Despite SEO changing over time, link building has remained a key strategy for boosting website authority and ultimately search engine rankings. However, when most people think of link building they think of digital PR and expensive outreach campaigns. Whilst link acquisition methods such as these are effective, they are not the only techniques for success.
From utilising existing content to reclaiming lost links, in this article we will explore creative and often under-utilised link acquisition methods that can generate high-quality backlinks.
Whether you’re looking to diversify your link building strategy or simply avoid the challenges of outreach, our guide offers fresh insights and actionable tips to help you achieve your SEO goals.
In today’s digital landscape it is critical to stay ahead of the competition. Continue reading for innovative SEO link building techniques that will enhance your brand and keep you ahead in the market.
Table of Contents
Brand Mentions
It is crucial to include a hyperlink with every brand mention in order to maximise your online visibility. This link building approach requires actively monitoring online platforms for brand mentions and contacting the website owners to ask for a link.
By converting brand mentions into backlinks, you can greatly improve your SEO strategies and increase the traffic to your site. This link acquisition strategy is particularly beneficial if the referring site has a strong domain ranking.
Ahrefs or SEMRush can identify cases of when a brand has been mentioned without a link. Once identified, we recommend contacting the site owners or authors, thanking them for the mention and requesting that they convert it into a clickable link. This approach involves finding existing content that already acknowledges your brand, making it easier to obtain a backlink.
Using Ahrefs in this example, digital marketers can use the Content Explorer feature of the platform to identify unlinked brand mentions. Searching for brand name (and excluding your domain) will reveal the instances of your brand being mentioned without having a referring link. This SEO link building method is often overlooked but can be hugely beneficial for a business.
Broken Link Building
Although there are many link acquisition techniques, broken link building stands out as a simple but under-utilised method. By identifying and acquiring broken links from competitors and reinstating lost links to your own website, you can significantly enhance your site’s authority and visibility.
Despite its simplicity and effectiveness, many digital marketers often overlook these tactics in favour of more complex strategies. This oversight presents a unique opportunity for those willing to invest in the straightforward but lucrative method of broken link building.
Acquiring broken competitor links
Broken link building involves locating broken links leading to your website from other related websites. The aim of this SEO link building method is to reinstate lost backlinks or acquire backlinks that competitors have lost. Utilising tools such as SiteBulb or Screaming Frog, marketers can pinpoint broken links on high-authority websites in their industry.
Once a suitable replacement is found on your site, it is recommended to contact the webmaster or content manager, notifying them of the broken link and suggesting the new link as a suitable alternative.
This approach helps in acquiring a new backlink and supports webmasters in upholding the standard of their website. Below are some key Ahrefs steps for finding broken competitor links:
- Go to Site Explorer
- Enter the domain of a competitor
- Navigate to the Best By Links report
- Filter for “404” pages
- Sort the report by Referring domains from highest to lowest
Once broken competitor links have been identified, it is important to investigate the potential of a potential link and explore the possibility of creating a page that can be used as a replacement.
Reinstating your website’s lost links
Over time, some backlinks may be removed or lost due to changes in website content or structure. For example, a tour operator may remove travel destinations they no longer serve from their website without considering whether that particular page has any valuable backlinks. It is important to utilise backlink tracking tools to identify these lost links.
Once identified, reach out to the person in charge of managing your website and ask them to reinstate the links or provide updated content that can replace the lost links. This proactive approach ensures that valuable backlinks are maintained, ultimately supporting your SEO strategy.
Nofollow Links
Nofollow links are backlinks that Google has been instructed not to crawl. Although their SEO value is limited in terms of link equity, they still have the potential to increase brand awareness and drive traffic.
Pursuing nofollow links from high-traffic sites can indirectly benefit SEO through increased visibility and potential future dofollow links. This SEO link building method helps to ensure a diverse backlink profile which contributes to overall online presence.
Creative Link Building Techniques
Creative link building techniques, such as infographics, quizzes, calculators, interactive maps, and original research, provide engaging ways to earn backlinks. Infographics simplify complex information into visually appealing images, which encourages sharing.
Quizzes and calculators provide interactive experiences that engage users and increase engaged sessions. Interactive maps offer unique insights and localised data, attracting interest and backlinks. Original research boosts authority, prompting other sites to reference your findings.
These link acquisitions boost user engagement, enhance shareability, and naturally attract high-quality backlinks. Below is an example of an SEMRush infographic which outlines key stats about social media networks. This image simplifies the information and presents it elegantly.
Conclusion
Whilst traditional SEO link building methods like outreach campaigns and digital PR remain effective, exploring alternative link acquisition techniques can significantly enhance your SEO strategy.
The link building methods discussed throughout this blog can help you diversify your backlink profile and boost your website’s authority and search engine rankings.Additionally, addressing nofollow and dofollow backlinks ensures a balanced and healthy link profile.
Adopting these innovative approaches to link building in SEO not only streamlines your link acquisition process but also keeps you ahead of the competition. As SEO continues to evolve, staying adaptable and creative with your link building strategies will be key to achieving sustained digital growth.
However, it must be noted that although link building in SEO is important, it is only one part of several SEO tactics that require attention to maximise performance.
At The SEO Works, we have helped companies across the UK and beyond boost their SEO efforts with our award-winning link building services and SEO strategies. From small startups to large international companies, our team of SEO experts can help boost your online presence.
Want to know how your website is performing? Contact us today for a FREE website review.
Ben is a Senior SEO Account Executive with a background in Tourism & Digital Marketing. He works on and manages a number of SEO Works client campaigns.
Hi! I’m Ben, CEO of The SEO Works
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