Backlinks are links that appear on other websites and point to one of your web pages. For example, when one of your tutorials is quoted in an article on a DIY website for solving a specific issue, your website earned a backlink. And you should strive to earn as many of these, from website with high authority.
Do Backlinks Still Matter for SEO?
The most recent version of the Google algorithm, called Penguin, has changed once again the rules of the game for SEO in 2019. Keywords are relevant if they match the user intent and the general content of the website. As for backlinks, they can help increase your page rank if they come from websites with good reputation.
Thus, backlink farms, that is, sites that exist solely to provide this type of links to whoever pays for them, are gone. And having backlinks from them can actually hurt your page rank.
White Hat SEO Techniques Can Earn You Quality Backlinks
In 2020, the only backlinks that matter are those you earn by providing high quality content and building relationships. These are the white hat SEO techniques you should focus on. Compared to shady tactics, they take time before you see the results.
But if you try to take shortcuts, you will see a few early results, followed by a long and steady drop in rankings and relevant traffic to your website. Google does not like websites that don’t play by the rules.
So, here are some simple and effective ways to build quality backlinks constantly in 2020:
1. Reclaim Links
There are people who mention your company on other websites without adding a live link via anchor text. You can easily find these instances by monitoring mentions of your business name using a tool like BuzzSumo or Mention.
Once you identify these references, reach out to the authors of the respective piece of content and ask them to add a link to their mention. In most cases, they will agree to do so. After all, they showed interest in your company by mentioning it.
2. Mention Industry Leaders in Your Articles
Industry leaders and influencers are constantly looking for mentions of their name and share the respective content pieces to their own blogs and social media content. In order to earn backlinks from them, the mention must be relevant and reflect positively upon them.
For example, you can quote an industry leader to support your argument on an issue or to clear up a complex aspect. In this way, you are indicating that you recognise them as experts in their field. In return, the industry leader will give you a backlink of very good quality and authority.
3. Create Linkable Content
Linkable content is anything worth sharing with others by quoting. Among the most valuable types of content that earn lots of backlinks, you may consider the following:
- Why articles
- What articles
- Infographics
- Videos
- How-to articles.
Many of these are also evergreen types of content that you can repurpose over time on the social media and in other formats.
4. Create Free Tools
This is a bit more complicated, but also a constant source of backlinks. A free tool is anything from a tax calculator to a template generator. First of all, you should find out what people in your industry need. To do so, use your main keywords accompanied by terms like:
- Template
- Calculator
- Tool
- Generator
Look at the first results in Google and try to create something just as effective, but more user friendly and with a better looking graphic interface.
5. Use HARO
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a website where you can register as a source for information in your field of expertise. When reporters need explanations or a relevant quote for their articles, they will reach out to you by email.
In exchange for the assistance, they will include backlinks to your website in the respective articles. The more you provide assistance, the more quality backlinks you will earn for your website.