One of the big players of search engine optimization (SEO) is link building, which refers to the incorporation of inbound links to a particular website. It is vital to understand that the quality of the links determines your overall page rank and the amount of directed traffic from search engines like Google. Since link building and search engine optimization (SEO) go hand in hand, your page ranking may decrease due to poorly executed link building. Consequently, the quality and content of your links are vital for page ranking through search engines. Below is a guideline for good link building:
· Know Your Competition
A great starting point for link building is understanding your competitors link building methods. Look at your competition and see if they are focusing solely on something specific or multiple things, such as blogs and social media. This strategy can point you in the right direction and be the foundation for your link building.
· Is your website user-friendly?
One of the most overlooked areas about a website is it’s ease of use. User-friendly websites are easy to navigate and read for both users and search engines. Another growing concern about website design is being mobile friendly.
· Content, Content, Content.
It comes to no surprise that the quality and content when link building is in direct relation to your page ranking. Good content will keep the reader intrigued and increases the possibility of sharing among other peers with the same interest.
· The Importance of the Right Keywords
When dealing with search engine optimization (SEO), it is important to choose the right keywords not only have relevance to your related business, but are also ranked highly among the chosen keywords when using a search engine.
· Business Contact Information
Keep in mind to use domain specific e-mail addresses or a business related one to reduce spam when including contact information.
· Inclusion of Social Media
Don’t forget that social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook are now being incorporated in the search engine results page (SERPs). Such social media sites are growing for networking and incorporate share functions to distribute media and breaking news to their social network.
If done correctly, good link building can produce successful results in page ranking and increase traffic.
The image above is a link strategy chart that depicts the five main categories of link building.
Written by Chris C.