Three Powerful Backlink Strategies That Boost Organic Visibility

Backlinks, the digital equivalent of a thumbs-up from another website, are still a cornerstone of search engine optimization (SEO) in 2024. They tell search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. Which translates directly into higher rankings and increased organic visibility. Right?

But not all backlinks are created equal. A single high-quality backlink from a reputable source can be worth more than hundreds of low-quality links from spammy sites. So, how do you focus your efforts on the strategies that truly move the needle?

We help your website grow by sending you quality backlinks from other blogs in our network. So, we know a thing or two about what works. Let's dive into three powerful backlink strategies that can significantly boost your organic visibility. Forget the silver bullet- there's no such thing.

1. Guest Blogging on Relevant, High-Authority Sites

Guest blogging, writing and publishing an article on another website, is a classic backlink strategy for a reason. It's effective when done right. It allows you to tap into an established audience, showcase your expertise, and, most importantly, earn a valuable backlink back to your site.

But here’s the catch: Relevance is key.

Finding the Right Guest Blogging Opportunities

You wouldn't try to sell snowboards to beachgoers, would you? Okay, maybe you would if you had a really compelling sales pitch. Finding relevant websites in your niche is similar. Start by identifying websites that:

• Serve a similar audience: Are the readers of this site the people you want visiting your website?
• Have high domain authority (DA): A website's DA is a score (on a scale of 1-100) that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine results pages (SERPs). Aim for websites with a DA of 30 or higher.
• Publish high-quality content: Is the content well-written, informative, and engaging? You want to associate your brand with quality.

You can use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz to identify potential guest blogging opportunities and assess their domain authority.

Crafting Compelling Guest Posts

Once you've identified some potential targets, it's time to start crafting your pitch.

• Research their content: Understand the types of articles they typically publish and the topics they cover.
• Personalize your pitch: Don't send a generic email. Address the editor by name and explain why you think your guest post would be a good fit for their audience.
• Offer unique value: Propose topics that are fresh, insightful, and not already covered extensively on their site.
• Write exceptional content: This is your chance to shine. Make sure your guest post is well-written, informative, and provides value to the reader. Grammar is important. And so is spelling.

Securing the Backlink

Here's the most important part, obviously.

• Include a relevant link: Naturally incorporate a link back to your website within the body of the article or in your author bio. Make sure the link is relevant to the context of the surrounding content.
• Use keyword-rich anchor text: Use anchor text that accurately describes the content on the page you are linking to.
• Follow their guidelines: Adhere to the website's guest posting guidelines. This includes formatting requirements, word count, and link placement.

Honestly? This never worked for me until I started focusing on highly specific, niche blogs. I was trying to appeal to everyone. Bad move.

2. The Skyscraper Technique: Building on Existing Content

The Skyscraper Technique, popularized by Brian Dean of Backlinko, involves finding popular content in your niche, creating something even better, and then reaching out to people who are already linking to the original content. It's about one-upping the competition.

Finding Popular Content

Start by identifying popular content in your niche. Use search engines, social media, and industry publications to find articles, blog posts, and resources that have generated a lot of buzz and backlinks.

• Search for relevant keywords: Use keywords related to your niche to find popular content on search engines.
• Analyze competitor backlinks: Use backlink analysis tools to see which content on your competitors' websites is attracting the most backlinks.
• Check social media: See which articles are being shared and discussed the most on social media platforms.

Creating "Skyscraper" Content

Once you've found a piece of popular content, it's time to create something even better. What does that even mean?

• Make it more comprehensive: Cover the topic in greater depth and detail.
• Add more value: Include original research, case studies, and expert insights.
• Improve the design: Make it more visually appealing and easier to read. (Like my neighbor's lawn gnomes- they're a little much.)
• Update the information: Ensure the information is current and accurate.

Reaching Out and Building Links

Now for the fun part. Reaching out. Once you've created your "skyscraper" content, it's time to reach out to people who are already linking to the original content and let them know about your improved version.

• Find the right contacts: Use tools like Hunter.io to find the email addresses of the people who are responsible for the websites you want to target.
• Personalize your outreach: Don't send a generic email. Explain why you think your content is better than the original and why their audience would benefit from it.
• Offer a compelling reason to link: Explain how linking to your content will benefit their website and their audience.
• Be polite and persistent: Don't be pushy, but don't give up after the first email. Follow up with them a few times.

Wait- that reminds me…I once sent an email to the wrong person and accidentally pitched my content to a competitor. Awkward.

3. Resource Page Link Building: Become a Valuable Resource

Resource page link building involves finding resource pages in your niche and getting your website listed as a valuable resource. Resource pages are curated lists of helpful links and resources on a particular topic. (Think of them as a curated digital library.) By getting your website listed on these pages, you can earn high-quality backlinks and attract targeted traffic.

Finding Relevant Resource Pages

The first step is to find resource pages in your niche. Use search engines to find pages that are specifically designed to list helpful resources.

• Use search operators: Try using search operators like "intitle:resources" or "inurl:resources" along with keywords related to your niche.
• Look for "best of" lists: Search for "best of" lists and directories in your industry.
• Check competitor backlinks: See which resource pages your competitors are listed on.

Creating a Valuable Resource

Before you reach out to resource page owners, make sure your website is actually a valuable resource.

• Create high-quality content: Your website should contain informative, engaging, and up-to-date content.
• Offer unique value: What makes your website stand out from the competition? Offer something that other websites don't.
• Make it easy to navigate: Ensure your website is easy to use and navigate.
• Optimize for search: Make sure your website is optimized for search engines so that people can easily find it.

Reaching Out to Resource Page Owners

Once you've created a valuable resource, it's time to reach out to resource page owners and ask them to list your website on their page.

• Personalize your outreach: Don't send a generic email. Explain why you think your website would be a valuable addition to their resource page and why their audience would benefit from it.
• Provide a brief description: Provide a brief description of your website and the types of resources it offers.
• Make it easy for them to add your link: Provide them with the HTML code for your link so that they can easily add it to their page.
• Be polite and professional: Thank them for their time and consideration.

So yeah, it takes effort. But it's worth it. A TechCrunch piece last spring hinted at the continued importance of resource link building in a post-algorithm-update world.

The Long Game

Building backlinks is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and persistence to see results. Don't expect to see overnight success. Focus on building high-quality backlinks from relevant websites, and your organic visibility will gradually improve over time. And don't try to game the system with black-hat tactics. They never work in the long run. Trust me, I've tried.

Think of it this way: each backlink is a vote of confidence in your website. The more votes you get, the more trustworthy your website will appear to search engines. And the higher you'll rank in the search results. And who doesn't want that?