Do you want to generate more organic traffic to your website, rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs), or become a leading source of information in your industry?

Welcome to part two of our SEO Beginner's Guide! After covering the fundamentals of SEO in our previous blog, up next is how to create your own link building strategy. Whether you just started or are already on your way to climb to the top of the Google page, here is a simple guide to developing an effective link building strategy. But what is link building and how can it give your products or services the attention they deserve?

What is link building? Why do you need it?

Link building is part of the off-page SEO strategies. It is the process of establishing hyperlinks (also called backlinks) on other websites which refer people to your content and webpages. Basically, it is the website equivalent of a vote of confidence or a letter of recommendation. Someone outside of your organization wants his audience to see your page, or references you as a source of information.

Since 1998, backlinks have been a vital part of Google’s search engine. They help the algorithm to discover new pages and are an important factor for determining where a page ranks on SERPs. Both the quantity and the quality of backlinks are considered to assess how useful your webpage is for keyword searches related to your domain.

If many trusted and popular websites link to you, search algorithms assume you must have high authority in your field. Hence, you appear higher in search results, leading to increased organic traffic.

However, building high-quality backlinks takes time and effort. Attempting to shortcut your way to a high number of links can even put you further behind the starting line as search engines can call your bluff.

How to create an effective link building strategy?

Link-building should not be considered as a stand-alone discipline. It should be connected to and complement your entire digital marketing strategy. As tempting as they might appear, avoid quick fixes like buying backlinks, spamming across social media accounts, or mass emailing random website hosts. Too many weak links or random backlinks from websites that do not relate to your topic only decrease your site’s authority in the search engine.

Backlinks leading to sustainable growth in traffic need to be earned. While most SEO practices are purely driven by data, link building is about building long-term relationships. Relationships between your business, other website owners, and a potential audience.

"Link-building should not be considered as a stand-alone discipline. It should be connected to and complement your entire digital marketing strategy."

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Practical steps to developing your link building strategy

1. Identify your link building assets

Consider which of your assets hold the most value for your target group. What does your business have which could spike their interest the most. Backlink assets can come in various shapes and sizes. They could be an incredible product or service, an amazing piece of content you wrote, insightful industry data you collected, or even an expert in your team who has valuable advice. Don’t have one yet? Don’t worry. This is your chance to become creative and start from scratch.

2. Find relevant platforms

After you have identified your assets, it’s time to find relevant platforms which could provide high-quality backlinks to you. The better you know your target audience and the industry, the easier it is. Ask yourself questions like; which websites do people visit to find information about my topic domain? Where can I add useful information?

2. Find relevant platformsAfter you have identified your assets, it’s time to find relevant platforms which could provide high-quality backlinks to you. The better you know your target audience and the industry, the easier it is. Ask yourself questions like; which websites do people visit to find information about my topic domain? Where can I add useful information?There are plenty of possibilities; blogs, journals, resource pages, round-up posts, news articles, and even podcasts. Just make sure the platform is relevant to your content and you can add something valuable to the audience. Remember, quality over quantity for a greater impact. If you do not have a backlink explorer tool, look for backlinks to competitors or try Google trends or Buzzsumo to find recent and relevant websites for your keywords. To explore if your expertise can land you a feature in news media H/A/R/O can be a useful resource to connect you with a journalist looking for a source.

3. Make your page link-worthy

"A link-building strategy won’t give you magic results overnight but gradually supports your growth sustainably over time."

4. Approach your target platform

When your content is ready, it is time to approach your target platform. Your goal should be to build relationships with relevant influencers in your industry or to grow a genuine community of people who want to interact with your website. To achieve this, honesty and integrity are key. When you compose your pitch or message to ask for a backlink you need to include a good reason why your content is valuable for the other party’s audience. After all, it is a value exchange. You can try to identify outdated information on your target platform which you could improve, offer to provide data or write a guest post.

5. Track your progress with a goal in mind

As with any strategy, it is important to monitor progress regularly and assess whether you are still on track. Especially if you start from scratch, you need to have realistic expectations. A link-building strategy won’t give you magic results overnight but gradually supports your growth sustainably over time. Make a list with backlinks you already have and plan to establish in the future. Monitor if your search volume and SERP position improve. Check organic traffic and watch your conversion rate.

Now that we have covered what link building is, why you need it and how you can develop your own link building strategy, it is time for action. We believe SEO is an incredible opportunity for any business to grow their online presence. We will continue to update our blog with new guides and actionable steps regularly.

Start planning your next steps toward SEO today with the help of a marketing specialized High-flyer! Post your project for free on Minite to find a highly qualified student freelancer to elevate your link building strategy.

4. Looking at the bigger picture

It is common for freelancers to juggle multiple projects at once, working on their own time schedule. Traditional freelancers are hired for short-term projects which thus translate into short-term relationships. However, with our student High-Flyers, you get all the benefits of a freelancer while still maintaining the opportunity to build relationships that can turn into long-term employment. Our High-flyers won't be freelancers forever: their intentions are to add value to your business, gain relevant experience and meet future employers in the process. Your High-flyer could be your next fulltimer, and this is a great opportunity to meet and work together in a low-risk setting. You never know when the opportunity arises. It's a win-win scenario from where we stand!

Hiring an intern or opting for a freelancer depends on your requirements and what resources you have available. As a rule of thumb, you can use this: while interns cost time and require guidance, freelancers save time and add value.

Ready to bring your business to the next level with flexible student freelancers? Post your project for free on Minite and let us connect you with the best pre-qualified High-flyer talent.

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