Here’s 28 powerful link building strategies to rank higher on Google in 2023!
Table of Contents
28 POWERFUL Link Building Strategies 2023
1. HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is a website where journalists and writers can post queries for sources that can help them with their content-creation process.
If you choose to provide an answer, not only will the journalist be able to use your insight/knowledge in their piece of content – but they’ll also link back to one of your sites.
Now, obviously, this is a great opportunity for you – because you’ll get added exposure for the site that you link back to.
All you hAll you have to do is sign up on the HARO site and then subscribe to your niche/category newsletters.
You will be sent emails each day from these sites, which provide query help in various areas such as health, travel, technology, business etc.
You can then reply back to these queries by providing helpful information in the form of an infographic/blog post.
Just take it upon yourself to perform some research first!
If you decide not to respond – at least skim through the questions to see what people are looking for and try to keep that in mind when creating new content.
2. The Skyscraper Technique
The skyscraper strategy is a link-building technique where you identify high-value sites within your niche and then reach out to these people with a pitch to create more content on their site.
The key idea here is that you should reach out to these high-value blogs and sites with a pitch that’s so good, they can’t help but say yes.
Then, you’ll create an article (or a link/infographic) on their site – while linking back to your own content/website at the end of it.
This, essentially, helps legitimize your brand to both the high-value site and their readers – while helping you rank higher in Google for a given keyword.
It is the SEO version of creating “content so good that it climbs all over the Google SERPs like a skyscraper.”
Check out my video below that explains how to build backlinks using the skyscraper technique.
3. Audio Link Building
We all love content that’s informative, interesting and relatable; it’s even better when it’s narrated in audio form.
This makes audio SEO a great choice for link building.
You can create your own podcast or even get other people to record videos of them talking about the content you are trying to rank on Google!
Then all you have to do is just put your website name and link at the end of the video/audio. And that’s it!
Creating useful podcasts on your industry topics will help increase domain authority (DA) and make it more likely for webmasters to link back to you.
It’s really up to you how often you create these podcasts; some SEOs do an episode per week, and others do them per month.
4. Video Outreach
If you produce video content for your business (If not, you totally should!), then you have already created SEO-friendly content!
Not only do videos rank well for SEO, but they’re also the most popular type of content users like to watch and link back to!
This SEO Link Building strategy is great because it will get your visual content out there and give you a platform for people to see what sort of topics you are talking about.
For this link building strategy, you’ll need to reach out (by email/LinkedIn) to webmasters with popular blogs (in your niche) or a website that provides valuable information in your industry.
You can then ask them if they want to be featured in the video, or you could just tell them “at the end of this SEO video I’d like to feature your business/website name and link.”
It’s a win-win situation for both parties. They will appreciate you mentioning their company (which boosts SEO authority). They might even share the video with other clients!
Meaning that you’ll get some backlinks too ????
For SEO purposes, you can also embed the videos in your own blog posts – kind of like how we do it in this article.
5. Guest Blogging
This is a popular link building method that has been used for years now, and I know you’ve heard of it.
The basic idea is that you write a piece of content and then “guest post” on other people’s websites.
Burning question: is guest blogging still effective? The answer is Yes!
If done correctly, this SEO strategy will get your content out there to people who didn’t know about you yet.
And most importantly, the backlinks you earn will pass Domain Authority and credibility to your blog.
Word of advice: make sure that the guest post theme is similar to the content you create on your own blog, so it doesn’t look like a blatant marketing trick!
I would only recommend doing guest posts for sites in your niche or from people who have a relevant audience to your target market.
If you need more information, I’ve got a video guide on how you can find HIGH-QUALITY BACKLINKS from guest posting.
Check it out.
6. Networking
Networking is very important for any business; it’s like your own personal Link Building team.
Where can you do this?
- Conferences
- Events
- Seminars
- Any networking events in your industry/niche
You can also use Facebook, LinkedIn and even Twitter to network with people in your industry, or at least people who have a large following in your niche.
If you have 500 followers on Twitter, chances are at least some of them will be active in the SEO community or know someone who knows someone… You get my point ????
All you have to do is follow people in your industry on social media, or even contact them after doing a Google search.
If they’re running a business in your industry too, then there’s a good chance they might share content like yours – and therefore give you some SEO authority by linking to your content.
But help them first, and they’ll be sure to come back for more…
The only way you can grow in this business is by helping others. It’s just the nature of it.
7. Social Media Groups
Joining social media groups is a great way to meet people in your industry and network with them.
However, you can actually use these groups to your advantage for SEO purposes!
For example: if you’re into SEO, join groups that have to do with the Internet Marketing industry and engage in conversations about marketing.
If you provide value, then people will come to trust you because of your opinions.
I’ve seen this happen MANY times – just create an account on a forum, learn what people are talking about and dive into the discussions with valuable insights.
I guarantee you people will be following you and asking YOU for advice on things – no joke!
TIP: Just be genuine in your answers and try to offer help whenever possible.
By doing this, you’re creating an army of people who can link to you because they trust that your advice is good, and not just because it’s good for SEO purposes.
8. Sponsor An Event
If you have the budget for it, then sponsoring an event is a great way to get your brand name out there.
This strategy works best if you’re selling something that’s related to the event/niche you’re sponsoring.
You can network with people who will hopefully link to you, plus get your brand on a good many websites that are related to the event.
Sponsoring an event is also known as “content amplification” and it just helps you spread the word about your business.
Keep an eye out for events in your city that are related to the things that you can potentially offer.
Then contact the event organizer and ask them about sponsorship opportunities, they will usually have it available for a price – but it’s worth it!
9. Testimonial Link Building
This is a great strategy to help build high-quality links, and get potential customers to trust you even more.
The testimonials could be in the form of a video (hosted on YouTube) or a text review (on your website).
It could be a 5-star review about your business or a detailed analysis of your product.
Here’s one way you can go about getting reviews:
Get the e-mail address from the person who has already used/recommended your product and offer them something in return for a review (bonus, discount)
Do this with everyone who does business with you.
Whenever you add a new testimonial, get the person to link to your website as well.
For example: “I highly recommend this [your company name] because of its…” then link to your product/website in the end.
If possible, ask them to include social media links too! It all helps your rankings and brand name.
Here’s my full guide to testimonial link building.
10. Optimize Your Content
Optimizing your content is all about creating something so good and unique that is clearly better than what already exists online.
Pro tip: go above and beyond when it comes to providing information that people are interested in!
What this does is encourages other webmasters to link to your content because they simply want their own site visitors to see the excellent content you have created.
This works best if you’re giving people a solution to a problem or something that they want.
That way, people will naturally want to link to you and make sure their visitors can read your amazing content.
After all, if they don’t link to you, then their own visitor is missing out on something good!
11. Link Exchanges
Also known as reciprocal links, link exchanges are simply a way of partnering up and exchanging links with other relevant websites.
Creating a win-win opportunity for both parties.
Warning: This should never be your #1 link building strategy.
Use this method sparingly and only if your site is completely related to the other website.
For example:
Let’s say you have a blog dedicated to technology; then it would perfectly be okay for you to exchange links with websites about technology, and vice versa.
Here’s how you can do this:
Check out the other website’s contact page and send them an e-mail.
Explain that you have a valuable resource (in this case, your website) and you want to help the other person’s visitor find it.
Ask the other webmaster to put a link on their site, and in return, you want to put a link back from your own website back to theirs.
13. Cross-Niche Link Building
If you’re in a competitive niche, it’s going to be very difficult to get backlinks in your industry.
This is where cross-niche link building comes in.
What you can do to broaden your reach, and get some new backlinks on relevant websites.
For example, let’s say you’re in the market for weight loss supplements.
But a good chunk of your competitors are already there too (they’ve been there longer than you).
So what can you do?
Simple: go into different, but related niches and get links from those websites.
As an example: researching the top keywords related to weight loss supplements reveals other niches:
– fitness supplements
– beauty supplements
– etc…
It’s simple, right? You go to the other niche websites and get them to link back to you as well.
Using this strategy will require immense research because you really have to know how your niche is connected to other industries.
And you have to make sure the website is relevant before you go ahead and request a link from them.
You don’t want to get penalized by Google for doing something underhanded, do you?
But after all that is said, this strategy can help your rankings if done correctly!
14. SourceBottle
Another way to get backlinks to your website with PR is by using SourceBottle.
This strategy is very similar to HARO, in that you’re getting journalists to share your content on their website.
What you do is find all the journalists covering your niche on SourceBottle, reach out to them via e-mail and let them know that you just published a new blog post with valuable information in it.
If they’re interested, they’ll typically ask for a link back to their website (because journalists love getting mentions).
After that, you can e-mail them the link to the article and wait for it to get shared!
15. Buying Backlinks
Yes, you read that right. Sometimes these kinds of links can be very beneficial; however, they won’t give you the best ROI (Return On Investment).
But if you’re in a competitive space where you need every little bit of help to drive more traffic and rank higher, then it might be a good strategy for your site.
If you do it excessively, buying links to your website can get you penalized (especially by Google).
But if done correctly, it can be a very effective way of getting backlinks.
It’s well known that Forbes, Huffington Post, Business Insider and other reputable websites will take money to put their links on your website.
They usually have a pay-for-placement section where you can place your link for a price.
Always make sure to do your research thoroughly and not just buy links from shady providers out there.
With this strategy, you really have to know what you’re doing, or else you’ll end up hurting your rankings in the process.
16. Choose The Right Keywords
Going after the right keywords is the first step to getting top rankings on Google. The better your keywords, the higher you will rank in Google!
If you choose the right keywords, you’ll start getting traffic from long-tail search queries, which is the kind of traffic I highly recommend.
This is a great strategy for acquiring passive links by using the power of SEO.
When you rank for long-tail keywords, the people that are actively looking for that kind of information are much more likely to click on it since the content is entirely about their queries.
When done correctly with relevant websites, you’ll be able to get quality backlinks just from showing up on Google for your long-tail keywords!
Important tip: Make sure you have your website optimized for every single keyword you are going after, otherwise; you’re just wasting time.
17. Broken Link Building
Find broken links on high-authority websites and offer to replace them with relevant content from your site.
Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to identify broken links, then reach out to the site owners with your suggestions.
18. Infographics
Create visually appealing infographics that showcase valuable data or insights. Share these infographics on social media and submit them to infographic directories. Include an embed code with your infographic, making it easy for others to share and link back to your site.
19. Expert Roundups
Compile expert opinions on a particular topic within your industry. Reach out to influencers and ask for their insights.
Once published, let the experts know and encourage them to share the content, resulting in more backlinks.
20. Local Directories
List your business in relevant local directories to gain high-quality backlinks.
Ensure your information is consistent across all directories and keep your profiles up-to-date.
21. Resource Pages
Identify resource pages within your niche and suggest adding your content as a valuable resource. Reach out to the webmasters of these pages and explain why your content is a good fit.
22. Social Media
Share your content on social media platforms to increase its visibility. Engage with your audience and encourage them to share your content, potentially resulting in more backlinks.
23. Video Marketing
Create engaging videos and publish them on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
Include a link to your website in the video description to encourage viewers to visit your site.
24. Blog Commenting
Comment on relevant blogs within your industry, offering insightful and valuable input. Include a link to your website within your comment when appropriate.
25. Forums and Q&A Sites
Participate in industry-specific forums and Q&A sites like Quora. Provide helpful answers and include a relevant link to your website when appropriate.
26. Press Releases
Publish press releases to announce significant news or events related to your business. Distribute your press release through reputable distribution services, which may result in additional backlinks.
27. Internal Linking
Implement a robust internal linking strategy to improve your site’s overall SEO.
Link to relevant content within your site, guiding users through your content and increasing the likelihood of earning backlinks.
28. Link Reclamation
Monitor your brand mentions using tools like Google Alerts or Mention.
If you find a mention without a link, reach out to that site and ask them to add a link to you as a credit.
What Is a Link Building Strategy?
A link building strategy is a planned approach to obtaining backlinks from other websites, with the goal of improving a site’s search engine ranking and online visibility. It involves a variety of techniques and methods to acquire high-quality, relevant links that signal authority and credibility to search engines.
Why Are Link Building Strategies so Important?
Link building strategies are essential for several reasons:
- Improved rankings: High-quality backlinks from authoritative sites signal to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy, leading to improved rankings in search results.
- Increased traffic: As your search engine rankings improve, your website will attract more organic traffic.
- Greater brand visibility: As more websites link to your content, your brand’s online presence will grow, leading to increased recognition and authority within your industry.
How To Create Your Link Building Strategy
Creating an effective link building strategy involves several steps:
- Set clear objectives: Define your goals, such as improving search engine rankings, increasing organic traffic, or building brand awareness.
- Identify your target audience: Understand your audience’s needs and preferences to create content that resonates with them.
- Conduct keyword research: Identify relevant keywords that your target audience is likely to search for.
- Create high-quality content: Develop valuable, engaging content that incorporates your target keywords and provides value to your audience.
- Implement various link building techniques: Utilize the strategies outlined above to acquire high-quality backlinks.
Link Building Strategies vs. Tactics
While link building strategies refer to the overall approach and plan for acquiring backlinks, tactics are the specific methods or techniques used to achieve this goal. Strategies provide a clear direction and purpose, while tactics are the practical actions taken to execute the strategy.
What Is Link Building?
Link building is the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites that point to your site. These backlinks act as “votes of confidence” in the eyes of search engines, signaling that your content is valuable, relevant, and authoritative.
Why Is Link Building So Important?
Link building is crucial for improving search engine rankings, driving organic traffic, and increasing online visibility. Search engines like Google use backlinks as a significant ranking factor, as they indicate a site’s credibility and authority within its niche.
The Different Types of Backlinks
There are several types of backlinks to consider when building your link profile:
- Editorial backlinks: These are natural links that result from other websites finding your content valuable and linking to it without any direct involvement from you.
- Guest post backlinks: When you create content for another website as a guest author, you can typically include a link back to your site within the content or your author bio.
- Resource page backlinks: These links come from resource pages that curate valuable content within a specific niche, providing an opportunity to have your content included as a valuable resource.
- Directory backlinks: Listing your site in relevant directories can result in backlinks, though it’s essential to choose reputable directories and maintain consistency in your information.
- Social media backlinks: Sharing your content on social media platforms can lead to backlinks as others share and engage with your content.
Link Building Strategies
Link Building is one of the most important strategies for SEO. It refers to the process of getting links (backlinks) from other websites to your website.
It can also be defined as a marketing strategy in which you create more backlinks for your website. This helps increase your search engine ranking in terms of organic traffic.
Not only does it help you increase traffic, but it also helps build brand awareness, credibility, authority and trust among your audience.
Why should you care about Link Building?
Every Google algorithm update has a link-based core reason behind it.
This is because Google always wants to deliver relevant content and high-quality web pages to its users based on their queries.
To do this, Google must know what searches the users are doing.
Link building serves this purpose and helps Google understand which web pages to rank for various keywords.
The 28 Link Building Strategies to Rank Higher on Google I’ve just listed are by no means an exhaustive list, but they will definitely get you started in the right direction.
If you need help with your link building strategy, feel free to reach out to me and we can work together (I’m a professional Link Builder).
Remember this:
A high-quality backlink is the best way to show Google you are an authority in your industry.
The higher quality of a link, the more beneficial it can be for your rankings.
With that said, there’s no real value in a low-quality link that will hurt your rankings and not provide any real SEO benefit.
So if you want to succeed in 2023 and beyond, then make sure you implement these link building strategies into your website today.
FAQs About Link Building Strategies
What are link building strategies?
Link building strategies are planned approaches to obtain backlinks from other websites to improve a site’s search engine ranking and online visibility. They involve various techniques and methods to acquire high-quality, relevant links.
What are linking strategies?
Linking strategies are tactics used to establish connections between webpages, either through internal linking (within the same site) or external linking (between different sites). These strategies help improve website navigation, user experience, and search engine rankings.
What is link building strategies digital marketing?
In digital marketing, link building strategies are crucial for boosting a website’s search engine rankings, driving organic traffic, and increasing online visibility. They involve creating high-quality content and using different techniques to acquire backlinks from authoritative websites.
How do you start a link building strategy?
To start a link building strategy, first set clear objectives, identify your target audience, conduct keyword research, create valuable content, and implement various link building techniques to acquire high-quality backlinks.
What are the three types of link building?
The three types of link building are natural (editorial) links, manual outreach (such as guest blogging, resource pages, and broken link building), and self-created (such as blog commenting, forum posts, and directories).
Which link building strategy works best in 2023?
In 2023, creating high-quality content and focusing on relationship-building with influencers and industry experts remain the most effective link building strategies. Additionally, tactics like guest blogging, skyscraper technique, and resource page link building continue to be valuable.
What are the key elements of a successful link building strategy?
Key elements of a successful link building strategy include setting clear objectives, understanding your target audience, conducting keyword research, creating high-quality content, and implementing diverse link building techniques to acquire authoritative backlinks.