Do social media backlinks work for SEO? Not directly!
The answer isn’t simple:
But here’s everything you need to know about social media backlinks for SEO…
Table of Contents
How to Track Your Social Media Backlinks
To make the most of your social media backlinks, it’s crucial to know how to track them effectively. There are numerous tools available online that can help you monitor your backlinks, such as Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Ahrefs.
By keeping an eye on your backlink performance, you can identify which strategies work best and optimize your efforts accordingly.
28 Ways To Get Social Media Backlinks
Facebook Link Building: A Comprehensive Guide
Facebook offers a wealth of opportunities for link building, from personal profiles to group descriptions. Let’s dive into the various features you can utilize to generate backlinks on this massive platform.
Your Personal Profile’s About Tab
The About tab on your Facebook profile can serve as a valuable real estate for link building. Include links to your website, blog, or any other relevant online presence to increase your chances of gaining high-quality backlinks.
All Your Personal Profile and Page Posts
When creating posts on your personal profile or business page, don’t forget to include relevant links to your website or blog. This simple yet effective strategy can help drive traffic and improve your backlink profile.
Your Page’s About Tab
Similar to your personal profile, your Facebook Page’s About tab is a perfect spot for link building. Make sure to provide a detailed description of your business or organization and include relevant links to boost your backlink game.
Page Buttons
Facebook Page buttons are a great way to guide your audience to your desired destination, such as your website or online store. Customize these buttons with your preferred call-to-action and watch your backlink profile grow.
Your Profile and Cover Photo Descriptions
A picture is worth a thousand words, but it can also be worth a thousand backlinks! Don’t overlook the descriptions of your profile and cover photos on Facebook. Include relevant links to your website or blog to make the most of this often-overlooked link-building opportunity.
Your Group Description
If you’re an admin of a Facebook group, utilize the group description to showcase your website or online presence. This not only helps your backlink profile but also establishes your authority within the group.
Facebook Group Pinned Posts
Pinned posts are always visible at the top of a group’s feed, making them an ideal spot for link building. Share valuable content with a link to your website or blog, and you’ll likely see an increase in traffic and backlinks.
Twitter Link Building: Mastering the Art of Tweets and Bios
Twitter may have a smaller character limit, but it’s still a powerful platform for link building. Here are some ways you can use Twitter to strengthen your backlink profile:
Your Twitter Website Field
Your Twitter profile features a dedicated website field where you can display a link to your site. Make sure to take advantage of this opportunity to gain a valuable backlink.
Your Twitter Bio
Your Twitter bio is an excellent place to showcase your personality, interests, and most importantly, your website. Including a link to your site in your bio helps establish your online presence and build backlinks.
Your Photo and Video Tweets
Photos and videos often receive more engagement on Twitter than text-only tweets. Capitalize on this trend by sharing visual content that includes a link to your website or blog. This can drive traffic and generate valuable backlinks for your site.
LinkedIn Link Building: Harnessing the Power of Professional Networking
LinkedIn, the go-to platform for professionals, offers numerous link building opportunities. Let’s explore the various ways you can generate backlinks through LinkedIn.
Your Profile’s Contact Info
The Contact Info section on your LinkedIn profile is an excellent place to include your website or blog link. This not only builds your backlink profile but also enhances your professional credibility.
Your Profile’s Featured and Posts Sections
LinkedIn allows you to showcase your best work through the Featured section on your profile. Include articles, projects, or other content that links back to your website to generate valuable backlinks. Additionally, when creating posts, remember to incorporate relevant links to your site.
Your Company’s Basic Information
Your LinkedIn Company Page is a fantastic opportunity to include a link to your website in the basic information section. This simple yet effective strategy can help drive traffic and improve your backlink profile.
Your Group’s Website
If you’re an admin of a LinkedIn group, don’t miss the chance to include your website link in the group’s information section. This can not only increase your backlink profile but also establish your authority within the group.
Group Announcements
LinkedIn group announcements allow you to share important updates with group members. Use this feature to share valuable content that links back to your website or blog, thus generating more backlinks.
YouTube Link Building: Boosting Your Backlinks with Video Content
As the second-largest search engine globally, YouTube offers unique opportunities for link building. Let’s explore how you can leverage this platform for backlinks.
YouTube About Page
The About page on your YouTube channel is prime real estate for link building. Include a brief description of your channel and a link to your website or blog to maximize your backlink potential.
Video Descriptions
When uploading videos to YouTube, don’t overlook the description field. Incorporate relevant links to your website, blog, or other online presence to strengthen your backlink profile.
Pinterest Link Building: Creating a Visual Backlink Portfolio
Pinterest is a visual platform that can be a goldmine for link building. Here’s how you can take advantage of this platform:
Your Profile Link
Your Pinterest profile features a dedicated field to showcase your website link. Make sure to utilize this opportunity to gain a valuable backlink.
Rich Pins
Rich Pins provide more information about the pinned content and include a direct link to your website. This feature not only drives traffic but also helps in building a strong backlink profile.
Instagram Link Building: Leveraging Photos and Stories for Backlinks
Although Instagram is primarily a visual platform, there are still ways to generate backlinks. Here’s how:
Your Profile Link
Similar to other platforms, Instagram allows you to include a website link in your bio. This simple addition can help build your backlink profile and drive traffic to your site.
Instagram Stories
With the “Swipe Up” feature in Instagram Stories, you can include links to your website or blog. This is an engaging and interactive way to drive traffic and generate backlinks.
Quora Social Link Building: Sharing Knowledge and Boosting Backlinks
Quora is a popular platform for knowledge sharing and can also be an effective tool for link building. Let’s explore the ways you can generate backlinks through Quora.
Your Profile
Your Quora profile is a great place to showcase your expertise and include a link to your website or blog. This not only enhances your credibility but also helps build your backlink profile.
Your Answers
When answering questions on Quora, provide valuable information and, where relevant, include links to your website or blog. This will not only help establish your authority but also contribute to your backlink profile.
Other Ideas for Social Media Backlinks: Exploring New Opportunities
Social media platforms are constantly evolving, and there are always new opportunities for link building. Here are some additional ideas for generating social media backlinks:
WhatsApp Status?
Although not a traditional social media platform, WhatsApp status updates can be used to share links to your website or blog. This can help drive traffic and contribute to your backlink profile.
Video Streaming Sites
Platforms like Vimeo and Dailymotion can also be used for link building. By sharing high-quality videos and including links to your website in the descriptions, you can improve your backlink profile.
Do an AMA
Hosting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session on platforms like Reddit can be a fantastic opportunity to establish your authority and share relevant links to your website.
Add Comments to Online Discussions
Participating in online discussions and forums can be an effective way to share your expertise and include links to your website, thus contributing to your backlink profile.
Check Out Other Social Backlinks
Keep an eye on emerging social media platforms and be ready to explore new opportunities for link building.
What Are Social Media Backlinks?
Social media backlinks are links to your website or blog shared on social media platforms. They play an essential role in driving traffic, improving search engine rankings, and enhancing your online presence.
Types of Social Media Backlinks
There are several types of social media backlinks, including links shared in posts, profiles, groups, comments, and more. Each type contributes to your backlink profile and helps improve your search engine rankings.
Does Social Media Count as Backlinks?
Yes, social media links do count as backlinks, and they can significantly impact your website’s search engine rankings and overall online presence.
Do Social Media Links Help SEO?
Social media links help with SEO by driving traffic to your website, increasing brand awareness, and improving your backlink profile. These factors contribute to better search engine rankings and enhanced online visibility.
Why Are Social Media Backlinks Important?
Social media backlinks are important because they help drive traffic, improve search engine rankings, and enhance your online presence. They also help establish your authority and credibility in your niche.
How to Gain More Social Media Backlinks Quickly
Here are some effective strategies to quickly gain more social media backlinks:
Create Great Content
High-quality, engaging content is more likely to be shared on social media, leading to more backlinks.
Make Use of the Right Keywords
Optimizing your content with relevant keywords increases the chances of it being discovered and shared on social media.
Get Active on Quora
Answering questions and sharing valuable information on Quora can help establish your authority and generate backlinks.
Take Advantage of Social Media Groups
Joining and participating in social media groups related to your niche can help drive traffic and create backlinks.
Pay Attention to Trends
Stay up-to-date with current trends and create content that resonates with your target audience, increasing the chances of it being shared on social media.
FAQs About Social Media Backlinks
What are social media backlinks?
Social media backlinks are links to your website or content shared on social media platforms. They help increase your online visibility, drive traffic, and improve your search engine rankings.
Do backlinks work on social media?
Yes, backlinks on social media work by increasing your online presence, driving traffic to your website, and improving your overall search engine rankings.
Do links from social media count for SEO?
Links from social media do count for SEO, as they help drive traffic, improve your backlink profile, and increase your website’s search engine rankings.
Do Twitter posts count as backlinks?
Yes, Twitter posts that include links to your website or content count as backlinks, contributing to your website’s overall backlink profile and search engine rankings.
Is a Facebook share a backlink?
Yes, a Facebook share that includes a link to your website or content is considered a backlink, which can help drive traffic and improve your search engine rankings.
Is YouTube a backlink?
Links included in your YouTube channel’s About page and video descriptions count as backlinks, contributing to your website’s backlink profile and search engine rankings.
Is Pinterest a backlink?
Yes, links shared on Pinterest, such as those included in your profile and Rich Pins, count as backlinks, helping drive traffic and improve your website’s search engine rankings.
What Is Social Bookmarking?
When it comes to link building, social bookmarking essentially refers to getting a backlink from a social media site. The theory behind this is that because social media sites carry a lot of authority, if you get a link from them, it will boost your rankings.
People use websites such as Reddit, Twitter, and Dribbble to backlink to their own websites. But, this is a very outdated strategy. Google considers this to be a form of spamming, and social bookmarking definitely won’t help your site rank.
Google’s algorithm is smart enough to see if you’re getting backlinks from social media sites and using social bookmarking as a link building strategy.
The algorithm might mark the links and your site as spam, and you could even get a penalty that will cause your rankings to slip down even further. So, you have to be very careful about using social bookmarking.
How Does It Impact Your Ranking?
It is important to remember that social bookmarking does not have a positive impact on your rankings or benefit your SEO.
Because Google’s algorithm can recognize social bookmarking sites and considers them to be low quality, they will ignore those links. Anyone can get these links, which tells Google that you have no no editorial process in place.
These backlinks don’t form a natural part of your backlinks profile, and they are not going to help boost your rankings. There are much more effective strategies you can use, which I will talk about further in this article.
Irrelevant Backlinks
Usually these social media sites are not relevant to your niche. If you’re getting a backlink from Twitter and you have a website about dogs, that’s not a relevant site. Because it’s not a relevant backlink, it’s not going to pass any authority.
Most of these links are also nofollow, which means that there’s a nofollow tag in the link. This indicates to search engine crawlers that the link isn’t trustworthy, and not to pass on any authority.
If you have a lot of nofollow links, it doesn’t help you in terms of boosting your ranking on Google.
However, if you have a relevant social media profile that you regularly post on, that has a strong following, that signals to Google that the site has authority.
If you have experimented with social bookmarking links, or you’re just not sure what the best types of links are, a good rule of thumb is that if there’s no editorial process in place to add to your backlinks, then it is not valuable for your site.
It’s not going to help your rankings. Google is going to identify it as spam or ignore it completely.
More Effective Ways To Get Links
It is really important to focus on building a backlink profile that looks natural. This indicates authority and trust. If you look at any of the big sites that are getting traffic, they always have a natural backlink profile because they’re producing great content.
If you have great content, then you’re always going to attract links. Regardless of whether you do outreach or get them naturally.
So, what is the best linking strategy to use? I recommend getting editorial links to your site using the Skyscraper Technique. This will help you to work out how your competitors are getting backlinks and where they are getting them from.
You can then create a better piece of content than your competitors, contact the sites that are linking to them and say, “Hey, I know you’re linked to Joeblogs.com. Maybe you want to link to me too. Here’s my content. What do you think?” This is a great way to get editorial links from website owners.
The best part is that you’ll be getting links because your content is good, not because you’re spamming a lot of social media bookmarking sites. This is a much more powerful and effective way to get links.
Plus, the links that you get when using the Skyscraper Technique are dofollow. When your links are dofollow they pass authority, trust, and credibility to your site.
By using this approach you will eventually see a big improvement in your website authority and your rankings on Google.
I also want to mention that social media can still play a powerful part in your linking and SEO strategies.
If you have a large following on social media, such as an Instagram page with 20,000 followers, it’s a great indicator of trust, authority, and credibility to your site.
Grow Your Following
It is important to differentiate between building a social media following that can boost your SEO and trying to build an unnatural following by social bookmarking with automated software. The former will grow your audience, the latter will not.
So, if you’re going to use social media for SEO, then focus on growing your following and building a real audience.
Engagement metrics such as likes, comments, and followers are powerful for SEO because they indicate trust. This will grow your brand and build an audience that will follow your content.