Getting a Truly Organic Link

Link building is a critical component of SEO, and the strategies for building links have evolved significantly over time.

A truly organic link is earned when it meets the following criteria:

Established through genuine connections with others.
Built on merit, where the content is valuable and relevant.
Provides real value to users.

On the other hand, a link is *not* considered organic if it:

Is paid for.
Is placed on a website where anyone can publish content.
Is part of a link scheme such as private blog networks (PBNs) or link exchanges.

Create a Successful Link Building Strategy:

To develop a strong link-building strategy, there are four essential components to consider:

Linkable Content: The content must resonate with the target audience, keeping them engaged and offering value.
Target Sites: Identifying the right websites that align with the content and audience.
Time Investment for Outreach: Preparing for the time it takes to connect with webmasters and build relationships.
Effective Outreach Practices: Understanding how to communicate persuasively and compellingly with the prospects.

These components are interdependent.

The ability to earn quality links from good websites relies heavily on both the outreach process and the content are promoting.

Creating Linkable Content:

When developing linkable content, consider the following questions:

What unique value can offer?
What are an expert in?
How to create content that is better than what’s already out there?
What special takeaways can content provide, and who will benefit from them?

Think about the larger audience that are trying to reach and how the content can serve both the direct audience and a broader community.

Key traits of linkable content include:

Appeals to both readers and editors.
Engages a larger, relevant audience.
Provides unique insights or value.
Avoids overtly promotional language.
Internally links to related, relevant pages on the site.

Finding Targeted Sites:

When searching for websites to reach out to, prioritize relevance over arbitrary third-party metrics like Domain Authority (DA).

Focus on finding sites that align with the content, audience, or industry.

Ways to find these sites include:

Keyword-centric Boolean searches to discover niche websites.
Analyzing the competitors’ backlinks to identify opportunities.

Other strategies to find quality target sites:

Fully leverage tools like SEMrush, Majestic, or Moz to discover potential links.
Search for guest authors on target sites and explore their bio to find similar opportunities.
Build relationships with site owners within the industry or network.

Outreach:

Find the Right Contact: Once had a list of target sites, the next step is finding the right person to contact. This can be tricky, especially with smaller websites, but finding the correct email is crucial for outreach success.

Writing a Persuasive Outreach Email: When writing the outreach email, keep the focus on the value the content offers to their audience.

Key tips include:
Write a short, compelling subject line.
Avoid using sales language or jargon.
Highlight how the content can benefit their readers or website.
Be genuine—show that the content is created by real people for real people.

Measuring Link Quality:

After starting to acquire links, it’s important to assess the quality and impact of those links.

Three key factors contribute to successful results:

Relevance: Is the content valuable to the audience of the site linking?
Human Value: Is the site actively engaging with a real community of users?
Trust: Does the website follow editorial guidelines, or is it linking to low-quality, spammy content?

Although third-party authority metrics (like Domain Authority) can be useful, they shouldn’t be the sole focus. Instead, think in terms of relevance, value to the audience, and the trustworthiness of the site.

Tracking & Reporting Results:

To track the effectiveness of the link-building efforts, start by setting clear SEO goals.

Being transparent about these goals and how to plan to achieve them will lead to a stronger campaign.

Tips for effective tracking include:

Develop a comprehensive plan to help achieve the SEO objectives.
Optimize the website’s pages with relevant keywords.
Create detailed, high-quality content that meets the needs of the audience.
Use industry research and competitor analysis to inform the strategy.

Hence build a successful link-building campaign that’s both organic and impactful.