Backlinks are one of the best ways to improve your website’s rankings on a wide range of search engines. In fact, they are often deemed one of the most important factors in having your site rank well. Read on to find out exactly what they are and how to nab them for your search engine optimization (SEO).
What are backlinks?
In SEO, a backlink is any link that points from one website to yours. Backlinks are also known as inbound links, because a link on a completely separate web domain is directing a user into your website.
A backlink is not just any link connecting two sites. If a page on your site contains a link pointing to a different domain, that is an external link for you, and a backlink for the other website. You cannot produce backlinks by connecting pages within your own website, either - that’s known as an internal link.
Why are backlinks important?
Search engines value backlinks because they see it as evidence that your website is trustworthy and therefore a credible source. The more domains that point to a page on your site, the more you’ll be deemed credible by search engines. This isn’t to say that you can create a bunch of empty websites with your backlink and expect to rank well. High-quality backlinks are vital!
How Can I Get High-Quality Backlinks for My Website?
Getting high-quality backlinks can be a challenge, so we’ve ranked our tips from easiest to most difficult.
1. Link your social media pages to your site
The easiest way to obtain backlinks is to create them for yourself. LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram are great places to start. Just post a URL to your desired site, blog or page in your bio.
2. Create valuable, helpful content
If multiple other websites link their users to a blog that you post, that’s a surefire sign that the post is credible and has some seriously important info to offer. Blog posts, particularly how-to and explanation posts, are more likely to receive backlinks from other websites. Focus on creating content that’s useful to your audience, and more people will direct their readers to you.
3. Guest blog on other websites
Guest blogging is a great way to score backlinks and build your network at the same time. It does require some time and effort to reach out to other domain owners and pitch your blog idea, but is well worth it to score a superior SEO boost. Make sure to reach out to high-authority domains that are relevant to your content. Also, be sure to create a custom email - recipients can tell when it has been a copy and paste job!
4. Host an interview or guest blog
This is another method that requires a fair bit of networking and outreach, but is guaranteed to gain premium backlinks. Get in touch with influencers in your industry to create content that features on your page, and they’ll be sure to show off their work to their followers, complete with a shiny new link to your site.
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