Building Backlinks in 2023: A No-Nonsense Guide to Effective Outreach
Link-building has long been a pain point for many digital marketers and website owners, especially as outdated methods flood the internet. With over a thousand backlinks created in the past year for various client projects, I’ve distilled my experience into actionable insights tailored for 2023. Let’s dive into a comprehensive overview of what truly works in link-building today.
Why Consider Link-Building?
First and foremost, it’s essential to evaluate if you genuinely need a link-building strategy. Before diving into this endeavor, ensure that you have:
- A well-defined SEO strategy.
- A website filled with quality blog posts or resources.
Attempting to build links without these foundational elements is like trying to build a house without a solid foundation—you’re unlikely to see meaningful results.
If you urgently need revenue, alternative strategies such as content marketing, pay-per-click ads, or email outreach may yield quicker results than link-building, which generally requires a long-term commitment.
The Outdated Myths
There’s a significant amount of outdated information circulating in the link-building space. Here’s what you should avoid:
- Forum Links: Most forums implement ‘no-follow’ attributes on outbound links, rendering them ineffective for SEO.
- Web 2.0 Links: Sites like Reddit and Medium are heavily filtered by Google, and links from these platforms have lost their value.
- Blog Comment Links: These are often no-follow as well, leading to wasted effort.
- Low-Quality PBNs: While well-constructed Private Blog Networks (PBNs) can be effective, those acquired from dubious sources can cause severe damage to your site’s ranking.
Contrary to popular belief, purchasing high-quality backlinks is a legitimate strategy when executed correctly. In highly competitive markets like CBD or finance, investing in backlinks is often necessary to stay relevant.
What Actually Works?
The key lies in acquiring real backlinks from reputable websites within your niche. For example, if you run a fitness blog, target backlinks from:
- Established fitness publications.
- Smaller fitness blogs.
- Relevant health media sites.
Additionally, links from authoritative media outlets like Forbes or Mashable, even if not topically aligned, can enhance your SEO profile.
Here are some indicators of high-quality backlink prospects:
- The site receives substantial traffic from search engines.
- It regularly publishes authoritative and valuable content.
- The site does not engage