A Link-building Checklist That Works

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Link-building is one of the most important strategies you can employ to improve your website's visibility and rank. 

Unfortunately, it's also one of the most difficult tasks to execute well. That's where a link-building checklist can come in handy. This checklist will help you identify the best ways to build links from high-quality websites.

7 Proven Link-building Techniques That Work

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1. Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is when an external blogger writes a post for another blog. This post is usually about a topic the guest blogger is an expert in. 

It is a great way to build links because it allows you to create high-quality content that others can link to your website. 

It can also help you generate website traffic and increase brand awareness.

Bloggers use this technique to build relationships with fellow bloggers in the industry. To do guest blogging, you first need to find a blog in your niche that has a similar audience to your blog. 

Once you have found a blog, reach out to the blog owner and ask if they would be interested in having you write a guest post for them.

Tip: Find editors or blog managers who accept guest posts using the following query in Google Search.

topic + intitle:"write for us"

Example: Say that you operate in the HVAC segment. In that case, your query should be HVAC + intitle:"write for us"

The query will reveal the "Write for us" pages to attract guest bloggers.

Here’s a screenshot of search results showing guest post opportunities:

Read: Importance of Guest Posting & Tips to Strategize It

2. The Broken Link Building Strategy

The broken link strategy is a technique used to improve SEO by building links using pages that have been deleted or moved. 

The idea is to find pages with broken links and reach out to the webmaster of the page with a request to include your link as a replacement. This can be an excellent way to build links because it's a win-win for both parties. 

The webmaster gets a new link, and you get a link from a high-quality website. This can also be a great way to generate traffic and increase your website's visibility online.

You'll need to find a list of broken links online to get started. You can use various tools to find broken links, such as Google Search Console and Ahrefs. 

Once you've found a broken link, you'll need to reach out to the webmaster. Suggest to him/her that they can replace the broken link with a link to your website.

This is a proven way to build links only when you provide relevant and valuable content to those website owners.

Tip: You can also ask people who link to the broken/dead page and convince them to link to your page.

You can use this tool to find broken links:

3. Use Web Directories

Web directories are a fantastic way to get links to your website. They are easy to use and provide a lot of benefits for customers. 

These directories allow users to submit links to their website or a website they think would be useful to other directory users. The most common way to build links using web directories is to find directories relevant to your business or industry.

Once you have found a few reputable directories, you will need to create a profile for your website and submit it for review.

Some Of The Other Features Of Web Directories Include:

• Easy to use: Web directories are easy to use. You must find the category that matches your website and then submit your website. 
• Targeted traffic: Web directories generate targeted traffic because people use them to find websites they are looking for. 
• Increased exposure: Directory listings give you increased exposure because they are often included in search engine results pages.

Yelp is a popular web directory:

4. Use Forums

When getting links for your website, many think the only way is through expensive and time-consuming methods like link-building services or article marketing. 

However, other, often overlooked methods can be as effective and much cheaper than these common approaches. 

Forums are a great place to get links without spending a fortune. The method also helps you build relationships with other website owners and bloggers. 

To make the most out of this strategy, you should post high-quality content and provide valuable insights into the conversation.

You should also ensure that your links are relevant to the discussion and that they are not spammy or promotional. When done correctly, this can effectively increase your website's visibility and improve your SEO ranking.

Tip: The comments section of websites is another great way to build links. You can leave a comment on a blog post or article and include a link to your website. Be sure to add value to the conversation and provide helpful information.

Quora is a popular Q&A forum:

5. Recover Dead Links

There are times when backlinks die and no longer lead to the information they were meant to provide. 

Dead backlinks can be frustrating, but they don't have to be disastrous. They can lower your website's ranking in search engines and make it difficult to attract new visitors. There are many ways to recover dead links; some are easy and free. 

The first step is to find the dead backlinks. You can do this using a tool like Ahrefs or Monitor Backlinks. 

Once you have identified the dead links, you must create a list of replacement links. This can be time-consuming, but it is important to ensure that your website is optimized.

The next step is to reach out to the webmasters linking to your website. Tell them about the dead links and ask them to replace them with one of your replacement links. You can also offer them a reciprocal link in return.

Warning: Reciprocal links are controversial. On paper, they are against Google webmaster guidelines. But people do use them. Hence be wary of them.

Here’s a screenshot of Ahrefs showing dead backlinks:

6. Create Link-worthy Content

One way to generate high-quality backlinks is to create engaging, informative content to persuade other websites to link to your own.

This Type Of Content Might Include:

• How-to guides
• Statistical content pieces
• Research articles
• Case studies
• Infographics

Tip: Find a unique angle. When creating content, try to develop a distinct angle that will interest your target audience. 

For example, if you're promoting a new product, you could write a review or compare it to similar products on the market.

Uploading infographics on Pinterest is a fantastic link-building technique:

7. Create Interactive Tools

Adding free interactive tools to your website is a great way to gain backlinks. These tools can be helpful for your customers, and they can also help you show off your expertise.

Say that you operate in the finance sector. The following tools can help you gain backlinks:

• Mortgage calculator
• Social security retirement estimator
• Mutual fund analyzer
• Compound interest calculator

These are great examples of interactive tools that can add value to your website. They are easy to use and can help people decide on their finances. 

Plus, they are the perfect way to show off your technical skills. They also attract visitors who are looking for information on personal finance.

Example 1: Take a look at how Island Pro Mowing & Landscaping Inc uses Landspacing Material Calculator to get backlinks and traffic.

Example 2: Another niche; another website. But the concept remains the same. Providing a Dog Sitting Rate Calculator tool for free is TimeToPet's way of attracting backlinks.

Here’s a screenshot of Bank of America’s interactive tool:

Link Building Checklist - FAQs

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1. Is Reciprocal Link-Building Bad For My SEO?

Most experts agree that if too many of your links are coming from other websites in a reciprocal link exchange, it could negatively impact your ranking. This is because Google and other search engines may see these links as artificial or spammy and may downgrade your site.

2. What Are Some Advanced Link-Building Strategies?

There are quite a few. Finding your online mentions and turning them into backlinks may work for starters. You could also take part in podcasts and get backlinks in return. Pinterest is another platform where you can get links.

3. Why Do I Need A Link-Building Checklist?

Since the very process of link-building can take multiple routes, it is advisable to have a working checklist in place to achieve success.

Key Takeaways:

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• Do guest blogging and get backlinks in return.
• Focus on creating content assets people can’t afford to miss linking to.
• Use the forums and comments section to your advantage.
• Find relevant directories and submit your links.
• Identify dead links and reclaim them.
• Give free access to interactive tools to gain backlinks.
• Make use of the broken link-building strategy.
• Participate in podcasts and turn online mentions into links.