You can perceive the internet as a web where a site is connected with another site through threads. These threads are called hyperlinks and help users move from one page to the other and find information effortlessly.
However, there is something in the hyperlinking system called a backlink and it defines the rank that your site will have on a search engine. But what are backlinks? Let’s find out in this article.
What are Backlinks on a Website?
Your website can be depicted as a small bookstore situated in a beautiful alley. Backlinks are like positive word-of-mouth that comes in the form of recommendations from other bookstores in the region.
If, for instance, a nearby prestigious and well-known bookstore directs their customers to your store, it implies that there is something desirable in their view of your collection worth exploring.
In the context of the online world, backlinks serve such a role. They are URLs on other sites that lead to your site. Consider them as citation sources within a research paper to let readers know that a piece of content is informative and reliable.
It is noteworthy to disentangle backlinks from internal links as well. Internal links are the links that lead to other pages on your website—as if you have actual signs within your bookstore that guide people around the store.
Backlinks, on the other hand, originate from other websites, making them a sort of validation form from a third party, like a neighbor bookstore owner who cannot wait to tell his customers about this great book he has come across in your store.
Why Are Backlinks Important?
Search engines such as Google keep on indexing the web in a similar manner as a librarian indexes books. In this procedure, their goal is set to figure out which sites or URLs are most appropriate to certain search terms. Here is where Search Engine Optimization (also referred to as SEO) comes into the picture.
SEO refers to the process of ensuring that your website appears at the top of the search results so that users who are searching the internet for certain information are easily able to find your website.
Backlinks are one of the key considerations when it comes to this type of ranking. Many search engines’ algorithms value backlinks. Therefore, if your website has many backlinks of high quality, especially from established websites, they will consider your site to be reliable and authoritative.
It is like having many well-set-up actual bookstores in your city come out and endorse your library, which is likely to draw many book lovers to your store.
The Importance of Quality Backlinks
It is essential to understand that not all backlinks are the same. Of course, any backlinks are better than no backlinks at all, but the quality of them matters. Let me explain why paying attention to backlinks’ quality is crucial.
Relevance
A classic analogy could be your next-door neighbor suggesting a bakery when you are in search of a bookstore. It’s not particularly helpful, isn’t it?
A reference from similar websites is more valuable because it shows that the connection is natural. They are similar to a local bookstore assisting one of their clients who wants to find a similar shop containing rare first-edition books. This makes users visit the site relevant to what they are seeking and the chances of these individuals converting to buyers is much higher.
Authority
It is easier for consumers to be persuaded by someone they consider to be famous in that area as compared to a random person. Links coming from other well-reputed and authoritative sites within the same field are valued higher by search engines, as it is proof that your content should be valuable too.
Just think about getting a link from the library of a well-known university to your website articles that are devoted to historical fiction. Search engines will highly appreciate such a gesture.
Anchor Text
The text of the hyperlink placed on web pages leading to your site is known as anchor text. It’s like the promise of a good movie on the billboard by the roadside.
Appropriate anchor text enhances user experience by informing the visitor what the page is about (“Click for a detailed guide on SEO” for instance) and assists search engines in comprehending the link’s context. They are additional signals of what the page contains, and, thus, contribute to its relevance to certain search queries.
5 Strategies for Building Quality Backlinks
Links can be built organically, as more people stumble upon your content and link it in their blog, for instance. However, active link-building is very beneficial and contributes to the authority of your site.
Below are some strategies to help you get on the right step in acquiring quality backlinks:
Craft Link-Worthy Content
This is a principle on which any effective backlink strategy should be based. Build timely, interesting, and accurate website content that people want to place links to on their own. Brainstorm comprehensive articles, investigations, or new forms of charts and infographics. There is a positive correlation found between the importance of the content and the probability it will be cited by others.
Guest Blogging
Engage in posting on other websites that are within the same field as yours. This makes it possible for you to share your knowledge with a large number of people while at the same time gaining valuable backlinks to your site. It has to be well-written for the guest blog not to be a self-promoting blog.
Broken Link Building
Websites evolve and many times the links used are no longer available. Therefore, look for broken links in your niche. Then, come up with better content than the old and outdated ones. Finally, contact the webmaster of the website and inform them that you have quality content that may suit the broken link perfectly.
Become a Source for Journalists and Bloggers
There are online communities such as JustReachOut and Qwoted for journalists looking for credible sources. By creating yourself as an authority figure, you can answer the journalists’s inquiries and likely obtain a backlink in the report.
Leverage Social Media
Social media shares may not, in themselves, translate into backlinks, but they do improve the general visibility of your product and website. The more visitors to your content, the higher the probability of your articles being seen by other site owners and earning backlinks.
Conclusion
When you know what backlinks are and dedicate effort towards acquiring quality ones, you are doing everything within your power to rank your website high and generate more unique visitors. Don’t forget that backlinks are like gold in the world of SEO. If approached properly, you’ll unleash the true potential of your website.