No one can deny the importance of link acquisition. One of the quickest and safest ways to increase your online visibility and traffic is to obtain links from reputable websites. According to Backlinko, the top 1 results on Google have an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than the results in positions #2- #10. Quality backlinks will naturally boost user engagement on your website.
So how to promote backlink building? Or how to get quality backlinks? All will be answered right after this. Jeenam will share 9 techniques to build a quality backlink system.
What is Link Acquisition?
Backlink acquisition, also known as link building, is an SEO strategy that builds backlinks from high-authority websites to your website. Quality backlinks tell search engines that your website content is useful and trusted by many people.
Simply put, the more quality backlinks a website has, the more Google will value it. These backlinks act as an endorsement that your content is useful to users and improve SERP rankings.
Many people confuse link acquisition with link earning. Both of these concepts mean getting backlinks to your website, but there is a fundamental difference. Backlink acquisition is about getting links naturally and strategically through activities like guest posting, direct outreach, and a variety of other techniques. Link earning is about creating great content that naturally attracts links because it’s good.
9 Proven Link Acquisition Techniques
To build a quality backlink system, you can refer to the following 9 effective methods:
1. Niche edits
The first method is niche editing, which involves adding links to published content that is relevant to your niche or area of expertise. You can reach out to the content owner and suggest a way to enhance their content. This suggestion will include your link to provide value to their readers.
Niche editing is considered one of the most effective link-building methods because it is contextual linking, which is often favored by search engines. Niche editing also means adding links to indexed content, which helps boost rankings faster. This method also reduces penalties and contributes to a natural link profile thanks to diverse anchor text.
2. PR links
The next link-building method is PR linking – public relations linking. PR linking is the process of seeking backlinks from authoritative media sites, influencers, and high-authority websites. You need to make sure that your website content is newsworthy or is what the target audience of these authoritative websites is looking for. This will increase the likelihood that the media will use your link as a quality external link.
Building PR links will send a strong signal to search engines as well as your customers. PR links from high domain authority sites also help to increase your website’s competitiveness compared to competitors. A quality link from a major news outlet can be a huge source of traffic and backlinks, bringing benefits far beyond SEO.
3. Guest posting
Guest posting is the practice of creating valuable articles, documents, or other information for external websites in exchange for links. It is one of the most popular link acquisition techniques. A quality article on a high DR website will help pass link juice to your website, increasing referral traffic.
In addition, posting an article on an expert or media website also helps to show that you are an expert, increasing your credibility with readers. Guest posting is also a safe way to build links, reduce the risk of being penalized, and expand relationships in the industry.
4. Linkable assets
Another effective link-building method you can try is linkable assets. Linkable assets, also known as link bait content, are valuable and unique content that attract natural links. In simple terms, linkable assets are considered “magnets” that attract links due to their quality, making others willing to link to them.
Some types of linkable assets that you can refer to are infographics, fresh stats, thematic studies, listicles, educational videos, podcasts, case studies, etc. Link bait content will increase user engagement, keep them on the website longer, reduce bounce rates, and increase social sharing. Even if your linkable asset only receives one link from an authoritative website, you can still benefit from the link value and natural traffic from it.
5. Resource page link-building
Resource page link-building is a link-building strategy that requires a dedicated resource section on your website. This resource section usually shares free industry-related information and documents such as the latest statistics, research results, useful tips, tools, etc. These documents will attract other websites to link to them to enrich their content.
Resource page link-building is a win-win method, you get a backlink while other websites get complementary resources. Resource pages are created based on industry-related information, so the backlinks you get through them will also be closely related to the website content, increasing relevancy and authority.
6. Broken link building
Broken link building is a method of manual link acquisition by replacing broken links with valuable content and links from your website. This method is highly regarded for its effectiveness because anyone will appreciate it if you find a broken link in their system, and in return, you will get a quality backlink.
You can use SEMRush to check for 404 links on websites relevant to your niche and contact the owners to help fix them. Broken link building will usually result in highly relevant and authoritative backlinks because you are targeting them from the start. Plus, since you are offering to fix a broken link, your backlink request is more likely to be approved.
7. Unlinked mentions
The next link-building method that you should not ignore is unlinked mentions. Unlinked mentions are understood as a type of contextual backlink used to collect backlinks. This is a method in which you will actively search for your website or brand name and ask the owner to attach a link where your website/brand is mentioned.
You can use tools like BrandWatch, Brand24, or Ahref’s Content Explorer feature to track and find unlinked mentions. The unlinked mentions method will help you take advantage of the existing interest of other websites and if that website is highly authoritative, you will receive an extremely high-quality link. Unlinked mentions also help you secure backlinks and increase traffic effectively.
8. Blogger outreach
Blogger outreach is also a quick and effective way to get quality backlinks. According to THM Agency, about 60% of consumers click on a link when reading it on a product blog. Therefore, when you have a backlink on a blog, it is very likely that readers of that blog will click on it or share the link with you via social networks.
You can search for bloggers related to your field and start collaborating with them through guest posting, backlink exchanges, broken link building, etc. By reaching out to relevant bloggers, you will get quality, relevant, and high-authority backlinks in exchange. You also benefit from traffic, clicks, or shares from readers of that blog.
9. Content promotion
The final but extremely important link acquisition method is content promotion. Content promotion is sharing your content with a wide range of audiences to attract attention, increase engagement, and ultimately get links from other websites.
You can promote your content through social media, email marketing, or public relations. You can also consider including links in major forums, paid advertising, or repurposing your content in a variety of ways. Content promotion amplifies the reach of your content and attracts potential linkers who see value in sharing it with their followers.
Final Thought
Link acquisition is the key to improving your website’s ranking and authority. To get the best results, you should flexibly combine different techniques. The 9 link building techniques we just mentioned are effective tools to boost your SEO campaign. However, success does not come from mechanical application but requires creativity and perseverance. Start today by carefully analyzing your website and choosing the most suitable techniques. Link building is a long-term process that requires constant monitoring and adjustment.