Backlinks are a proven way to boost SEO, but even the best link-building tools require a strategy to ensure you use links in a varied, diverse, and non-spammy way.
For example, if you prioritize paid links for SEO, you should adopt different techniques and approaches for a natural network of backlinks that adheres to Google’s best practice guidelines, or at least make it appear so.
These same concepts apply to local SEO backlinks, ensuring you maximize web traffic, domain authority, and visibility while still avoiding algorithmic penalties.
Common Link Building Approaches
In 2022, as the digital world continues to evolve, some of the most common higher-level link-building tends to be based on the following:
- Email outreach campaigns
- Blogging, guest blogging, and content marketing
- Educational resources or informative guides
- Resource pages
- Digital PR
- Addressing broken links
- PBN Links
While each of these methodologies is straightforward, a successful link-building project will also depend on the competition and the nature of your business industry.
Next, we will look at some of the best ways to incorporate backlinks into your SEO endeavors and the typical approaches most likely to work in 2022.
Hunting for Backlinks
SEO tools can analyze a rival company’s domain and give you a report of its backlink profile; referring domains may be equally relevant to your brand, so this is a quick and relatively easy way of identifying possible backlink sources.
For example, suppose a competitor is featured on a listicle that you are not included in. In that case, you might be able to add your company to that list or could decide to target those domains with your content marketing.
HARO for Backlink Building
HARO stands for Help a Reporter Out and is a benchmark practice in backlink building. Essentially, you want to know when an editor, publisher, or journalist needs a source and step in to provide a voice of authority. It’s generally understood that you’ll get a backlink in return for your input.
The third-party article features in high readership news publications can be valuable backlinks and help with brand awareness and SEO search engine ranking positions. The drawback is that you’ll need to be a credible source for the journalist or have access to one.
Broken Backlinks
In short, broken link building means you find sites with broken links that point to resources that no longer exist. Then, reach out to the webmaster of the site and offer a similar resource to replace the link.
If you don’t have a resource at hand that matches the one from the broken link, you’ll need to create one. That coupled with the fact that there’s no guarantee you’ll get a response to your outreach means this can be a risky tactic.
Still, it’s something that should be part of your link-building toolkit.
Contributor Content Generation
Guest posting can be successful but requires significant time and effort, especially if you find it difficult to establish partnership associations with multiple websites you’d like to link to. Companies with contributor status have a higher profile and work with only a few targeted websites, providing regular content, often with a guaranteed spot.
Although the initial work requires you to network, prove your value and publish amazing content, you can leverage contributor opportunities as a long-term backlink-building asset.
Generally, guest post link building is the most “organic” way to build links while still having some control over the links you get. It’s also the most time-consuming.
PBN Link Building
Private blog networks sidestep most of the hassle and uncertainty of other link-building strategies and put you in control of the links you’re creating. A PBN is essentially a group of sites you own and publish content on.
You can create links as needed and always make them relevant to the pages and sites you’re trying to rank. The problem with PBNs is that you’re not supposed to be in control of your inbound links according to Google.
So, if your PBN is discovered and removed from Google’s index, the links will be worthless. That said, you can take steps to make sure that doesn’t happen by working with the right hosting provider and taking the time to learn how to build PBNs correctly.
Link Building Trends for 2022
If you’re stuck for content inspiration, you can use other resources, such as Google Trends, to inform your content creation and uncover high-volume topics and news relevant to your business space. Another typical approach is to use blog posts based on ‘top ten’ or ‘best’ topics, where you can create lists or review pieces where readers can find information about the best services or the new options available to them.
For example, a cryptocurrency app might publish content focused on blockchain platforms, developer features, blockchain technology, or other crypto trends. By conducting a little research and seeing what people are talking about, you can gain ideas about the topics and subjects that are most clickable and more likely to produce beneficial engagements.
Don’t be afraid to step outside the box, either, if you are keen to build powerful backlinks that add resonance to the importance of your website. Video marketing through YouTube is one such option, with the potential to direct viewers to other landing pages and create a slightly indirect backlink.While many link-building strategies are tried and tested, there is always scope to find new opportunities to boost your business profile. You can add to your backlink network as you go, building industry authority one link at a time.