Link building is a powerful SEO strategy. Although sometimes challenging to implement, brands that know its value will take the time to do it well. There is so much more to it than placing a hyperlink on another website. 

Did you know Google can penalize you depending on the type of links you have? You will need to be careful with which sites you choose to link. Buying links, random placement, and unnatural links can get you in trouble. 

This article will help digital marketers address their challenges in implementing effective link building. We will share some strategies to implement in 2021.  

LINK BUILDING STRATEGIES FOR 2021

We consulted a blogger outreach company to find out the best link-building strategies. Here is what they recommended for 2021: 

1. ACTIVELY ASK FOR LINKS

As a marketer, you interact with a lot of other brands. You have contacts with marketing managers, suppliers, and media, among others. You may also have relatives and friends who have online platforms.

Do not be afraid to ask for links to their sites! If their site has relevance in your niche, that is.  

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BRAND MENTIONS

Some websites, such as media sites, may mention your brand. Unfortunately, you may not get to know about it unless someone points it out to you! But these mentions are fantastic for link-building purposes. 

The good news is that there are tools you can use to track brand mentions. Once you identify these placements, reach out to the admin or web editors. Ask them to link the mention back to your website. 

Do note, you may not get a positive response all the time. But, depending on how you package it, few will turn down your request.

3. GUEST POST OR CONTRIBUTE ARTICLES TO DIFFERENT SITES

Guest posting is a fantastic way to get links. The first step is to identify websites that accept articles from third parties. The next step is to come up with high-quality, relevant content to increase the chances of publication. 

You can then request a backlink back to your website. Make sure that the website enjoys a good reputation. Look at the social following and the type of audiences they target. It also helps if their niche has a close relationship with yours.  

4. PR AND EDITORIAL OUTREACH

Media outlets are always looking for newsworthy content. Writing editorials or other articles can get you into high-authority websites. Sign up to platforms like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and become the go-to source for information. They will be more than happy to mention your brand and give links when you contribute.  

Be active in industry forums or communities. Establish your brand as one which contributes relevant and informative information. Once you have good relationships with those within the industry, it becomes easier to get links.  

You can also become active on sites like Quora and Reddit. They have a broad audience base and are high-authority domains.  

5. RECOVER BROKEN OR LOST LINKS

Have you ever clicked on a link, and it gives you a 301 or 404 redirect? Such redirects are usually a function of broken links. Fortunately, they’re reparable. In other instances, you may lose links. For example, when a site updates, link removal can sometimes occur. 

Using the relevant tools, take the time to monitor those sites on which you have links. This will allow you to take corrective action in either of the above scenarios. You may need to ask the site owner to return or update the links. 

6. REPLACE BROKEN LINKS

Replacing broken links is another excellent strategy. You start by identifying broken links on external websites. Next, reach out to the admin and alert them to the broken link. You can then offer them relevant content as a solution to replace the link.

Reach out to any other sites that may have the same broken link and offer a replacement. It can be a time-consuming and quite tedious process. However, if the sites have a considerable following, it’ll be worth your while.    

7. OFFER TESTIMONIALS

Have you ever thought about offering a testimonial for a product or service you’ve used? Offer to write testimonials with a request for links to your website. 

Businesses depend a lot on 3rd party endorsements. Testimonials are a powerful marketing tool, and they will only be too happy to get such from you. 

Unlike the uncertainty in guest posting or contributing articles, you’re practically guaranteed that the company will put your testimonial up on their site!

You can gain important access to their audiences by taking just a few minutes of your time writing a testimonial.  

8. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOCAL LISTINGS AND DIRECTORIES

Listings and directories are excellent for local SEO. They are also a great way to get links for your site. Platforms like Google My Business, TripAdvisor, and Yelp are excellent choices. 

Many people refer to these sources when searching for businesses. Target industry or niche-specific directories because they are high-authority.  

9. SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media provides an excellent platform for so many digital marketing activities. You get access to a broad audience base. You also have tons of options for which platforms you can use. It is a cost-effective strategy, allowing for a lot of freedom with content and opportunities to publish. 

Create relevance with engaging content. Actively engage with your audiences so that they can like and share the content. Link all the platforms to your website to help generate organic traffic.  

FINAL THOUGHTS

We have looked at nine link-building strategies to try in 2021. Link building can be tremendously beneficial if you want to create awareness for your brand. But, if you find it a struggle to implement these strategies, consider it a worthwhile investment to hire an outreach company.

Fortunately, you’ll find some of the ideas mentioned above to be both easy to put in place and very effective. We wish you good luck with your link-building efforts in 2021!