But before we get onto that, let’s take a look at what backlinks are, and why are backlinks so important. We may even provide some useful hints and tips on how best to utilize them!
What are backlinks?
In a nutshell, backlinks are just links from one website to another.
For example, if we link to this online shop, they’ll gain a backlink from us. Vice versa, if a website provides a link to this site from their site, we’ll gain a backlink from them. Simple!
Why are backlinks important?
Backlinks are a key ranking factor for Google. They essentially act as a vote of confidence. The more ‘votes’ a site has, the more likely the site will rank for relevant queries, as the more backlinks a site obtains, the more Google will view the site as a valuable resource.
If you think about it, would you link to a website that’s distasteful or had distrusting information on? No! (Or at least, we’d hope not!) Google relies on user satisfaction to help others to find what they’re looking for.
How are backlinks measured?
“How long is a piece of string?” comes to mind.
Backlinks are marked on authority. Domain Authority is linked to the homepage of a site, whilst Page Authority is linked to anything but a site’s homepage - such as blogs, service pages, product pages etc.
Both Domain Authority and Page Authority are measured on a scale 0-100. But, ‘one link’ doesn’t mean you get ‘one point’ - we wish it was that easy! The scale is logarithmic due to many factors that gauge the quality of the link.
Moz Bar is a helpful online tool that can be used to see what a site’s Domain Authority (DA), Page Authority (PA) and spam score is. But don’t get disheartened if your site isn’t ranking 100/100 – not even Facebook has a Domain Authority of 100!
How do I get backlinks?
We would love for there to be a quick fix to gain backlinks. Unfortunately, this is one of the most lengthy ways of improving SEO. But, as it’s so important, it really is a must! Here are some suggestions for how you can improve your site’s backlink score:
- Ensure your social platforms are linking to your homepage
- Submit your website to the likes of local and national online directories
- Contact exhibitions, organisations you sponsor, or even influencers, and request they include a link to your site on theirs
- Write relevant copy for specific magazines, newsletters and e-brochures and ask for them to include a link back to your site
- Search the internet for where people have mentioned you and request they update this to include a link to your website (contact us to find out a quick way to do this!)
Links are the gold nuggets of the SEO world; they can be tricky to get hold of and you often have to search for them. Some organisations don’t give out backlinks on their websites - but it’s definitely worth asking if it’s relevant!
Addressing the ‘rumour’…
Before you even think about it, don’t go rushing this process, and we implore you to not use link building companies!! Remember, there is no quick solution to gaining backlinks. They take time to get right… but good things come to those who wait!
More often than not, receiving links from irrelevant companies or poor websites hinder your domain/authority score. You’ll also start to see your spam score creep up too – so take time to get it right!
Just remember – it’s quality over quantity.
If you have noticed your spam score getting high or would like to see the websites linking to your website – let us know and we can have a look.
