“How do I get backlinks?” is a question I get asked all the time. Every digital marketer wants more backlinks. After all, the quantity and quality of backlinks are key Google ranking factors — something Google Search Quality Senior Strategist Andrey Lipattsev admitted during a Q&A in 2016.

But getting them isn’t easy. No one is giving them away for free, especially if you’re spamming site owners with impersonal emails. You’ve got to earn them — something I’m going to show you how to do in this post.

This won’t be another list of “effective” link building strategies, mind you. I’ll show you the tried-and-tested methods my digital marketing agency uses to get thousands of backlinks for all kinds of clients.

Ready to learn how to create backlinks? Then, let’s get started.

Key Takeaways

1. More backlinks correlate with higher rankings. Research shows pages ranking number one in Google have 3.8x as many backlinks.
2. Site owners won’t link to you unless you give them a reason. Sell the value you offer, whether that’s a guest post, original research, expert insights, or a shareable asset like an infographic.
3. Increase your site’s chances of acquiring links by increasing its trustworthiness and legitimacy. Use a branded domain, get an HTTPS certificate, and showcase your E-E-A-T signals.
4. Keep backlink pitches short and concise. Don’t use more than five sentences and make sure your email is scannable. The easier it is to read, the more likely you are to get a reply.
5. Being generous with your own linking can result in more links in return. Create roundup posts and other pieces of content where you link to other sites in your industry and then email each site owner to notify them.
6. Newsworthy content is link-worthy content. Write about trending topics and email journalists with your unique take or research.

Strategy 1: Create Value-Driven Content

The foundation of earning backlinks is to create content that others find valuable enough to link to. This could be in the form of:

• Guest Posts: Offer to write very high-quality articles for reputable sites in your industry.
• Original Research: Conduct surveys or studies and publish your findings.
• Expert Insights: Share your expertise on trending topics.
• Shareable Assets: Create infographics, videos, or other media that people want to share.

Strategy 2: Build Trust and Legitimacy

Increasing the trustworthiness and legitimacy of your site can make it more appealing for others to link to you. Here’s how:

• Branded Domain: Use a domain name that represents your brand well.
• HTTPS Certificate: Secure your site with HTTPS to show it’s safe for visitors.
• E-E-A-T Signals: Highlight your Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness through quality content, author bios, and credentials.

Strategy 3: Perfect Your Pitch

When reaching out to site owners for backlinks, your pitch needs to be short, concise, and compelling. Here are some tips:

• Keep It Short: Limit your email to five sentences.
• Make It Scannable: Use bullet points and write short paragraphs.
• Personalize Your Message: Address the recipient by there name and reference their site.

Strategy 4: Be Generous with Links

One effective way to get more backlinks is to give them first. By linking to other sites in your content, you’re building goodwill. Here’s how:

• Roundup Posts: Create content that features several industry experts or resources.
• Notify Site Owners: After linking to them, send a friendly email to let them know.

Strategy 5: Create Newsworthy Content

Content that is newsworthy or offers a unique perspective is more likely to get backlinks. Stay ahead of trends and share your insights:

• Write About Trending Topics: Follow industry news and write timely content.
• Email Journalists: Share your unique take or research findings with journalists who cover your industry.

Conclusion

Earning backlinks is about providing value, building trust, and engaging with others in your industry. By creating high-quality content, building legitimacy, crafting perfect pitches, being generous with links, and producing newsworthy content, you can always increase your chances of acquiring backlinks.

Remember, it’s not just about the quantity of backlinks, but also the quality. Focus on earning links from reputable sites relevant to your industry. These strategies have helped my digital marketing agency secure thousands of backlinks for our clients, and they can work for you too.

So, start implementing these tactics today, and watch your site’s ranking and authority grow!

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