Ranking for SEO is complicated. So many factors determine where you fall in the search results. And SEO is a never-ending activity you’ll need to engage in to ensure you keep those rankings.
For best results, you do need high-quality backlinks from third-party websites. But when evaluating backlinks, quality always wins out over quantity. Instead of focusing on how you can get tons of backlinks fast, put your effort into acquiring one quality backlink per month.
And never, ever hire SEO specialists that promise hundreds of links in no time. These so-called “specialists” will link your website from spammy sites that could do irreparable harm to your rankings. You might never convince those spammy websites to remove the links, which could mean you’re out the money you paid to the “specialist” and you’re in a worse place than when started.
I’m painting a bleak picture here, but the reality is, backlinking requires careful strategy. If you can’t do that strategy, it’s better to avoid third-party publishing to ensure you don’t end up worse off than when you started.
3 Ways to Earn Quality Backlinks from Third Parties
There are three key ways you can earn quality backlinks without spending tons of money or falling for spammy linking tactics. Here’s a look at those opportunities.
1. Collaborate with Local Businesses
Networking with other businesses in your area can do wonders for marketing your business without spending advertising dollars. The goal is to find other businesses with a similar audience as yours but with non-competing products and services.
For example, real estate agents can collaborate with insurance agents to help new home buyers find quality coverage for their assets. While their audiences are similar, they aren’t in true competition with one another.
But also realize that some local business websites might have high spam scores because they’ve engaged in poor backlinking strategies or have not put ample time into their website content and structure. Use the tips below to select quality local business websites to target your collaborations.
2. Adding Business Listings to Directories
Evaluate online business listings and directories where you can list your business. Don’t post on just any website though. Start with the obvious listing locations, such as:
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- Better Business Bureau
- Local chamber of commerce
Then work your way out from there to find the best high-quality directories. Some directories are spammy and search engines will ding you for listing your business there.
3. Selecting Good Guest Post Websites
If you’re evaluating a collaboration, business listing or blog for guest posting, you should first put the website through the Moz free domain SEO analysis tool. You’ll see the website’s domain authority to make an informed decision about whether you want that website linking to yours.
The higher the domain authority score and lower the spam percentage, the greater benefit you’ll likely see from earning a backlink from that website.
Understanding Domain Authority for Quality Backlinks
Domain authority is a score that rewards high-quality websites with a higher reputation. Some ways of increasing domain authority is through high-quality, related backlinks. This score also predicts how likely a website is to rank for a keyword. The higher the domain authority, the more likely the website will be to rank high.
You can check the domain authority for a website you’re considering earning a backlink through by going to Ahrefs or Moz (listed in the above section on selecting good guest post websites). The higher the score, the more value you’ll garner from linking with that website.
Still unsure about how your content marketing efforts can build your SEO? Schedule a free consultation with Bridge the Gap Communication to learn more.
Third-party Linking FAQs
There’s a reason why there is a whole industry devoted to helping companies earn high-quality backlinks. It’s a crucial element of a good SEO strategy. But it’s also challenging and time-consuming. Here’s what you need to know about publishing content on third-party websites.
What Is 3rd Party Content?
Third-party content is content that you publish on websites you do not own or manage. This might be on platforms like LinkedIn or it might be your local chamber of commerce.
What Is a Third-Party Website?
A third-party website is any website that you do not own or manage. It might be another local business or it might be a business in another country. Either way, it’s one that could help boost your SEO if targeted correctly.
Which Websites Allow Users to Post Their Content?
There are many websites where you can post content, such as Reddit, LinkedIn and Medium. However, posting on websites related to your business might have better results when considering high-quality backlinks.