Three Powerful Backlink Strategies That Boost Organic Visibility

Backlinks: the cornerstone of a strong SEO strategy. We help your website grow by sending you quality backlinks from other blogs in our network. Let's dive into strategies to actually make them work for you.

What Are Backlinks and Why Do They Matter?

Simply put, a backlink is a link from one website to another. Think of them as votes of confidence. They signal to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank in search results. More visibility equals more organic traffic. And more organic traffic? Well, that equals more potential customers. Makes sense, right?

Why do they matter so much? Google and other search engines use backlinks as a major ranking factor. They see these links as endorsements. A site linking to you is essentially saying, "Hey, this website is worth checking out." The more of these endorsements you get (especially from authoritative websites), the better your website's authority becomes. Higher authority translates directly to better search engine rankings.

Remember that time our team was scrambling before a deadline? The sticky keyboard from that coffee spill during our launch, the frantic emails…it was chaos! We were laser-focused on content, and backlinks took a backseat. Bad move. Our rankings took a noticeable hit. We learned our lesson, though. Backlinks are crucial.

Strategy 1: Guest Blogging – Content is Still King

Guest blogging involves writing and publishing articles on other websites in your niche. It's a win-win situation. You get exposure to a new audience, and the host website gets free, high-quality content. And, of course, you get a backlink.

Finding Guest Blogging Opportunities

Finding relevant blogs that accept guest posts is the first step.

• Google is your friend: Use search queries like "[your niche] guest post," "[your niche] write for us," or "[your niche] guest article."
• Social media: Search for relevant hashtags on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to find blogs actively seeking guest contributors.
• Competitor analysis: See where your competitors are getting backlinks from. If they're guest blogging, you can too.

Crafting a Compelling Pitch

Your pitch is your first impression. Make it count. Personalize it. Address the blog owner by name and show that you've actually read their content.

• Highlight your expertise: Briefly explain your qualifications and why you're the perfect person to write about the topic.
• Suggest specific topics: Come up with a few unique and engaging topic ideas that align with the blog's audience. No generic fluff.
• Provide examples: Include links to your best writing samples to showcase your skills.

Writing a Killer Guest Post

Once your pitch is accepted, it's time to write an amazing article. High quality is a must! Provide value to the readers, and don't just promote your own website.

• Follow the blog's guidelines: Pay close attention to the formatting, style, and tone of the website.
• Write original content: Plagiarism is a big no-no. Ensure your article is unique and hasn't been published elsewhere.
• Include a natural backlink: Incorporate a backlink to your website naturally within the content or in your author bio. Don't force it.

Honestly? This never worked for me until I stopped writing about my company and started writing about industry trends.

Strategy 2: Broken Link Building – Find and Replace

Broken link building is a clever strategy that involves finding broken links on other websites and offering your content as a replacement. It's a great way to get backlinks from authoritative websites.

Finding Broken Links

The first step is to identify websites in your niche that have broken links. This can be done using various tools.

• Link checker tools: Use online link checker tools to scan websites for broken links (e.g., Dead Link Checker).
• Browser extensions: Install browser extensions like Check My Links to quickly identify broken links on a page.
• Manual checks: Browse relevant websites and manually check for broken links. This can be time-consuming, but it can also uncover hidden gems.

Creating High-Quality Replacement Content

Once you've found a broken link, create a piece of content that is relevant and valuable to replace it.

• Identify the topic: Determine the topic of the broken link's original content.
• Create better content: Write a comprehensive and up-to-date article that covers the same topic but is even better than the original.
• Ensure relevance: Make sure your content is highly relevant to the website where you're seeking a backlink.

Reaching Out to Website Owners

Once you've created your replacement content, reach out to the website owner and let them know about the broken link.

• Personalize your email: Address the website owner by name and show that you've actually visited their website.
• Explain the issue: Clearly explain that you found a broken link on their website.
• Offer your content as a replacement: Politely suggest your content as a suitable replacement for the broken link. A TechCrunch piece last spring hinted that personalized outreach drastically improves success rates.
• Be helpful, not pushy: Focus on providing value to the website owner, rather than just trying to get a backlink.

Wait- that reminds me… My Dad once tried this method to fix his model train layout. All the bridges kept collapsing. It worked, eventually. Persistence pays off, right?

Strategy 3: Skyscraper Technique – Build Something Bigger and Better

The Skyscraper Technique, coined by Brian Dean, involves finding popular content in your niche and creating something even better, taller, and more comprehensive.

Finding Popular Content

Identify content that is already performing well in your niche.

• BuzzSumo: Use BuzzSumo to find the most shared and linked-to content on a specific topic.
• Ahrefs: Use Ahrefs to identify content that has a high number of backlinks.
• Google Search: Search for relevant keywords and see which articles rank highest in the search results.

Creating Even Better Content

Once you've identified popular content, it's time to create something even better.

• Make it longer: Add more information and details to your article. Aim for a word count that exceeds the original.
• Make it more up-to-date: Include the latest research, statistics, and trends.
• Make it more visually appealing: Add images, videos, and infographics to make your content more engaging.
• Make it more actionable: Provide practical tips and strategies that readers can implement.

Promoting Your Content

Once you've created your skyscraper content, it's time to promote it and get backlinks.

• Reach out to people who linked to the original content: Let them know about your new and improved article.
• Share it on social media: Promote your content on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Email your subscribers: Send an email to your subscribers announcing your new article.
• Run paid advertising: Consider running paid advertising campaigns to reach a wider audience.

Anyway, backlinks are important for SEO. But it's also important to be authentic. Don't just build them for the sake of building them. Build them because you have something valuable to offer.

Beyond the Basics: Important Considerations

• Relevance: Focus on getting backlinks from websites that are relevant to your niche. A backlink from a completely unrelated website won't be as valuable.
• Authority: Prioritize backlinks from authoritative websites with high domain authority. These backlinks will have a greater impact on your search engine rankings.
• Diversity: Aim for a diverse range of backlinks from different websites and domains.
• "Natural" Anchor Text: Use varied and natural anchor text for your backlinks. Avoid using the same anchor text repeatedly, as this can look spammy.
• Monitor Your Backlinks: Regularly monitor your backlink profile to identify any toxic or low-quality backlinks that could harm your website's rankings.
• Patience: Building backlinks takes time and effort. Don't expect to see results overnight. Be patient and consistent, and you'll eventually see your organic visibility improve.

We've all heard stories about companies trying to game the system. Stuffing keywords, buying backlinks from shady sources…it never ends well. Long-term, it's always better to play by the rules and focus on providing value.

Conclusion: Backlinks and Beyond

So yeah, backlinks are undeniably a critical element in boosting organic visibility. These three powerful strategies- guest blogging, broken link building, and the Skyscraper Technique- provide a solid foundation for any SEO campaign. But they aren't a silver bullet a metal bullet. They require consistent effort, strategic thinking, and a commitment to creating high-quality content. So get out there, start building those backlinks, and watch your website soar in the search results!