What Is Backlinking And Why Is It important?

Here, we explore backlinking, why it is important and what it takes to get a good backlink

Have you ever heard the phrase “that’s a good backlink” and felt unsure about what that actually means, or what makes it a “good” backlink? You’re not alone.

Here, we explore backlinking, why it is important and what it takes to get a good backlink.

What is a backlink?

A backlink is the term used for a link that points to your website, whether it be to the homepage, a product page or another page. A backlink can come from your onsite blog, or it could be from an offsite destination, such as a blog, business directory, news website or industry resource.

What are the benefits of a backlink?

Backlinking has a host of benefits if done correctly, as it has the potential to raise brand awareness, increase exposure, drive traffic to your website and helps your website become more SEO friendly (more on that here).

Although Google’s algorithm is ever-changing, it has been confirmed that a glowing backlink profile should definitely be an essential part of your SEO strategy. A good backlink profile is made up of authoritative websites that are recognized for their high-quality content, so it’s best to receive backlinks from websites that have a high domain authority, among other things. Low-quality backlinks from dubious websites may generate short-term wins, however, they will eventually penalize your website and dramatically impact your SEO long term, so as tempting as it seems, it’s simply not worth the risk.

How can you get a backlink?

This is where influencer marketing and PR come into play! Influencer marketing helps brands receive natural, organic backlinks as a result of their collaborations with genuine influencers. While the aim of influencer marketing varies for each campaign, a backlink should always be requested if the opportunity is available.

Similarly, a PR approach is another great way to earn links from high-quality websites, such as news and industry specific websites. Publishers and editors are always on the lookout for stories to tell, so don’t be afraid to pitch your story and see where the process takes you.

Another way to earn backlinks is to guest post and offer your expertise to high-quality websites that talk about your industry. Perhaps a guest post from your CEO on how he/she doubled their revenue in just a few short months could make a great guest post for a high-quality website read by budding entrepreneurs. The possibilities are endless when it comes to guest posting, so be prepared to produce good, valuable and relevant content and don’t forget to include a link to your website in the bio or in the content.

Finally, another great way to earn backlinks is to create high-quality content marketing assets that add value to your industry and potential customers. Shareable content such as infographics, webinars, eBooks and templates are a great place to start because they’re relatively easy to produce, low cost and have great potential to earn your website some high-quality backlinks, as well as authority in the field.

Earning links naturally through influencer marketing and PR activities, guest posting and creating a library of content marketing assets are all white hat SEO practices that produce great results and ensure your website is not penalized.

So why is it important?

As mentioned above, backlinking is great for brand awareness, exposure, driving traffic and improving your search engine rankings, so it’s important to know more about backlinking so you can take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Without a good backlink profile, your website will not show up in search engines when users are searching for businesses just like yours. Increasing your visibility and building a good backlink profile should be an essential part of your digital marketing strategy, so don’t ignore it for too much longer!