Did you know that when building backlinks, not every link is created equal?
As search engines become smarter, more focus is being given to the type and quality of the site content than the linking site itself. But do you know how to get the right links and really make them count?
If not, then we can help. Read on as we give our six essential tips for SEO backlink strategy building.
- Buying the Wrong Links
There are a lot of conflicting opinions about buying backlinks for an SEO strategy. Some people may say it is a black hat, an illegal technique that will get you penalized by search engines. However, most people have purchased backlinks at some point and if you buy the right one, they can be very effective.
The problem most people have purchasing cheap backlinks. These often come from untrustworthy websites, that may have high spam ratings or not have relevant content.
That means you need to make sure you are buying quality links. Make sure the site you buy from has a reputation and reviews from people who have said their links are effective. Make sure you discuss with them what kind of websites your links will come from.
Ideally, you buy guest posts on websites as opposed to simply the link. These SEO services Houston should be able to assist.
Another mistake is to have them appear all at once. This is a signal to search engines that something is amiss, and a trigger that you have purchased links instead of grown them organically. Make sure backlinks appear over a period of weeks and months, as opposed to all at once.
- Aiming for Quantity over Quality
Arguably the best SEO content strategy is to create quality content. This applies to both short and long-form articles. This content needs to be high quality and engaging because search engine algorithms are getting smarter and know how to pick out the best content.
You can start by implementing quality control audits of your content. When looking through a blog article, eliminate any paragraphs or sections that are not adding to the overall value. Prioritize quality over length.
If you are using any data or statistics, make sure they are relevant. The same should be done with any outgoing links. If a customer clicks on them, are they getting something of value at the other end?
- Not Breaking It Up
Large blocks of text are extremely overwhelming. When faced with them, many people will get bored and leave the website. If people are not reading your content, then they are unlikely to be backlinking to it.
There are a number of ways to increase text readability and break down large pieces of writing. Aim to keep paragraphs to around three or four sentences. Make sure every few paragraphs has H2 or H3 headers to break it up.
Another tactic is to employ design features to make it more interesting. Images, graphics, and videos are excellent ways to give the reader a rest.
One other tactic is to assume that many people will get bored halfway through, and give them something else to go to instead. For example, buttons and links suggesting other articles they may like can work excellently. By linking to other content on your site, you are keeping them from going elsewhere to find their information.
- Making Third-Party Metrics the Top Priority
Third-party metrics are extremely helpful when building an SEO linking strategy. They let you know, generally, where your website stands in relation to others. It tells you how respected and well known your website is within its field, and the wider internet in general.
However, it is important to understand that these are third-party. It is a way of judging these factors that have not been created by the search engines, but by third-party providers. As such, impressing them and getting higher ratings should not be the sole focus.
Many of these metrics focus on high domain authority links. While that is a great measure, domain authority can change over time. What is considered a high domain authority now may not be in a year?
This works in the same way lower domain authority websites with your link may grow. By getting a range of links, you are planting the seeds of link building.
- Using the Same Anchor Text
It is important that you optimize anchor text. This is the road sign pointing search engines your way. Thus, it needs to have the correct information and words.
Unfortunately, using the exact anchor text is not good practice. It looks strange, and it can seem like you are trying to play the search engines. It isn’t how links would naturally be built.
Try to vary the phrase or the name of the business. Never use the same keyword in anchor text more than 50% of the time.
- Ignoring Irrelevant Links
When links build naturally, you know your SEO strategy is working. However, sometimes links will come from places you did not expect, and you may not want them. When search engine crawlers check your links, they can downgrade your SEO score and penalize you.
For example, an adult or gambling website could negatively impact your website. You can prevent this by regularly checking your links. Any you don’t want should be disavowed.
Create an Effective SEO Backlink Strategy
In summary, you need to create quality content and link from relevant sites. These do not have to be high domain authority but should be a mix. Quality over quantity should be your mantra.
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