Search engine optimization (SEO) is a constantly evolving field that requires staying on top of the latest trends and best practices. One of the most important aspects of SEO is link building.
In the world of SEO, backlinks play a critical role in boosting website rankings. Links from high-quality websites can signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy, authoritative, and relevant.
However, not all links are created equal, and not all link-building tactics are acceptable under Google’s guidelines. That’s why it’s crucial to focus on White-hat SEO techniques that can help you acquire genuine links from reputable sources.
In this blog, we’ll discuss some of my favorite methods to get authentic links that can help your website rank higher in search results.
What is White-Hat SEO?
White-hat SEO refers to the use of ethical and acceptable techniques to improve website rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). It involves creating high-quality content, optimizing website structure, and building genuine links from authoritative sources.
White-hat SEO was coined in contrast to “black-hat” techniques that use manipulative tactics to deceive search engines and manipulate rankings. It was invented in the early days of SEO and has since become an essential part of digital marketing strategies.
It is highly effective in link building as it focuses on acquiring genuine links from high-quality websites that can boost the website’s credibility and authority. By using ethical link-building methods, websites can attract more traffic and improve their search engine rankings without risking penalties or de-indexing by search engines.
Methods to Get Genuine Links
These methods are based on my own experience and research, and they have proven to be effective and sustainable over time. Let’s dive in!
Guest Posting
Guest posting is one of the oldest and most popular white-hat SEO methods to get genuine links. It is an excellent way to showcase your expertise and build relationships with other bloggers in your niche. By writing high-quality content for another website, you can earn a backlink to your website, which can help you attract more traffic and improve your search engine rankings.
It has many benefits for both parties: the host website gets fresh and valuable content for its audience, and you get exposure, traffic, and a link from a relevant and authoritative source.
Also helps you establish yourself as an expert and build relationships with other influencers in your field.
However, guest posting is not as easy as it sounds. You need to find suitable websites that accept guest posts, pitch them with a compelling topic idea, write a high-quality article that matches their style and guidelines, and follow up with them until your post is published. You also need to avoid guest posting on websites that are irrelevant, low-quality, or spammy, as they can damage your reputation and ranking.
To succeed with guest posting in 2023, you need to focus on quality over quantity.
Broken Link Building
As someone interested in building high-quality backlinks for my website, I’ve encountered a technique called this broken link building. Essentially, this method involves searching for broken links on other websites and offering to replace them with my own content.
By doing this, not only can I help the website owner improve their user experience by fixing the broken link, but I can also earn a valuable backlink in the process. It’s a win-win situation.
To find broken links, I typically use tools like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, or Google Search Console. These tools help me identify broken links quickly and easily.
What I do next is, “Once I find a broken link, I make sure to create high-quality content that’s similar to the broken page.” That way, when I reach out to the website owner to suggest a replacement, I can be confident that my content is a good fit for their site.
Skyscraper Technique
The skyscraper technique is a relatively new but effective white-hat SEO method to get genuine links in 2023. It was coined by Brian Dean from Backlinko.com, who described it as follows:
“The Skyscraper Technique is a simple three-step formula for creating amazing content that generates tons of backlinks:
Step 1: Find link-worthy content
Step 2: Make something even better
Step 3: Reach out to the right people”
The skyscraper technique is based on the idea that people tend to link to the best content available on a given topic. Therefore, if you want to get links from other websites, you need to create something that is better than what already exists.
Moreover, you need to create content that is better than the original and offers something unique and valuable to the audience. This could be in the form of updated information, more comprehensive analysis, better visuals, or more engaging formats.
Once you have created your content, you also need to reach out to websites that have linked to similar content in the past and convince them to link to your content instead. This can be a time-consuming process and requires a strategic outreach plan.
However, the benefits of the skyscraper technique, including improved search engine rankings, increased traffic, and enhanced brand visibility, make it a worthwhile investment for any website looking to boost its online presence.
Resource Page Link Building
This technique is highly tough. I have found that getting a link from a resource page can be highly valuable. Resource pages are web pages that curate a list of helpful resources on a specific topic, often including links to external websites.
To get a link from a resource page, I understand that I’ll need to create high-quality content that’s relevant to the resource page’s topic. This means doing some research on the types of resources that the website owner typically includes on their resource pages and creating content that is of a similar caliber.
As usual, once I have my content ready, I can reach out to the website owner and ask if they would consider adding my content to their resource page. I make sure to be polite and respectful in my outreach and highlight how my content can add value to their page and their audience.
Comparison Table
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Guest Blogging | Builds relationships with other bloggers | Requires time and effort to create quality content |
| Broken Link Building | Helps improve user experience on other sites | Requires finding broken links |
| Skyscraper Technique | Attracts backlinks with high-quality content | Requires creating exceptional content |
| Resource Page Link Building | High-value links from relevant pages | Requires finding relevant resource pages |
Wrap up
In conclusion, there are many White-hat SEO techniques that can help you get genuine links that can improve your website’s search engine rankings.
You can attract high-quality backlinks from authoritative sources by using guest blogging, broken link building, the Skyscraper technique, or resource page link building.
Just remember to focus on creating valuable and engaging content, building relationships with other bloggers, and following Google’s guidelines to ensure that your link-building efforts are effective and ethical.