Are backlinks still important for SEO? The simple answer is, Yes!
But you may think, “Of course you would say that!”
So in this blog post we are going to have look at backlinks, chat about the best strategies for acquiring the best types of backlinks which will help boosts your business SERP’s (search engine results page) and discoverability which will help you outrank your competitors.
Table of Contents
Backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are links from one website to another. They are an essential component of search engine optimisation (SEO) because they serve as “votes of confidence” and trust that signal to search engines your website’s relevance, authority, and trustworthiness.
However its important to remember that “not all backlinks are equal”. A targeted strategy in requiring specific sites will pay off over targeting a specific set of number of links.
When we are talking about “high quality backlinks” we are referring to websites which “high authority”. These websites tend to be among leading websites in their respective niches, which stands as benchmarks for high authority websites.
Whilst it is important to aim high when requiring backlinks, remember that smaller, niche websites with a strong reputation also can provide valuable backlinks.
Ahrefs developed a ranking system known as “domain rating” which is similar to Moz’s “domain authority”. Both metrics are combination of the websites authority, quality and trustiness. A higher score indicates a stronger domain authority.
For instance, Twitter and eBay have DA scores over 91. These platforms are among the leading websites in their respective industries, which stands as benchmarks for high authority websites.
High authority backlinks are links from reputable websites which a high domain authority (DA) or high domain rating (DR) score above 70.
You want to gain as many high authority backlinks as these links are like gold bars because they help increase your site’s domain authority and help you rank higher.
Its important to remember that the higher the domain authority or domain rating, the more it will cost to purchased these links. Typically, prices for these backlinks can range between $100 to $500, or even more!
Backlinks are crucial for several reasons:
Here’s an example to help show you how backlinks work:
Let’s say you own a website about cooking, and you’ve published a blog post on “How to Make Microwave Rice Pudding”.
Another blogger from a high authority websites comes across your blogs and finds it valuable for their audience. They decide to link your blog into there blog post.
In their post, they will include a hyperlink to your article, which looks like this:
“This comforting pudding is made with rice, milk, and spices. It can be served warm or cold and is often topped with raisins or other dried fruit.”
In this example, the blogger is making reference and linking to your article creating a backlink. This backlink not only drives referral traffic to your website from the blogger’s audience but also signals to search engines that your content is valuable and relevant, which can positively impact your site’s domain authority, PageRank, and search engine rankings.
Backlinks can be categorised into two main types:
Dofollow links are an essential aspect of backlinks. This section will delve deeper into what dofollow links are and their significance in SEO.
What are Dofollow Links?
Dofollow links are hyperlinks that pass on “link juice” or “link equity” to the target site, positively influencing the site’s domain authority, PageRank, and search engine rankings. By default, all links are considered dofollow unless they are explicitly marked as nofollow with the rel= “nofollow” attribute.
Why are Dofollow Links Important for SEO?
Dofollow links play a crucial role in SEO for several reasons:
Remember, the key to earning valuable dofollow links is to focus on quality over quantity. Prioritise acquiring links from reputable, high-authority websites relevant to your industry or niche. This approach will help you build a strong backlink profile and improve your site’s SEO performance.
Nofollow links, while different from dofollow links, still hold value in the world of SEO.
What are Nofollow Links?
Nofollow links are hyperlinks with the rel= “nofollow” attribute, which signals to search engines not to consider these links when determining the target site’s ranking, domain authority, or PageRank. In other words, nofollow links do not pass on “link juice” or “link equity” to the target site.
Why are Nofollow Links Important for SEO?
While nofollow links don’t directly contribute to domain authority or PageRank, they still have a role to play in SEO:
Best Practices for Utilising Nofollow Links
To make the most of nofollow links, consider the following best practices:
rel= "sponsored"
and rel= "ugc"
, to provide more context about the nature of the link. Use these attributes accordingly for sponsored content and user-generated content, respectively.While nofollow links may not directly contribute to your site’s ranking, they still play an essential role in building a diverse and natural link profile, driving referral traffic, and establishing credibility. By following these best practices, you can make the most of nofollow links as part of your overall SEO strategy.
Creating valuable backlinks isn’t as daunting as it may seem. Here are some strategies to try.
Use these backlink analysis tools to monitor your site’s backlink profile and identify potential link-building opportunities:
Toxic backlinks can harm your site’s SEO and lead to penalties from search engines. Here’s how to disavow them:
domain:example1.com
http://example2.com/toxic-link.html
Disavowing should be done with caution, as it can negatively impact your rankings if misused. Only disavow links that are confirmed to be harmful or low-quality.
Follow these best practices to build and maintain a healthy SEO backlink profile:
By implementing these strategies and following best practices, you can build a strong SEO backlink profile to help you outrank competitors and dominate Google rankings.
Backlinks remain a crucial aspect of SEO, your site discoverability and competitiveness.
Employing strategies like generating valuable content, guest posting, and the skyscraper technique helps in acquiring high quality backlinks.
However, be wary of toxic backlinks, which can be identified and disavowed using SEO tools.
Backlinks are not just important, but essential for a robust SEO strategy, underlining the need for strategic planning and consistent efforts.
Start taking charge of your website’s success. Incorporate Big Fat Links into your SEO backlink strategy today and watch your website soar to the top of search engine rankings. Take action now and see the results yourself! Get in touch!
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What are backlinks?
Backlinks are links from one website to another, serving as “votes of confidence” that signal the relevance, authority, and trustworthiness of a website to search engines.
Why are backlinks important?
Backlinks are crucial for improving organic search rankings, increasing referral traffic, and enhancing brand visibility and authority.
How can I create backlinks for my website?
Create valuable content, engage in guest posting, use the skyscraper technique, employ broken link building, reach out to resource pages, and offer testimonials and reviews.
How do I disavow toxic backlinks?
Identify toxic backlinks, create a disavow file with a list of harmful links, and submit the file to Google using the Google Disavow Tool.
What are the best practices for backlinks?
Focus on quality over quantity, diversify your link sources, monitor your backlink profile, maintain relevance, and avoid link schemes.
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