Good link building makes for great SEO and digital marketing campaigns - and can give your content a much needed boost in the Google stakes. But as with every aspect of digital marketing, it’s a tricky game to master and there are some key dos and don’ts to consider when building good quality links. Here are just a few to help you on your way in 2016 – the year of the link building!
Don’t Buy Links
It’s only right to start with a biggy – and the don’ts don’t get much bigger than this. No matter how tempted you are or what anyone recommends, under no circumstances should you buy links - individually or in bulk. Why, you ask? When something seems too easy to be true, then it usually is. Despite seeming like a quick win, you’ll actually be working against yourself.
As with buying Twitter fans, purchasing links lacks genuine sentiment and devalues both your content and your overall campaign. And don’t think for a second that Google won’t notice those bought links – the all-seeing search giant will be sure to penalise you swiftly and severely, burying you on page 200.
Don’t Fake it ‘Til You Make it
Honesty is the best policy in link building – which is why whatever you do, you need to make sure that your efforts are genuinely part of a wider-ranging marketing strategy, aimed at presenting relevant audiences with relevant content. If a link isn’t placed because it’s genuinely beneficial to the end user, or it’s there just for the sake of getting as many links as possible, then you’re doing your brand a great disservice – and again, Google will notice (as will your regular website visitors). In the end, faking it isn’t going to work to your advantage.
Don’t be Irrelevant
An expansion on the point above, it’s essential to make sure your links are totally relevant to the content on the page, instead of being placed for reckless reasons such as bumping up your link numbers. Google is very careful not to extend the benefits of good link building to those who use irrelevant content. Instead, be sure you’re building links on the right sites and using the right content – not only will Google be more inclined to like you, but you’ll also end up attracting the right audience.
Do Use Social Media
Now for some positive action points for your link building efforts! Giving your link building strategy a boost doesn’t have to cost a small fortune – instead, why not turn to social media? With a plethora of free platforms and the ability to build a relevant audience pretty quickly, it’s a sure-fire way to generate traffic whilst demonstrating to Google that you’re not spamming.
Do Refresh Your Content
Keeping your content fresh is an ideal way to make sure both Google and your audience feel favourably towards your link building efforts. Unfortunately, switching a few sentences around in order to keep your content refreshed isn’t going to cut it when it comes to Google’s strict policy, so be sure to embrace a thorough re-write for some variety.
Do Try New Things
There’s nothing wrong with experimenting in your link building – you may find a new approach or technique that’ll improve your efforts tenfold - but you’ll never know if you don’t try! Just keep in mind that Google is a fickle beast and isn’t afraid to penalise you for even the slightest infractions, and be sure to measure your results as best as possible to replicate your successes or improve on any failings.
Need help building links? Try working with a professional SEO agency to get the boost your content deserves! Get in touch now and let’s talk about how the Christian Michaels Agency can help!