The Legend of the Links continued… Part Two of my Inbound Links blog. In my March 2015 blog, I shared that:

  • Inbound Links have always been an important part of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • There are various ways and means to acquire them
  • You receive them when another site mentions you and/or Links to your site
  • They are connections via code to your website from an outside source (like another website or directory)
  • They are a major component of the search engines’ rankings and results

I left you to, “Think of Link building as a methodical process” and to:

  • Determine your business’ inherent, basic value
  • Determine your unique selling proposition
  • Understand your target audience
  • Understand your industry presence

Once you have this information in hand, you can make an organized and logical approach to develop and implement a successful, quality Link building strategy.

 

Quality Link building sources/activities include:

  • Directory listings such as Yellow Pages
  • Search Engine listings like Google and Yahoo
  • Reviews/testimonials like Yelp
  • Content marketing with the goal of attracting Links:
    • Make sure that your content is unique
    • Make it easy for visitors to Link to your content: You can display a little widget that let’s people link to your site if they like the content (a small application with limited functionality that can be installed and executed within a web page by a visitor) on your page to direct people. Make sure that the URLs on your website are short and easy to copy and paste as well.
  • Press Releases
  • Quality websites:
    • Businesses you work with
    • Local governmental sites
    • Local relevant trade schools/colleges
    • Industry association sites
    • Sites with an audience within your target demographic
  • Asking for a Link:
    • Does it truly make sense for this site to be Link to you?
    • Would you still want this Link even if it were a no-follow link?
    • Do you have a variety of types of Links pointing to your site?
    • Is the site owner really wanting to Link to you?

Why Links still matter in 2015

Link building is about building a reputation and getting the Links you deserve. It’s about being proactive, finding specific opportunities, and capitalizing on those opportunities. Anytime a website willingly, knowingly, editorially Links to another website, is a sign of trust and authority.

Organic links are proof that your content is useful, and that readers want to share your content within their social networks. This digital version of word-of-mouth marketing isn’t something that can be bought, it must be earned with a strategy that focuses on the end-user – not the search ranking you’re hoping to gain.

Always work within Google’s Guidelines and strive to build Links the right way.

To grow your search visibility, you need to be concerned about Links. You need to have either a member of staff, or a partnering business whose job it is to optimize your Link building. You need to have someone involved in your online marketing efforts whose job it is to recognize and help develop Link opportunities.

Contact us today to learn more about Link building.

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/32547150@N00/2844476751″>links</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>(license)</a>

Call Now Button