The Beginner’s Guide To Understanding Backlinks
If you are a complete beginner to search engine optimization, then you’ve probably heard that the number one way to rank your website is by getting more backlinks to your site. However, it sounds so much easier than it is. For example, did you know that poor quality links can get you penalized and even de-indexed from Google and other search engines? Your best bet is to hire a dedicated SEO service to handle things for you.
Did you also know that Google uses hundreds of different signals to determine the quality, legitimacy, and authority of each link pointing back to your site? On another point, did you know that there are several types of links you can use?
What Are Backlinks?
In SEO, a backlink refers to an inbound hyperlink from one web page to another web page. In other words, site “X” is linking to site “Y” in the form of a clickable string of text, a URL, or an image. When clicked on, it opens the embedded URL within the hyperlink that it is pointed to.
Types of Links
After looking at different aspects of link building, let us discuss the types of backlinks you can use.
Self-created Links
These are also referred to as non-editorial links. These are created via forum signatures, guest book signings, user profiles and blog comments. These can be perceived as having the lowest value, but can still have an overall impact. However, too many of these links may make search engines identify your site as spammy.
Editorial Links
These are also referred to as natural links. These are given naturally by other pages and sites that would like to link to your site because of its content. All you need to have good quality content on your site and create awareness about it.
Manual links
Building these links is also referred to as outreach building. To create them, you need to email bloggers and request for links, submit your site to different directories, or even pay for listings.
You will need to create a value proposition to explain to them why creating the link is in their best interest. You can also fill out forms for submissions to a website reward program, or even convince an academic professional that your content is worth including in the syllabus.
Professional Link-building Strategies
Let us look at some link building strategies that you can use for your strategy.
Get Users To Link To Your Site
If you have regular partners or even loyal customers, you can send them partnership badges. These are graphic icons that link back to your site. You can compare this to having customers wearing your business’ t-shirts, or having your bumper stickers.
Get Close To Authoritative Sites
Partnering with authoritative domains in a relevant niche is a very effective link building strategy. After identifying one, do some research about them, for instance, interviews done by the press, an online presence, and if possible, get the sources of their backlinks.
Takeaway
There are many who have attested to the effectiveness of backlinking in the success of their SEO strategies. By knowing what types of links you can use for your website and utilizing the appropriate strategy to get them done, you’ll be able to succeed in this task, whether you’re a beginner or an expert.
