Building Bridges Part One_ The Art and Science of Link-Building (2)

Building Bridges part one: The art and science of link-building

As a creative entrepreneur, we know how important it is for you to make a lasting impact in the digital world. And to do that, establishing a strong online presence is key. A well-executed link-building plan is an important part of any successful digital marketing strategy. In this guide, we’re going to dive deep into the world of link-building and uncover why it’s absolutely crucial for your success.

We’re super excited about link-building, and it’s a big part of our own #180DaysOfSEO Ultimate SEO Makeover (#UltimateSEOMakeOver). 

Let’s break down our link-building story into two parts: first, we’ll cover the basics and why link-building matters. In part two, we’ll delve into the more technical stuff (don’t worry, we’ll keep it interesting!).

So, let’s kick off with part one. Here we go:

Why is link-building important

Link building is an underrated and powerful tool in the vast world of search engine optimization. Especially in competitive domains, it takes center stage in driving organic traffic to your website.

Now, here’s the secret sauce: when you combine this link-building prowess with strong technical SEO foundations, top-notch on-page SEO techniques, captivating content, and a user experience that blows minds, you create an unstoppable force that brings a flood of organic visitors to your digital doorstep.

But wait, what exactly is link building?

Link building is all about getting other websites to link back to your pages. These links are like votes of confidence from other sites, and search engines, especially Google, absolutely love them. The more authoritative and relevant websites linking to you, the higher your pages will rank in search results, and the more organic traffic you’ll attract. 

As a creative entrepreneur, this is where it gets exciting!

Building Bridges Part One: The Art and Science of Link-Building

For instance, if you got links to your website from CNN, BBC, Neil Patel’s Blog, Forbes, etc, Google would think dang, your site must be really important to get links from such important websites. That would contribute towards higher rankings.

On the contrary, if your competitor was only getting links from sites like your local newspaper and small blogs, Google would think, ok, not quite as important as the other site, and won’t give it as much ranking juice.

If it’s not obvious enough already, link building plays a massive role in search engine rankings. In fact, Google’s very own Andrey Lippatsev confirmed that links are among the top factors in their search algorithm. So, if you want your creative business’s website to shine in search results, link building should be right up there on your priority list.

But hold up, link building isn’t the only factor that affects your rankings. Nope, there’s more to it. Things like the quality of your content, the overall user experience on your site, and how well you’ve optimized your pages all play a crucial role too. 

So, if you’ve got plenty of links but still aren’t seeing the results you want, it’s time to consider these other ranking factors too.

Alright, let’s talk about different approaches to link building:

How to build links to your website

Building-Bridges-Part-One_-The-Art-and-Science-of-Link-Building

1. Adding Links

This involves manually placing your links on other websites. Think business directory submissions, social profiles, blog comments, forums, and job listings. While these tactics might not boost your SEO significantly, they can still help with brand visibility and attracting potential customers. Remember, quality and relevance over quantity here!

2. Asking for Links

In this approach, you reach out to website owners and give them a good reason to link to your content. You could try guest blogging, using the skyscraper technique, providing testimonials or case studies, or suggesting valuable resources for their content. It can be a bit challenging, but if your content is exceptional and valuable, it’s a strategy worth pursuing.

3. Buying Links

Now, we’ve got to be honest with you – buying links is a big no-no. It can lead to penalties and seriously damage your website’s reputation. So, steer clear of this tactic and focus on organic and ethical link-building practices for long-term success.

4. Earning Links

This is the golden ticket! Earning links happens naturally when other websites link to your content because they find it valuable and relevant. To earn these links, create outstanding, shareable content that your target audience will love. Promote it through various channels, and over time, you’ll attract links from relevant and authoritative sources.

Now, as alluded to before, not all links are created equal. When evaluating links, consider factors like authority (links from reputable sources in your niche), relevance (links from related sites), anchor text (keep it natural), placement (links in the main content are more effective), and destination (build links to specific pages you want to rank well).

But what Makes a Good Link?

When evaluating links, there are some key factors to keep in mind. That’s what we’ll look at next.

What makes a good backlink?

1. Authority

Links from authoritative websites or pages carry more weight in terms of SEO value. Aim for backlinks from reputable sources within your niche or industry. Refer to the example of CNN vs local newspaper above.

2. Relevance

Links from websites or pages related to your creative niche are more valuable as they indicate relevance and authority in your field. So if you’re in digital marketing, a link from Seach Engine Land would do much better than a link from a random blog about climate change.

3. Anchor Text

Let natural anchor text be used for your backlinks instead of trying to control the exact wording. Natural anchor text looks less manipulative and is better for SEO (Anchor text is the words in your blog post that are the actual link). For instance, note how we create a link to this FAQ that explains what lead generation is. Natural. Not forced.

4. Placement

Links placed within the main content of a page tend to attract more clicks and convey greater authority compared to links in footers or sidebars.

5. Destination

Focus on building links to specific pages that you want to rank well in search results, not just your homepage. Use internal linking to boost the visibility of important pages on your website. If you have a great guide or blog post on your website, share that instead of your homepage.

At Artist Dynamix, we’ve got our very own SEO Actionz AI-powered search engine optimization platform to supercharge your online presence with backlinks. Our tools not only track your existing backlinks but also help you build new ones strategically. You’ll watch your website’s authority soar and search engines take notice, propelling you to the top of the rankings.

Bonus tip

Don’t forget to regularly check for broken links and reach out to website owners to reclaim any lost backlinks. These links are precious, and preserving them is essential.
In a nutshell, mastering link building is a game-changer for growing your creative business’s online presence.

Remember to focus on creating valuable and shareable content, use ethical link-building tactics, and aim for relevant and authoritative backlinks to achieve long-term success in the digital landscape.

And hey, while you’re here, sign up and follow our #180DaysOfSEO by signing up here. We’ve got more awesome stuff coming your way in part two! See you there!

Editor

The AdX Content team includes researchers, writers, and digital media developers from the USA, Zimbabwe, The Philippines, and the United Kingdom. We may use automation technology to create outlines & scripts for some of our content, but each article is contextualized, edited, fact-checked, and proof-read by a real live human.