15 Link Building Strategies: What Works & What Doesn’t
If you’ve been trying to improve your website’s SEO, you’ve probably heard that backlinks are essential. But with Google constantly updating its algorithms, many old-school link-building methods no longer work—some even hurt your rankings. In this guide, we’ll break down 15 link-building strategies that still work and expose the ones that don’t. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced SEO professional, this post will provide clear, actionable techniques to build high-quality backlinks that boost rankings and authority. We’ll explore: What is Link Building & Why Does It Matter? Link building is the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own. These links act as “votes of confidence,” signaling to search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative. However, not all links are created equal. A backlink from a high-authority website like Forbes is far more valuable than one from an unknown blog. Google prioritizes quality over quantity, meaning spammy link-building tactics will likely backfire. 15 Link Building Strategies That Work Link building remains one of the most crucial factors for improving your website’s search engine rankings. However, not all strategies are effective in today’s SEO landscape. Below are 15 proven link-building techniques that still work, along with actionable steps to implement them successfully. 1. Guest Posting (When Done Right) Guest blogging is an effective link-building technique when done correctly. It involves writing valuable content for authoritative websites in your industry in exchange for a backlink. This helps establish credibility, drive traffic, and improve search rankings. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: Writing an in-depth guide on content marketing for a site like HubSpot and including a link to your SEO case study to provide further insights. 2. Broken Link Building Many websites unknowingly have broken outbound links, leading to a frustrating user experience and a loss of potential value for both the website owner and visitors. This gap presents an opportunity to suggest a relevant and high-quality replacement link that benefits both parties. How to Implement This Strategy Effectively: Example: If a high-authority website has a broken link pointing to an outdated SEO guide, create a more comprehensive, up-to-date version and suggest it as a replacement. This not only helps the website owner but also drives valuable traffic to your site while boosting your authority. 3. HARO (Help a Reporter Out) for High Authority Links HARO (helpareporter.com) is a platform that connects journalists with experts who can provide valuable insights for their articles. This is an excellent opportunity to gain high-quality backlinks from authoritative media sources, improving both your credibility and website authority. How to Effectively Use HARO for Link Building: Example: Suppose a journalist from Forbes is writing about content marketing trends. If you provide an insightful response backed by data or a real-world example, your name and website could be cited in the final article, earning you a high-quality backlink and increased brand exposure. 4. The Skyscraper Technique Coined by Brian Dean, the Skyscraper Technique is an advanced link-building strategy that focuses on creating superior content to attract backlinks. The core idea is to identify high-performing content within your industry, enhance it with better research, updated information, and a superior user experience, and then reach out to websites that have already linked to the original. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: If a widely linked article on “SEO Tips” has 50 backlinks, create an updated, data-driven version with more actionable insights, recent industry trends, and interactive elements. Then, reach out to those linking to the outdated content and offer yours as a superior alternative. This not only improves your link profile but also enhances user engagement and credibility. 5. Resource Page Link Building Resource pages are curated lists of useful links that provide valuable information on specific topics. Many authoritative websites, universities, and organizations maintain these pages to help their audience find high-quality resources. If your content aligns with their niche, you can request to be included, gaining a relevant and high-quality backlink in the process. How to Implement This Strategy Effectively: Example: If a university’s website has a “Best Marketing Resources” page, and you have a comprehensive, well-researched guide on digital marketing services, you can reach out to them and suggest adding your resource. This not only earns you a high-authority backlink but also increases your content’s exposure to a targeted audience. 6. Unlinked Brand Mentions Many websites mention brands without linking back to their official site. This presents an opportunity to reclaim these mentions by requesting a backlink. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: If a news site references your company’s latest achievement but doesn’t link to your homepage, a simple outreach email can help turn that mention into a backlink. 7. Link Reclamation Sometimes, websites remove or change links, leading to lost backlinks. Link reclamation involves identifying and restoring these lost links. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: If a blogger once linked to your article but later removed it, you can contact them and ask if they’d consider restoring the link. 8. Creating Linkable Assets High-quality, unique content encourages natural backlinks. Linkable assets include case studies, industry reports, infographics, and interactive tools. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: A well-designed SEO trends report with industry data and expert commentary can attract backlinks from marketers and analysts. 9. Infographic Link Building Infographics are highly shareable, making them excellent tools for earning backlinks. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: An infographic explaining “The Evolution of Google’s Algorithm” can earn backlinks from SEO-focused websites. 10. Podcast Guesting for Backlinks Appearing as a guest on podcasts allows you to earn backlinks from show notes and promotional materials. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: A digital marketing expert discussing Facebook Ads on a marketing podcast can gain exposure and backlinks from the podcast’s website. 11. Sponsoring Events or Scholarships Sponsoring educational programs, scholarships, or industry events can earn high-authority backlinks from academic and institutional websites. How to Implement It Effectively: Example: A marketing agency sponsoring a digital marketing scholarship can earn backlinks from participating universities.