“Backlinks are links on one website that point to another website. They’re also known as inbound or external links. Search engines like Google view backlinks as votes of confidence. Essentially, you vouch for another site when you link to it. That’s why pages with lots of backlinks often rank higher on Google. Especially if the backlinks are from trusted, authoritative sources.”

— Semrush

Building Backlinks: Not Just for the SEO Gurus

So, you've dipped your toes into the vast ocean that is search engine optimisation (SEO). But backlinks have got you stumped! Time for some real talk - link building is by far the most difficult part of SEO because a significant part of it lies outside of your control. But all is not lost - in this post you’ll find five easy-to-action link building tactics that have proven to produce results. These are tactics that will help you to build valuable backlinks from quality, authoritative and relevant sites, that will increase your ranking in search engines, and therefore, your organic traffic.

Are you ready to boost your website's authority and leave your competitors in the dust? Let’s go!

#1. Guest Blogging: The Classic Move

Good ol’ guest blogging.

It's like the timeless little black dress of the SEO world—it’s always in style. The basic premise of guest blogging is that you find relevant websites in your niche and pitch them ideas for blog articles. You would then write the blog post, they would host it on their website, and provide a link back to a specified page on your website.

You’ll want to make sure that the website you’re guest blogging for has a solid reputation and an engaged audience. There are basically two ways to arrange a guest blog post - the paid way, and the unpaid way.

Sometimes website owners charge an “administration” or “publication” fee to host the blog post and provide you with a backlink. While Google is explicityly against purchasing links, if you are purchasing guest posts from websites with good site metrics and in a relevant niche or industry, it’s not something that will draw attention from Google (whereas low effort guest posts on spammy sites definitely will).

Unpaid guest posts are the holy grail of gues posting, but they can be difficult to find. Often, you’ll find the best opportunities on websites that aren’t explicitly advertising guest posting opportunities, but if you reach out to them with great content ideas that will appeal to their audience, you might be in luck.

#2. Broken Link Building: The Detective's Delight

Put on your detective hat—we're about to embark on a broken link building adventure.

Corny, I know. But also solid SEO gold.

The web is filled with broken links—those pesky little dead ends that frustrate users and search engines alike. By identifying broken links on reputable websites, reaching out to their owners, and suggesting your own relevant content as a replacement, you'll not only be a [backlink fixing] hero but also score a sweet backlink for your site. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

There are heaps of ways to find broken links, but Ahrefs has a free tool that you can use to check your site (or anyone else’s) for broken inbound and outbound links. Another great tool is desktop software Screaming Frog, which is a well-known SEO tool that’s free to use to find broken links.

The key to this tactic is your approach in reaching out to the website owner. Here is an example of an outreach email that you could personalise for your own brand.

#3. Unlinked Mentions: The Ultimate Outreach

Sometimes people mention you or your business in an article on their website, but they don’t provide a link back to yours (a ‘dofollow’ link). Or, they give you a ‘nofollow’ link, which is a tag that tells search engines to ignore the link. Mentions are ace for brand exposure, but they might also prompt people to visit your site… which is harder to do if there is no linking taking them directly to your website. If you find an unlinked (or nofollow link) mention, you can reach out to the website owner to ask them to add a dofollow link back to your site. Again, a friendly email, personalised to the recipient and your brand, can go a long way, and you could just find yourself with an awesome backlink. Sometimes the answer may be no, but it will always be a no if you don’t ask!

#4. Supplier Links: Time to Capitalise

If you sell other people’s products, you could be sitting on a backlinks gold mine. Many manufacturers and suppliers have “where to buy” pages on their websites, where they list all of the businesses that stock their products. Usually the supplier is happy to link to these businesses from their website, because it draws attention to their product. Win-win!

This tactic is as straightforward as it comes - pull together a list of all of your suppliers, check out their website to find out if they have retailer listing page, and if your site isn’t listed, capitalise on your existing relationship and reach out to your contact at the business to ask how you can get your website listed and linked. Easy peasy!

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#5. HARO: Be the Expert They Need

Are you an expert in your field? Of course, you are! So why not share your knowledge with the world and earn some sweet backlinks while you're at it? HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a platform that connects journalists with expert sources like you. By signing up and responding to relevant queries, you can get featured in reputable publications, which can result in valuable backlinks and increased visibility for your website.

Here’s how it works:

After signing up, you’ll receive emails three times each business day that will include the latest source requests that are relevant to your industry, expertise or personal experience. Respond to relevant pitch requests and include answers to the journalist’s questions, any specified requirements and a bio with your contact information. If the journalist is interested, they’ll reach out!

Ready to Conquer the Link Building Game?

Link building doesn't have to be an enigma wrapped in a mystery buried beneath an SEO labyrinth. With these five actionable tactics, you're armed and ready to take on the link building world like a boss. Remember, it's all about creating valuable relationships, offering exceptional content, and putting yourself out there. So go forth and conquer the digital realm with your newfound link building prowess.

Good luck, and may the backlinks be ever in your favor!