12 creative strategies to gain backlinks for SEO

Backlinks are an important element of SEO. Credible external links from authoritative sources can help your website rank more highly. Writing for BigCommerce , Content Strategist Robert Katai explains that Google and other search engines use backlinks as a factor to determine search rankings . Credible backlinks from respected websites help to verify the authority of the website which is being linked to.

Developing a backlink strategy

In a recent blog post, we discussed ways to share your content online to improve your website’s SEO. Social media, bookmarking sites like Reddit and local listing sites can all be used for sharing content. However, to secure authoritative backlinks a more creative approach is required.

1. Develop collaborative links with suppliers and customers

Good relationships are key to running a business and those connections can be used to develop backlinks. Contact regular suppliers and customers and ask them to feature links to you on their website, you can also link to them on your own site.

2. Reach out to complementary companies

As well as developing links with existing contacts, as part of a link building strategy you’ll also need to develop new relationships. Contacting businesses that sell complementary products and exploring opportunities for publishing articles and blog posts that link back to each other’s products can help with backlinks. An example would be a shop selling handbags and accessories collaborating with a shoe designer to create coordinated fashion looks for a blog post with mutual links.

3. Follow up on mentions to build links

US digital marketing firm SmartBug recommend setting up a Google Alert for your company name. That way whenever your brand is mentioned you can check if a link has been provided and if not you can ask for one to be added.

4. Create downloadable resources and templates

If you can provide authoritative resources such as eBooks, templates, checklists or similar downloads on your website these are likely to be linked to by third party websites.

5. Speak at conferences and events

Networking and participating in local events connected to your business is another way to raise your profile and also gain backlinks. When you speak at conferences and events then a biography of you with links to your company is normally provided.

6. Write guest blog posts

Guest blogging is an established way of raising your profile with new audiences and achieving backlinks to your website.

Californian web firm Bourncreative suggests identifying blogs with the same audience or clients but offering a different service or product.You then need to provide quality and original content that not only impresses the blog owner and encourages them to feature you, but will also encourage readers to click through to your own website.

7. Comment on blogs and forums

Karen Evans of Start Blogging Onlinewrites that a well-placed comment on an authoritative blogcan be a great source of inbound traffic. Whilst you shouldn’t spam blogs and forums with your own backlinks, you can use it as an opportunity to raise your profile with bloggers and community members that may then lead to a backlink or guest blogging opportunity.

8. Take part in interviews and podcasts

As well as guest blogging you can also put yourself forward for interview, podcast and case study opportunities. Like conferences, these will normally contain a biography on a third party website that can link to your site, as well as raising your profile organically.

9. Write press releases and submit them to local news sites

Involving your company in community activities and events is a great way to establish an external web link. At a local level good news stories are often welcome, so if your company has been involved in a charity event, hit a major professional milestone or simply created jobs in the community then explore opportunities to submit stories to local press and media.

10. Sponsor an event

Sponsorship is another way to build your brand within the community but also establishes web and social media links to your company. Identify events and activities aligned with your company’s products or values and use the opportunity to support something positive in the community whilst encouraging traffic to your website.

11. Apply for awards and accreditations

Applying for (and even better winning!) awards is a great way to help boost your profile. Web firm Shout Out Studio report that even being a finalist in an awards entry is likely to gain you at least one to two links as well as positive exposure.

12. Harness the power of the influencer

Social media influencers are a marketing phenomenon of recent times. Personalities with follower numbers in the tens of thousands can charge a high premium to feature a brand or company. However, if you’re happy to set your sites a little more locally you will likely be able to identify social media accounts in your local area prepared to feature your company for a more modest sum. This approach will help with your exposure as well as gaining backlinks from blogs and social media.

Digital marketing strategists in Exeter

Knowing where to start can be a challenge when it comes to securing backlinks to your website. You’ll often need to develop a coordinated approach across multiple media channels to see positive changes in search rankings. If you need support in developing an SEO marketing strategy QuayClick can help. We’re digital marketing specialists and can work with you to develop a comprehensive link-building strategy. Contact us in Exeter today to find out how we could help with your SEO.