Link building may not be as important as it was several years ago but it is still one of Google's top three ranking factors. Given this fact, it is important to learn how to build links in 2018 that will not only boost your business' online standing now but continue to do so in the future. Here are some great tips to get you started.

Create Winning Content

You need to give people an incentive to link to you. It could be a freebie, discount coupon, an in-depth article, infographic or even a video. What matters is that it is top quality, unique and engaging for your target audience.

There is a popular misconception that business owners need to create content on a very regular basis in order to maintain or attain a high search engine rank. While regular content is important, it is even more important to make sure your content is top quality. If you have to choose between creating top quality occasionally and creating mediocre content on a regular basis, go with the first option.

Use HARO

HARO stands for Help a Reporter Out. Journalists across the country use the website when they need to find an expert in a particular field who is willing to be quoted on video or in a newspaper or magazine article. In some instances you may be quoted in a printed book.

You can sign up for HARO for free. After you have done so, keep an eye on your mailbox to see if there are any requests related to your field of expertise. If so, answer them promptly as many reporters are likely to turn to the first person who answers their request for help.

Becoming a HARO source can enable you to get your company's name in a national newspaper or magazine website. In many cases a link to your business is included as well. Such links are invaluable because national newspaper and magazine websites tend to have a high page rank. At the same time, don't discount small, local newspapers and magazines that only circulate in your city and may the surrounding areas. If you have a small mom and pop shop that only reaches a local clientele, skip requests from large news outlets and instead focus on providing assistance to local publications. A link from an authoritative page that gets a lot of views in your local area can do wonders for your business.

How to build links in 2018 Using Networking

If you want links from pages with a high website rank, you will need to ask for them.

There are a number of ways you can ask for links from authoritative websites. However, your first step is to determine what type of target audience you want to reach. Choosing your target audience first will enable you to find the types of websites you want to get links from.

Next, find websites that reach your target audience and that have a high page rank. Make a list of these websites and then create a pitch that will make them want to give you a link.

Remember, websites with a high page rank won't give out links for free. You need to give them a good incentive to link to you. Here are some things you can do to get links from top notch sites:

  • Write a case study involving another site and then tell the site you want a link from about your study. They will probably be interested in linking to it.
  • Make a deal with similar yet non-competitor businesses in your local area to exchange links. For instance, HVAC companies can provide links to plumbing companies and vice-versa. Stores selling children's books may be interested in exchanging links with stores that sell other children's products; i.e. clothing, shoes or educational toys. A local ice cream store may be happy to work with a local restaurant.
  • Offer top quality guest posts to well-known blogs. In some cases, your post could include a recent infographic that you know would be appreciated by the readers of the blogs you are targeting.

It takes time and a lot of hard work to not only learn how to build links in 2018 but also put effective tips into practice. However, the results are more than worth it. High quality links will boost your site's standing both now and in the future, enabling you to reach a large target audience without having to spend a lot of money on Google Ads and other forms of internet marketing.

If you need professional help and customized advice on how to build links in 2018, drop us a line at your convenience. Brandgy offers content marketing and SEO/Offsite marketing packages in various price points to make it easy for busy business owners to get valuable links while still managing other important aspects of running a successful business.