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SEO is the gateway to the internet. And since Google is basically the undisputed leader in all things search engines, following the search engine optimization guidelines it gives can help position your site higher in the SERPs. One way to set yourself up for success is to get your link building process right. This link building guide is here to help you get the process right.
What is Link Building?
When other websites link to yours, it’s some sort of a vote of confidence. These links (called backlinks) tell search engines that your website’s got valuable information to share with the world. The more quality links you have, the more search engines trust you.
Types of Links in SEO
There are several different types of links in SEO. Each one has a purpose:
Dofollow Links vs. Nofollow Links
When someone links to your site with a dofollow link, search engines count it as a recommendation. It boosts your authority and ranking. On the other hand, nofollow links tell search engines not to pass any ranking credit to the link.
Go dofollow for trusted, relevant links to boost SEO, and use nofollow for sponsored, affiliate, or non-trusted links to avoid passing ranking credit. They’re still valuable for traffic, brand exposure, etc, but won’t directly impact your rankings.
Internal Links vs. External Links
Internal links connect pages within your website to help visitors (and search engines) navigate your site. External links are links from other websites to yours or from your site to others. They’re great for sharing credibility and building relationships.
Say you write a blog post about “Healthy Breakfast Ideas.” You link to another post on your site about “Quick Morning Smoothie Recipes” (internal link). You also link to a government site sharing nutritional guidelines (external link). Both links improve user experience and trust.
Backlinks
These are links from other websites pointing to yours. Search engines see a strong backlink profile as proof that others find your content valuable. Aim for high-quality backlinks from reputable sites in your niche. A link from a leading fitness blog is more valuable than one from a random, unrelated forum.
Why Link Building is Important
Here’s why link building carries heavy SEO weight:
- Boosts search rankings: When high-quality websites link to you, search engines see your site as trustworthy and rank it higher.
- Increases traffic: Backlinks can bring new visitors straight to your site. If someone clicks on a link to your blog from a popular website, that’s new audience.
- Builds credibility: A backlink from a respected site in your field is like getting endorsed by an expert. It signals to users (and search engines) that your content is legit.
Given the importance of link building for SEO campaigns and the technical process that comes into play, it is totally understandable if you find yourself a little out of scope. In such situations, it may do you good to outsource linkbuilding services from SEO experts.
These pros handle it all, from outreach and backlink analytics to content creation, helping you generate links that boost organic traffic to your site. If that’s a path you choose to take, look around, vet the different SEO agencies offering the services and settle for the right fit for your niche, needs, and budget.
Link Building Strategies for Beginners
Here are a few strategies to kick off your link building campaign:
Guest Blogging
Write articles for relevant sites within your niche. If they publish your article, they’ll link back to you. That’s a backlink in your bio. For example, if you’re into fitness, write for a site like “Healthy Living Weekly.” Share your expertise, and linked page back to your site as the source of your knowledge.
Broken Link Building
Find broken links on relevant sites, then write up the admin, asking them for a link to your content. Say you notice a travel blog has a dead link in their article about “Budget Packing Tips.” You email them and suggest they link to your similar article instead.
Create Shareable Content
Think infographics, guides, or unique insights. When you make something valuable, people naturally want to link to it. For example, write an ultimate guide like “The Beginner’s Packing Checklist for All Seasons” with beautiful visuals. Bloggers and relevant link prospects are more likely to reference and link to it.
Join Online Communities
Participate in forums, social groups, and Q&A sites like Quora or Reddit. Share your expertise and link to your site where relevant.
A word from the pros: Be genuine. Spammy or irrelevant links can hurt your reputation. Only link when your content truly adds value.
How to Identify Quality Links
Here’s how to spot a high-quality link:
- Relevance: Links from sites related to your niche (like web pages in your industry) are the most valuable. If you run a tech blog, a link from a cooking website won’t help much.
- Domain Authority: High-authority sites (trusted by search engines) give stronger backlinks. Tools like Moz or Ahrefs can show you a website’s domain authority score. Aim for links from websites with a DA of 50 or higher.
- Natural anchor text: Anchor text is the clickable part of a hyperlink. Quality backlinks use natural, relevant anchor text—not spammy phrases like “best cheap deals 2025.” For example, if your article is about budgeting, a good anchor text might be “budgeting tips for beginners,” not “click here.”
- Traffic and engagement: A link from a site that shows up in Google’s search results and has active users holds more weight. It shows the site isn’t just there for SEO purposes.
- Placement matters: Links embedded naturally within the content (like in an article or guide) are more valuable than those shoved in footers or sidebars.
Common Link Building Mistakes to Avoid
Here are common mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste time or hurt your rankings:
Focusing on Quantity Over Quality
Of course buying 500 backlinks from random websites might sound tempting, but search engines could penalise you for it. A single backlink from a respected site is worth more than ten from spammy websites.
Ignoring Relevance
A backlink from an irrelevant site won’t help much. Worse, it might confuse search engines about your niche. For example, linking your fitness blog to a car repair website adds no value and could make your site look spammy.
Using Manipulative Anchor Text
Over-optimising anchor text with keywords like “best cheap flights now” can trigger penalties from search engines. Stay natural. Use variations like “find affordable flights” instead.
Neglecting Internal Links
Link building isn’t just about external backlinks. Ignoring internal links is a missed opportunity to guide visitors through your site and boost SEO.
Not Vetting Websites Before Reaching Out
Don’t accept backlinks from shady or spam-filled websites. Vet them way before you even consider working with them.
Being Pushy with Outreach
If you’re reaching out to bloggers or site owners for backlinks, don’t spam them with generic requests. Personalize your emails and show genuine interest.
Closing Thoughts
Link Building for SEO indeed takes a lot of work and patience, but when you know the right strategies, tools, and have your mind in the right place, you can make it work.
Start small, track your progress, and keep refining your approach. Where you find the going difficult, let SEO pros of your choice in. They can help you get there sooner and more effectively.
Contact Ignite SEO now to book your 30-minute analysis.