywords, identify top-performing content, and monitor their social media activities.
Utilize powerful SEO tools like Semrush to explore your competitors’ backlinks. With Semrush’s Backlink Analytics feature, simply enter your competitor’s domain to access their complete backlink profile. Select “Backlinks” to view a list of domains that provide backlinks to your competitor.
Maximizing Backlink Opportunities: Stay Ahead of Your Competitors
In the quest to boost your website’s visibility, capturing backlinks from reliable sources is crucial. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to outshine your competitors in this regard. Let’s explore some effective techniques:
Leverage Competitor’s Backlinks
Take advantage of your competitor’s successful backlinks. For instance, if they have a guest post link, you can publish your own content on the same guest posting website. Similarly, if they have a forum link, create a profile on that forum and try to earn a backlink.
Stay Informed with Email Newsletters and Google Alerts
To stay ahead of your competitors, sign up for their email newsletters and set up Google Alerts. This way, you’ll be instantly notified whenever they publish new content or get featured on other sites. This gives you a chance to react swiftly and seize potential backlink opportunities.
Discover Broken Links for Backlink Building
While analyzing your competitors’ websites, pay attention to broken links. Capitalize on the broken link-building strategy, which offers a quick and straightforward way to capture backlinks.
Broken links refer to those that no longer work or exist on a website. They may result from the source website removing the links (known as a 404 error), improper URLs, or the destination website closing or moving to a different domain.
This situation presents an excellent opportunity for you to acquire a backlink. Simply identify broken links, reach out to the website owners, report the issue, and offer your site as a replacement. It’s as simple as that!
Tools like Semrush or Ahrefs can help you identify broken links. In Semrush, filter the Backlinks report of your competitor and check the box for “Lost” under the different options. This will display the links that no longer work.
In Ahrefs, enter the competitor’s website URL in its Site Explorer and click on “Broken” under the Backlinks options in the left menu. The tool will present you with a list of broken links.
Once you have this list, contact the webmasters of the respective websites and report the broken links. Introduce yourself politely and mention the exact location of the broken link, expressing your willingness to help. Provide various alternatives for the broken link, including your own website. Often, webmasters will utilize your website as a replacement, resulting in a backlink for you.
Create High-Quality Content That Attracts Links
Creating exceptional content is one of the fundamental methods of acquiring backlinks. Your goal should be to develop content that is valuable enough for other bloggers and industry experts to reference and link back to your site.
While this strategy may require time and effort, it is undoubtedly worth it. You can produce various types of content, such as how-to articles, guides, list posts, or engaging quizzes.
For example, if you run a fashion blog, you could create a how-to post on starting a fashion brand with only $100 or a list post on 50 fashion trends reshaping society.
To determine which content type works best, utilize tools like MonsterInsights. Analyze the top landing page report to identify the pages receiving the most traffic. Create similar content to drive more traffic and attract backlinks.
Additionally, you can set up custom dimensions in MonsterInsights to understand the most popular post types. This will help you gain insights into the content you should be producing and promoting to obtain valuable backlinks.
Craft a Skyscraper Content Piece
Another effective method for acquiring backlinks is by creating a comprehensive skyscraper content piece. These extensively detailed guides on existing topics can be as long as 10,000+ words.
The concept behind skyscraper content is to develop a post that thoroughly covers all aspects of a topic, surpassing existing content in quality. By doing so, you can attract other websites to link back to your post, generating a substantial number of backlinks.
Begin by conducting a Google search on a topic within your niche. Examine the results, as these are the pages that have received a significant number of backlinks and made it to the first page of Google.
For example, if you’re writing about content marketing, review the search results. Analyze the content on each link and create your own post that surpasses them in every aspect.
Once your skyscraper content is ready, promotion becomes crucial. Reach out to individuals, influencers, companies, tools, and sources mentioned in your content. Inform them that you found their platform useful and encourage them to share your article with their audience.
As word spreads about your exceptional skyscraper guide, others will start referencing your content, resulting in valuable backlinks.
Additionally, you can identify websites that have already linked to similar posts and pitch your content as a superior alternative. Utilize SEO tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to extract a list of websites that have provided backlinks to the original article. Contact these websites, explain why your post is better, and encourage them to backlink to your content.
For more remarkable content marketing examples, continue exploring.
By implementing these strategies in a comprehensive and human tone, you’ll enhance your chances of capturing valuable backlinks and outperforming your competitors in the online realm.
Harness the Power of Infographics to Gain Valuable Backlinks
In addition to written content, leveraging infographics can significantly enhance your ability to secure backlinks for your website.
Infographics serve as visual representations of data and information, using graphics, images, and charts. They offer a concise overview of the subject matter, simplifying complex concepts into easily digestible visuals.
Consider the success story of WPBeginner, whose infographic on intriguing WordPress facts has garnered over 700 backlinks.
By creating engaging and informative infographics, you provide a valuable resource for other content creators. They may incorporate your visual masterpiece into their blogs and credit you as the original creator, earning you a backlink in return.
You don’t need to be a professional designer or hire one to create an infographic. Various free online tools are available that enable you to craft visually appealing infographics on your own. To get started, refer to the comprehensive guide on the best tools for visual content creation.
Write Compelling Testimonials for Backlinks
Did you know that writing testimonials on external websites can earn you backlinks to your own site?
Numerous businesses seek testimonials to establish social proof, often showcasing them on their homepage.
If you regularly use a particular tool or service, you can write a testimonial in exchange for a backlink. Identify companies relevant to your industry and submit a testimonial expressing your positive experience.
Focus on websites with high domain authority (DA) as search engines consider backlinks from such sites to be of superior quality.
Leverage Help a Reporter Out (HARO) for Backlinks
When it comes to high-quality backlinks, securing links from news websites and journalistic blogs is akin to hitting the jackpot. These sites boast high domain authority, and being featured on them can significantly elevate your website’s credibility.
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is an exceptional platform for acquiring backlinks from news outlets. It serves as a resource for journalists and bloggers seeking expert sources for news stories and articles.
To utilize HARO effectively, sign up as a source on their homepage and choose a suitable pricing plan (the free basic plan is a great starting point).
Upon registration, you’ll start receiving emails from HARO containing requests from various news and media websites seeking quotes, advice, tips, stories, and more.
Respond to inquiries that align with your business and expertise. If your response gets selected, you’ll earn a valuable backlink from the respective news website.
Embrace Guest Blogging to Boost Your Backlink Profile
Guest blogging is a highly effective and time-tested strategy for obtaining backlinks to your website. By reaching out to different websites that accept guest posts, you can submit your own articles for publication.
Numerous websites offer contributor accounts or dedicated “Write for Us” sections, allowing anyone to contribute an article and receive recognition. Typically, these platforms permit you to include a link to your site in either the author bio section or within the body of the content.
To find guest blogging opportunities, perform a simple Google search. Enter the topic keyword you wish to target, followed by phrases like “guest article,” “write for us,” or “contributor.” The search engine will filter the results and display sites that welcome guest posts.
Once you’ve identified potential websites, craft a compelling pitch that outlines your proposed topic and the value it brings to their readership. Clearly communicate the benefits of your article.
Guest blogging enables you to precisely target your desired audience while driving traffic to your website. For more in-depth guidance, consult the ultimate guide to guest blogging.
Engage in Interviews for Backlinks
If you’re looking to secure valuable backlinks, participating in interviews can be a great opportunity. Similar to guest posts, interviews allow you to obtain backlinks from reputable websites. To land an interview, you can search the web for sites that regularly conduct interviews in your industry.
One effective way of securing interviews is by utilizing HARO (Help a Reporter Out). Keep an eye out for relevant queries that specifically ask for interviews or quotations. Responding to these queries can increase your chances of being featured in an interview.
Make Guest Appearances on Podcasts
Another effective method to gain backlinks is by being a guest on podcasts. By appearing as a guest on podcasts, you can earn a free backlink through the podcast notes.
To find relevant podcasts, you can follow a similar approach to finding interviews. Conduct a quick search on platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and others. Once you find podcasts that align with your niche, reach out to them via email expressing your interest in being a guest.
Provide details about your experience, explain why you’re a good fit for the podcast, and emphasize how you can add value to their audience.
As you start appearing on multiple podcasts, you’ll gradually build a following. This following can then be leveraged if you decide to create your own podcast on your website. If you’re interested in creating a podcast, you can refer to our comprehensive guide on the best WordPress podcast plugins.
Engage in Forums and Discussion Boards
Participating in forums and discussion boards not only helps you secure backlinks but also positions you as an industry expert and drives traffic to your site.
To find relevant forums, conduct a Google search using variations of the following search terms related to your niche: “[your niche] + forums,” “Forums + [your niche],” or “[your niche] + discussion.” Additionally, you can respond to questions on platforms like Quora, which provides a wide range of topics for engagement. Simply enter a search term on Quora, and it will present you with relevant questions to answer.
Another effective way to find forums is by analyzing your competitors’ backlinks. By using various SEO tools, you can identify which forums they have utilized for backlinks and replicate their approach
List Your Site on Resource Pages
An additional strategy to acquire backlinks is by listing your website on resource pages. Resource pages are curated lists of helpful resources, products, and services.
To find resource pages, perform a search engine query with your keyword along with terms like “helpful resources” or “resource list.” Once you identify relevant resource lists, reach out to the webmasters or site owners and propose including your site on their list. Personalize your emails, include the specific links where you want your site to be listed, and emphasize how your website or tool adds value to their resource page and benefits their readers.
In conclusion, while these tactics may not be revolutionary, they have proven to be effective. Remember not to overwhelm yourself by attempting all of them at once. Start with one, learn from the experience, refine your approach, and gradually expand your efforts. Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter if you have any questions or need further assistance.