As a small business owner, running a website can be overwhelming. After all, unless your business is that of a webmaster, you didn’t go into business to run websites. Nevertheless, your business needs a well-oiled website to succeed, so you dive in.
But there are so many moving parts!
That’s why I’m writing this article: to provide you with easy-to-follow directions to earn those credible backlinks and enhance your SEO as a result.
After all, not all backlinks are created equal. A few credible backlinks from authoritative websites in your industry can have a greater impact on your rankings than dozens of low-quality links. So how do you secure these high-value backlinks? Here’s what you need to know.
1. Create High-Value, Link-Worthy Content
This is obvious, but it has to be said. The best way to attract backlinks is by creating content that people naturally want to link to. This includes:
- Original research and data – Industry statistics, case studies, and reports.
- In-depth guides and resources – Comprehensive, well-researched articles.
- Expert opinions and interviews – Featuring insights from respected industry leaders.
- Unique tools or templates – Free resources that provide practical value.
- Unique communication – Are you an expert writer with a clear and concise way of communicating complex issues? Do you have a unique or humorous communication style that makes it easier to accept brutal truths? Either, or both of these can draw the attention of your industry.
- Understand Semantic SEO – Obviously, no one wants to link to content that Google dislikes, so take the time to understand how to create content that Google will like, beyond the next algorithm update.
In other words, prove your expertise. If you can’t yet, that’s okay. Continue to refine your craft and become an expert. Utilize the benefits of acquiring high-quality backlinks to motivate you to become a more expert authority.
It’s also worth noting that the gatekeepers for those authoritative websites are knowledgeable about website best practices. As a result, it behooves you to be certain that your website is ready. Check out The Content Audit Checklist: 10 Quick Fixes for a More Effective Website to get started.
How to Make Your Content Easily Linkable:
- Include original insights that can’t be found elsewhere.
- Structure content with clear headings and bullet points for readability.
- Add downloadable PDFs or templates to encourage sharing and linking.
2. Leverage Guest Posting (The Right Way)
Guest posting is still a strong link-building strategy—when done correctly. Instead of mass pitching, focus on high-quality industry sites that align with your expertise.
- Research the blog’s content and audience.
- Pitch a unique, high-value topic.
- Provide real insights, not just promotional fluff.
- Include a relevant backlink to your website within the content or author bio.
How to Find Guest Posting Opportunities:
- Search “[your industry] + write for us” on Google.
- Use platforms like GuestPostTracker to find blogs accepting guest posts.
- Check competitor backlinks using Ahrefs or Moz to see where they guest post.
3. Get Featured in Industry Roundups and Resource Pages
Many websites publish expert roundups, best-of lists, or resource pages. To get included:
- Reach out to website owners and editors with a compelling reason to add your content.
- Offer valuable insights or data that complement their existing resources.
- Ensure your content is high-quality and authoritative.
How to Get Noticed in Roundups:
- Use Twitter or LinkedIn to engage with bloggers who publish roundups.
- Provide actionable insights in your outreach emails rather than just asking for a link.
4. Build Relationships with Industry Influencers
Networking with bloggers, journalists, and industry influencers can lead to natural backlink opportunities. Ways to connect include:
- Engaging with their content (commenting, sharing, quoting them in your articles).
- Collaborating on projects, podcasts, or co-authored content.
- Offering valuable contributions to their discussions and publications.
Pro Tip:
Utilize LinkedIn and Twitter to engage with influencers before pitching a potential collaboration. Comment on their posts with comments that add to the conversation. Just as in any other aspect of life, influencers tend to prefer interacting and working with people they know. Get to know them as much as you can. Show them you are someone who has something to offer.
5. Use Featured or Qwoted for Journalist Requests
Check out platforms such as Featured (formerly Terkel) and Qwoted. Both facilitate connections between experts and journalists seeking credible sources. You can get the backlinks you need by helping journalists with answers to their questions.
How to Maximize Your Success:
- Set up alerts for topics in your niche.
- Respond quickly to journalist queries with concise, high-value insights.
- Include a short bio and website link for potential backlinks.
6. Reclaim Unlinked Brand Mentions
Websites occasionally mention your brand without providing a link. Utilize tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs to identify these unlinked mentions and request that the site owner add a backlink.
7. Create Shareable Infographics and Visual Content
Creating high-quality materials
High-quality infographics, charts, and visual data are highly shareable and often attract backlinks. Ensure:
- The visuals are original and well-designed.
- The information is useful and relevant to your industry.
- You offer an embed code to make it easy for others to share.
How to Provide an Embed Code:
- Upload the infographic to your website and copy its URL.
- Generate the embed code (it will look something like this):
<a href=”https://yourwebsite.com” target=”_blank”>
<img src=”https://yourwebsite.com/infographic.jpg” alt=”Infographic Title” width=”600″>
</a>
<p>Embed this infographic on your site: <br>
<textarea readonly onclick=”this.select()”>
<a href=”https://yourwebsite.com” target=”_blank”>
<img src=”https://yourwebsite.com/infographic.jpg” alt=”Infographic Title” width=”600″>
</a>
</textarea></p>
- Display the code on your site below the infographic, accompanied by a CTA such as “Share this infographic!”
8. Fix Broken Links on Industry Websites
Find high-quality sites in your industry that have broken outbound links. Then:
- Identify relevant pages on your site that could replace the broken link.
- Contact the site owner, informing them of the broken link and suggesting your content as a replacement.
How to Find Broken Links:
- Use Ahrefs’ Broken Link Checker to find broken outbound links.
- Search for 404 pages on relevant industry blogs and suggest an alternative link.
Final Thoughts
Yes, this is a long-term project. It’s not something you can do over a weekend. And it can’t be done before the website is launched (wouldn’t that be nice). Instead, you need to budget consistent time to this project on a weekly and monthly basis. Likewise, it depends on your ability to provide high-quality content. That takes effort, but acquiring high-quality backlinks to your site is worth the work.
So, focus on:
- Quality content
- Strategic outreach
- Genuine relationship-building
By doing these things, you’ll secure backlinks that not only boost your SEO but also establish your authority in your industry.
Need a professional website audit to improve your SEO strategy? Let’s talk.