What the heck is link building?
Simply, it means acquiring hyperlinks from other websites back to your own, and also, developing outbound or internal links on your own website. Backlinks—also known as Inbound—are integral to your SEO strategy, and are loved by search engines. Why are search engines like Google totally smitten with backlinks? Well, each link leading to space on the web is like a little vote of confidence—a big thumbs up to the quality and value of your content. If another trusted site is willing to tell their users that you’ve got a great website, then you must be offering something of value, right?
Quick Case Study: Adam and Eve are selling band/music t-shirts through Shopify and manage to get a backlink from Rolling Stone Magazine, or even Hot Press. Boom! Google loves this.
You’re probably wondering: "how do I secure backlinks if I’m a new brand and have very little online presence?" So here are 5 tips to get you started with link building:
1. Guest posting: Contributing content on another website or blog in exchange for a link back to your own site is a great way to kick off your build. For example, a well respected fashion brand owner is asked to write a guest post for Vogue on A/W 18 Trends. The content is published on Vogue with an author bio and a link back to the brand's online store.
2. PR: Planning parties, travelling to exotic locations, and rubbing shoulders with celebs? Well that’s only part of a publicist's job. When you work In PR, it’s your job to manage a client’s public image and manage relationships with media and press. Give some old fashioned Public Relations a twist and move it online. Offline, you’d shoot out a press release and get some column inches. Online, we can do exactly the same. Find something newsworthy about your brand. Are you launching a new product range, or planning an event to showcase your new collection? Find relevant online publications/bloggers and let them know. Help a Reporter connects news sources and journalists and is used by The New York Times, and Refinery29.
3. Listings: Go find some local directories that are relevant to your industry and get listed. Add as much info as is necessary and get those backlinks! Google My Business is considered a directory and if you manage to get into the top three Google pick then you’re golden. Get listed in Yelp, or even Citysearch.
4. Networking: Although Google has stated that social shares don't have an impact on your SEO, don't forget that it can still add another layer to your SEO strategy. Always remember the about the importance of socialising! Trying to get genuine links from your tribe will never hurt your brand and does increase brand awareness. What about industry-relevant forums and blogs? Engage with people online and leave your link where applicable. Make sure it’s doesn't look spammy though.
5. Internal Links: An internal link is one that points to another page on the same website, helping establish information hierarchy and spreading. How might a merchant develop an internal link strategy? Magda the Merchant runs an online, vegan food delivery service in New York. She writes a blog post about getting more phytonutrients in your diet and within that, links to monthly meal plan. Or Jack the Merchant from London runs a men's grooming site and writes a blog post about how fellas can protect their skin in winter. Within that he links to his new Winter Warrior Collection.
If you want to add any suggestions, or tips of your own for link building, do so below in the comments. Or feel free to hit me up on Insta @TheBeardedIrishman. I always love hearing from you...
Happy Saturday, Tribe X
