The Ultimate Guide to Building Quality Backlinks

For many of us building quality backlinks may seem like an impossible task – sort of like trying to climb Mount Everest. It doesn't need to be. In fact, by following a few simple guidelines it'll seem more like climbing the stairs; a minor task we perform every single day. So for starters, what exactly are backlinks? Exactly what they sound like.

They are links on other websites that point back to your own site. Not all backlinks are created equal though. Quality backlinks can help you're site climb up the search engine rankings, but poor quality links can have the opposite effect.

Here are some guidelines you can follow to make sure you're choosing the right strategies to improve your backlinks.

For a business, one of the most effective ways to create backlinks to your main site is to create your own blog. Business websites are usually static. They provide valuable information, but they don't encourage interaction and relationship development with your potential customers.

Build A Community

A blog can help you develop a community which can be good for business. A popular blog can help push traffic to your primary site by linking back to it at every appropriate opportunity.

When you're first starting out it can be tough developing any traffic at all. A good way to get around this is to lend your expertise to other sites with the understanding that they will allow you to link back to your own site in exchange.

A good place to start is EzineArticles. This site is always looking for experts to contribute articles on a variety of subjects; in exchange for your expertise they will allow you to link back to your own site.

Yes you will have to write a few articles for free to gain the opportunity, but you'll now be off and running developing quality backlinks to your business website.

EzineArticles

EzineArticles is not the only place you can offer your expertise in article writing to help with your backlinks. Guest blogging on other authority sites within your niche is a great way to help grow your backlinks.

Don't be shy, track down the best sites in your niche, write some articles that you believe would add value to these sites, and offer to post your articles to these sites free of charge if they allow you to link back to your own site.

You'll be surprised how many site authors are looking for guests to write for them. Even the best sites run out of new ideas once in a while, it's nice to get a fresh perspective.  Backlinks from respected sites in your niche will be viewed favourably by the search engines, and help move you up in their rankings.

Social Media

Don't forget about social media. Every time you write a new article share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and whatever other social media sites you participate in. This may not be what you'd call backlinks in the traditional sense, but it will help increase your sites exposure.

These social media sites often have do not follow algorithms that prevent you from creating backlinks, but each time you share on social media you have the potential to reach another new follower. It's well worth the effort.

Free Giveaways

Most people find it hard to resist free stuff. One of the best things you can do to help your site grow is to offer free giveaways; eBooks are a very popular choice. They're simple to produce, and won't cost you anything but time.

In your eBooks be sure to include links to your site, and you're bound to attract some new traffic. It's important to create something of value though. Don't just slap something together, or you're likely to do more harm than good.

You'll also want to changeup your free offers once in a while. If you post a free eBook and then just forget about it, it will eventually outlive its usefulness – everything has a shelf life.

Contribute To Other Websites

Find quality sites in your niche that you genuinely find useful, and become a regular contributor to them. Good quality blogs grow into their own little communities. If you consistently post insightful remarks in the comment section of such sites you'll likely be noticed by other members of the community as well as the site administrator.

There's a good chance some of the people you've impressed will want to check out more of what you have to say on your own site. Comments you leave on other sites will also link back to your own site increasing your backlink opportunities.

Yahoo! Answers

Become an expert on sites such as Yahoo! Answers. Most of us are familiar with this type of site. Got a question? If you type your question in a search engine looking for an answer, quite often your search will bring you to a Yahoo! Answers page.

If you can establish yourself as an expert with quality answers on this type of service you can increase the exposure to your own website. Don't forget to link back to your site in your answer though!

Always Provide Value

As we outlined some great ideas to increase your sites backlinks above you might have noticed one common theme throughout – in a word value. No matter what you produce online, always make sure that you are offering something of real value. There's so much content available out there, it's hard to get noticed in the crowd. It can seem a little overwhelming at times.

The only way to consistently get yourself noticed is to always offer something of value, and to only associate your site with other authority sites with the same philosophy. It would be a real shame to let all your hard work go to waste simply because you allowed your site to be associated with sites that don't live up to your standards.

Search Engines Constantly Evolve

The search engines will continue to tweak there algorithms from time to time, but if you make sure you follow this philosophy you should be able to grow your backlinks without having to worry about harming your search engine rankings. Good luck!