There are multiple types of links for SEO, each with its own value. This Backlink Guide is designed to help you understand the different link types.
In the realm of digital marketing, backlinks are important. They enhance your site’s credibility, visibility, and authority.
Discover how these interconnected links can propel your search engine rankings and cultivate a thriving online presence.
If any of these terms are confusing for you, please check out our SEO dictionary.
What are Backlinks in SEO
Backlinks in SEO are a confusing topic. Put simply, backlinks are links from other websites that lead to yours. Backlinks have an impact on a site’s search engine ranking and online authority.
Building backlinks forms a part of off-page SEO.
What is a Backlink Profile?
Your backlink profile refers to the collection of links from other websites that point to your website.
Your profile of backlinks provides insights into the quality, quantity, and diversity of these links.
Importance Of Backlinks
The more quality links you have, the more credible your site will seem. That credibility translates into online authority, which then results in more website traffic.
What Are the Best Backlinks?
Not all links for SEO are created equal. While there are many debates as to what the ‘best backlinks’ are, the general consensus is that you want links that are:
- From Authoritative Sites (usually with a high Domain Authority or Domain Trust)
- Niche, relevant backlinks
Ideally, you want to think of these links as referrals. For example, if you’re looking for a recommendation for a doctor, you’ll likely trust a friend, local expert, or professional over a random person on the street. In this example, the friend or local expert is the same as a niche site, whereas a professional would qualify as an authority site.
Building Relevant Backlinks
You want the links to your site to be relevant. Links send in traffic, but that traffic means very little unless it’s converting. Relevant links are more likely to result in conversions.
DoFollow Backlinks vs NoFollow Backlinks
Do-follow backlinks allow search engines to follow and index the linked site, positively affecting its SEO ranking.
No-follow backlinks instruct search engines not to follow the link, offering less SEO value but still driving traffic.
Both types contribute to a balanced and natural backlink profile.
Should I Buy SEO Backlinks?
Buying links for SEO has become increasingly popular, but if these backlinks aren’t relevant, they can do more harm than good. Rather choose quality over quantity. If you’re going to spend money, rather contact a PR firm, or reach out to a reputable link builder.
8 Ways to Build Backlinks for SEO
When it comes to links for SEO, there are a couple of ways to build different backlinks to your site. Embarking on a link-building campaign can be a great way to increase backlinks to your site and boost your domain authority.
Build Digital Assets
Digital Assets are a great way to get website backlinks. These can be things like online tools, calculators, quizzes, e-books, reports, webinars, or podcasts.
Another type of digital asset you can use to attract backlinks is Infographics. These visual assets are a great way to attract links.
You could also create case studies that people can download.
Directory Links
Directory links are often no-follow (although some sites offer paid versions that will give you a dofollow backlink). They usually include your name, address, and phone number (NAP). This type of SEO backlinking is ideal for local SEO and, depending on the directory you use, can bring in traffic that converts.
Competitor Analysis
One of the best ways to find what backlinks you can build is by conducting a competitor backlink profile analysis. There are plenty of SEO tools that you can use to analyze your competitors’ backlink profiles (Ahrefs, SEMrush, and SE Ranking all have backlink analyzers).
You can then use this backlink analysis to see what sites are linking to your rivals and then reach out to those sites and ask them to link to you.
Content Creation
If you create good content, other sites will link to you. If you create valuable blog posts, people will share them and want to send them to other people. Write cool content, share interesting things, and hopefully, sites will link to you.
Be sure to optimize your blog for SEO to make sure websites want to link to you.
Guest Posts
Guest posts are one of the most popular ways to build SEO backlinks. All you have to do here is write a blog post for another site and add a relevant link in the post back to your site. Writing is the easy part. The outreach to other bloggers can be a challenge.
But if you have friends or family members that run relevant websites, offer to write a blog post for them and get yourself a backlink.
Be advised that some sites will charge for guest posts.
Public Relations (PR)
Public relations companies are great at securing backlinks for SEO, but you can also do this yourself. Create a press release, talk about your brand, and send it out to local news agencies and magazines; you never know what might happen.
It is a lot of work, and it’s probably worth your while to get help from experts.
Broken Link Building
By using SEO tools, you can search for backlinks that are broken on other websites. Then you can reach out to the web admin and offer your own website as a solution to those pesky 404 errors.
Social Links
Social links are generally nofollow and often aren’t even registered. However, they do add credibility. Ensure you add your website to your social profiles, whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
It’s also worth sharing your blog posts on your social channels to extend your reach.
Final Thoughts on Links for SEO
To sum up, creating a balanced backlink profile is essential for SEO. These connections boost your website’s reputation and help it show up higher in search results.
There are an array of different types of links for SEO to choose from, and it’s worth trying different ways to get links to your site.
Reach out to Digital Squeak to discuss your marketing objectives and see if we can improve your SEO efforts – pippa@digitalsqueak.co.za
Note: Content for this blog is based on Kathryn Donoghue’s post, Types of Links for SEO | Simple Backlinks Guide for Site Owners
Kathryn is Digital Squeak’s SEO Specialist. She started her search engine optimisation journey as an SEO content writer before specialising in on-page SEO. Since then, she’s expanded her expertise into technical SEO and local SEO. She’s worked on sites ranging from e-commerce websites to blog sites. Her passion lies with helping websites show up and rank for more keywords, giving users the answers they’re looking for, and optimising websites to appeal to search engines.
