Link building has always been an integral part of SEO strategies to help websites rank higher on search engines. However, with Google’s ever-changing algorithms and new updates, simply building links alone may no longer be enough to get your website to the top. Instead, white hat link building techniques that focus on creating value and building relationships with your audience are becoming more critical.
In this blog post, we will explore three white hat link building techniques that will help take your website’s rankings far beyond just links.
1. Guest Posting
Guest posting is one of the most popular white hat link building techniques. It is also an effective way to reach new audiences and establish yourself as an authority in your industry. Guest posting involves creating content that is published on another website, with a link back to your website.
When choosing a website to guest post on, make sure it is relevant to your industry and has high domain authority. Higher domain authority means that the website has a good reputation and is authoritative in its niche. You can use tools like Moz’s Domain Authority Checker to determine a website’s domain authority.
Once you have selected the website you want to guest post on, reach out to the website owner or editor with a pitch. Your pitch should highlight the value that your content will bring to their audience. Make sure to research the website’s content to ensure that your topic is not repetitive and provides a new perspective.
For example, if you run a vegan food blog, you could pitch a guest post to a nutrition website, providing a vegan-friendly perspective on a nutrition-related topic. Include a link back to your website in the author bio or within the content itself.
Some websites may have strict guidelines regarding guest posting, such as word count or preferred formatting. Ensure that you follow their guidelines to increase the chances of your pitch being accepted.
Here are some examples of websites that accept guest posts:
– Entrepreneur
– Forbes Entrepreneurs
– NPR Podcast Directory
– Vegan Miam
2. Influencer Outreach
Influencer outreach involves reaching out to well-known figures in your industry or niche and asking them to promote your content or product. This technique can help you gain exposure to a new audience and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.
When choosing influencers, make sure they are relevant to your industry and have a significant following. You can use tools like BuzzSumo to identify influential figures in your industry.
Once you have identified your target influencers, reach out to them with your proposal. Your proposal should emphasize the value that your content or product will bring to their followers. You can offer them discounts or compensation for promoting your content or product to incentivize them.
Here are some examples of brands that successfully used influencer marketing:
– The Atlantic highlights how brands used influencer marketing to show support for Black Lives Matter.
– Digital Media Hub compiled a list of the best influencer marketing campaigns of 2019.
– HubSpot provides a complete guide to influencer marketing.
3. Broken Link Building
Broken link building is the process of finding broken links on other websites and offering to replace them with a link to relevant content on your website. This technique helps the website fix its broken links while also providing you with a valuable backlink.
To find broken links, use tools like Broken Link Checker or Check My Links Chrome extension. Once you have found a broken link on a relevant website, reach out to the website owner or editor with a message informing them of the broken link and offering to replace it with a link to your relevant content.
For example, if you run a photography blog, you could search for broken links on a photography website and offer to replace them with a link to your blog post on Tips for Taking Better Photos.
Here are some examples of websites that accept broken link building:
– Business 2 Community
– Empty Mirror
– Man Repeller
Conclusion
While link building is still an important part of SEO, simply building links alone may no longer suffice to rank higher on search engines. White hat link building techniques that offer value and build relationships with your audience are becoming more critical.
Guest posting, influencer outreach, and broken link building are just a few techniques that can help take your website’s rankings beyond just links. By employing these techniques, you can establish yourself as an authority in your industry, reach new audiences, and increase your website’s visibility.