Are Your Link Building Strategies Built to Last? Just because something’s popular now doesn’t mean it’s going to survive the long haul.
Don’t believe me?
Pull out some of your pictures from the 1980’s, and try to find five outfits that you’d actually be willing to be caught dead in today!
Some link building techniques are just like those 1980’s zebra pants — they were all the rage once, but they’re an embarrassment today. Other link building techniques are like a good Bon Jovi song — they were cool 25 years ago, and they’re still cool today.
How do your link building efforts measure up?
These link building strategies will work in 2022 and beyond:
1. Your own blog
The more quality posts you publish, the more links you can build. And by putting the blog on your domain (ex: www.mydomain.com/blog), your entire website will get bonus points for being “fresh”.
2. An RSS feed for your blog
Lots of people get information from RSS feeds, and it only takes a few minutes to send each of your new posts out.
3. Internal linking
Linking to other pages on your website is a great way to boost results for all of them. Just don’t go overboard, or you’ll get a call from a certain Penguin!
4. Asking for links
Know a site owner in your niche? Ask him to give you a link. The worst he can say is no.
5. Social media promotion
Facebook and Twitter aren’t going anywhere. If you’re not sharing links on them, you’re way behind.
6. Publishing quality press releases
The good press release sites tend to have a high PR. Plus, they distribute your release to other quality outlets — meaning you can get all kinds of good links with just one submission.
7. Syndicating your articles
Publish high-quality articles, and other webmasters will want to share them with their readers — all with your link at the bottom.
8. Guest blogging
You’ll get a link at the end of your guest post AND exposure on a popular blog. It doesn’t get any better than that!
9. Posting videos on YouTube
People love videos, and they especially love sharing creative YouTube videos.
10. Submitting your site to major directories
If your niche has an authoritative directory, it’s in your best interest to be part of it.
11. Seeking out interview opportunities
Journalists are always looking for experts to interview. In exchange for a short conversation, a link to your website will appear in their story.
12. Creating controversy in your content
Anytime you make people angry, they’ll tell their friends about it — meaning they’ll be passing along your link.
13. Publishing funny content
Anytime you make people laugh, they’ll tell their friends about it — and spread your link around.
14. Writing something that sets the record straight
People want the full story. Give it to them, and they’ll pass your link around.
15. Taking advantage of the seasons
Links that have something to do with Christmas, Halloween, and other major holidays can spread like wildfire.
16. Breaking a news story
If you’re the only one (or the first one) with information, people will have no choice but to link to you.
17. Live journaling at industry events
Whether you use Twitter or your own blog, people who aren’t at the event — but want the information — will link to you.
18. Local links
Google Places is getting more popular by the day. Plus, it ranks at the top of the search results!
These link building strategies aren’t so cool anymore:
1. Buying links
Not in the mood to be banned from Google? Then stop buying links!
2. Exchanging links
You’ll look like you’re trying to outsmart Google, and that’s never a good thing!
3. Hiding links
Doorway pages and cloaked text are sooo 1998.
4. Profile links
These just might be the lowest on the link totem pole.
5. “Blasting” article directories
Panda blasted this technique out of the water in 2011.
6. Spinning articles
Another technique that got caught in Panda’s cross-hairs.
7. Blog commenting
There are too many anti-spam devices and smart blog owners to let this trend continue. Unless you have a genuine comment to share, just stop.
8. Digg
It’s become so massive that the odds of anyone actually seeing your contributions are slim.
9. Joining a bunch of forums
Unless you’re a legitimate member who actually adds value to the conversations, don’t bother. All of those “signature links” will just be seen as spam.
10.Submitting your site to every directory you can find
All kinds of directories have popped up (both free and paid) to take advantage of link-mania. Most of them don’t get much traffic. Others are so easy to get included in that they don’t pass along much in the way of link juice.
11. Squidoo
Lots of the people hit by Penguin have Squidoo accounts. It could be just a coincidence, or something more sinister. Plus, Squidoo doesn’t have the readership that other sites do.
12. Avoiding “nofollow” like the plague
Without at least some nofollow links, your link profile will look unnatural — which means you’ll raise red flags with Google.
These link building strategies have a bright future:
1. Looking for relevant links
Google now admits to giving relevant links more weight than random ones, so be on the lookout for link opportunities in your niche!
2. Pinterest
Virtually everyone is on Pinterest — even President Obama!
3. Designing infographics
They’re relatively new, but they’re big attention-grabbers.
4. Reporting links you don’t like
Google will soon let webmasters request that certain inbound links be ignored. That way, you won’t be hurt if that network of Russian bride websites decides to link to you for some unknown reason.
5. Being diverse
If all of your links come from the same place, your site doesn’t look well-rounded — meaning the search engines might not see it as an authority.