How To Build Links Into Your Website (Rebroadcast)

You know having links coming into your website is one way to build your credibility with search engines but it is also a way to drive website traffic from those places online.

So how do you build links without being a b-bag?

It is slow work that will build over time.

Google ‘Backlink Checker Free’ and find many tools which will show you your backlinks. Things you should be able to find out are:

Domain linking to you
Is it a no-follow link?
Anchor text
Domain/page authority

What you want (in the ideal SEO world):

Lots of links coming from different domains
Links coming from high power domains (ex: .edu sites, New York Times, etc.)
Links going to many pages on your site (not just homepage)
Good text (anchor text) linked from those pages (ex: “click here” versus “really helpful tutorial on how to cut your hair at home”)

Some ways to get back links that aren’t sketchy:

Make a business listing everywhere you can (and pick the free option). Common places: Google My Business, Yahoo Local, Bing Local, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and LinkedIn Company. There might even be directories specific to your type of business (ex: coworking directories). Add the word ‘free’ to your search if you find a bunch of paid ones, you don’t need those.
Share links to your website (and not just home page) on social media. Note: If you sell products, set up Facebook Product Catalog so you can tag them on Instagram AND have them show up as a ‘Shop’ tab on your Facebook business page.
Comments and guest posts on related websites – Use Gravatar.com if you want to leave a good looking comment on many WordPress blogs. Also don’t just say ‘Nice blog’ – add to the conversation with your comment. You can Google ‘guest post glass blowing blogs’ (well, fill out the name of your industry). With a guest post, you get a byline where you can link to your website (example Nicole guest post: https://jottful.com/blog/how-to-not-waste-money-on-facebook-ads/)
Create social media posts that link back to your site. – When you do social media posts, it’s important to link back to different parts of your website, not just your homepage. I have found Pinterest and Reddit to be especially good places. Making them visually appealing, using hashtags, and having a helpful description can incentivize clicking too.
Earned media (AKA news outlets, influencers, etc.) will get you high quality links faster but you’ll need to take time to cultivate those relationships. Sites like helpareporterout.com or pressful.com (if you don’t mind paying a bit) can help get you started.

The most important thing though is to have stuff on your website worth linking to. How tos, useful information, a page of linked resources curated around a topic, etc. A blog is a good way to have a place to put things but you can also make static pages on your website that do the same.

As I’ve said, link building is a slow game but if you are in it for the SEO long haul, one worth playing.

Like our stuff? Sign up for our marketing email newsletter — breakingeveninc.com/newsletter

Want to work with us? Book a consultation — calendly.com/breakingeven

Want to see previous episodes?