There are a bazillion tips and tricks for raising a site’s search engine results. Most SEO professionals would probably concur that link building is an essential part of every SEO strategy. Why so? One of the most significant ranking criteria for search engines is high-quality backlinks.
However, there are numerous types of connections. You’ve probably discussed the importance of backlinks to a website’s rating at least once in your life. To clear things up, we prepared this short introduction to the various backlinks available and how they can be used to improve your website’s search engine optimisation.
How do connections work?
Backlinks, also known as inbound links or outbound links, are connections to your pages from other websites that Google uses to determine how relevant and high-quality those pages are. Google uses backlinks as a signal for how highly to place a page in search results; the more backlinks a page has, the more likely it is to score highly.
Definition of “Do-Follow” Links
In any case, the PageRank algorithm, which determines the worth of each connection, makes things more complicated than they otherwise would be. When it comes to PageRank, quantity isn’t greater than quality. Rather, it’s the quality of the sites that link back that matters.
This search engine optimisation (SEO) value, also known as “link juice,” is typically passed along by inbound connections. Dofollow connections are what carry the SEO weight.
SEO-friendly varieties of backlinks
These links are the best for search engine optimisation because they send as much “link juice” to the site as possible without the chance of a penalty.
1. Backlinks in the editorial
The quantity of “link juice” passed on to your site depends on the quality of the linking source. However, we will focus on inbound links from reputable sites because of their greater SEO value.
2. Links that come from guest posts
Without a doubt, guest posting is not obsolete. Guest posting on a massive scale with the sole goal of increasing backlinks is frowned upon by Google.
One of the most effective methods to get a link from a high-quality site of your choosing is to post as a guest blogger on that site. Link juice is maximised when you publish on networks that:
- Build a solid portfolio of links;
- are involved in a similar field;
- Only share excellent material;
Offer you more than just a hyperlink in your bio (that Google will follow);
Good levels of user participation (real comments, substantial social media following).
3. Hyperlinks in acknowledgements
Speaking at an industry event, sponsoring one, or making a contribution typically results in some form of recognition from the event’s organisers and attendees.
References on the host site;
Mentions of your business online that lead back to you via social media.
If your field allows it, you should seek out the most significant gatherings of your peers.
4. Link juice from specialised and regional indexes
For search engine optimisation purposes, niche or area directories are invaluable. As a first benefit, they increase foot traffic. You’ve probably used Yelp, Foursquare, the Yellow Pages, All Business Now, 411.com, and similar sites to find ratings. Also, many sites still allow backlinks, which is great because it means more link juice for your site.
Links that help spread the word about your business.
There are numerous kinds of backlinks that can increase your site’s exposure and traffic, but they will not pass any link value to your site because of the nofollow attribute. Still, it doesn’t hurt to make connections like these. Isn’t it great if folks find their way to your site?
5. Web addresses shared on social media
Google indexes Facebook and Twitter messages in the same way it does any other website. This manner, people will follow the link to your site when it is mentioned on social media.
The but is this. Links in social media messages are typically nofollow. Furthermore, Google lacks the manpower to crawl every social media website. Any time a post is shared, a link is shared, or a status update is made, Google sees that as a new website that needs to be crawled.
6. Connections in professional accounts
You can leave a link (or several) to your site whenever you establish a business profile for your brand on social media, review sites, or industry directories. These connections are likely to be nofollow, but they will still aid in expanding your brand’s reach.
Check your Google My Business page regularly. Google is actively updating them to improve the precision of its neighbourhood search. Google My Business listings take up a third of the real estate above the fold in Google search engine results pages; this is a great spot to leave a link to your site.
7. Comment links
The knowledge contained in the comments is invaluable. In the comments section, readers can call out mistakes, add more information, or start debates about contentious claims. Post pertinent comments and provide a link to your site to back up your claim; doing so is both safe and helpful.
However, since most links in comments are nofollow, they are more helpful for increasing brand awareness than for SEO link popularity.
8. In-bio links
The author bio link is often the only accessible link in a guest article, and it is often nofollow. Similarly, most social media profiles have biographies.
At the very least, there are two important reasons to prioritise this connection profile. The first is the increased visibility that comes from sharing content on social media. The second is that, because social media are so pervasive today, accounts in the most popular platforms are essential for being found online.