Link building is one of the most important aspects of building your website authority for Search Engine Optimisation.
Since good quality, sustained backlinks are a sign of your website’s credibility, it is one of the most important components of any SEO campaign.
“The reasoning here is akin to a professional reference for a job: the more positive references a person has from experts in their field, the more likely you are to hire them, right?
So, the more trusted backlinks a website has, the higher the authority (trust flow) score”.
We ensure that our clients get the best, most relevant, quality backlinks continuously using the correct methods and anchor text.
This includes links from good-quality, relevant sources—all based on the latest SEO trends, which will contribute in a positive way to your website’s ranking improvement.
Bottom line, we build and sustain your link and citation profile so that you become—and stay—an ‘authority’ in your industry.
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Link Building In More Detail
Backlinks are easiest to understand if you imagine the internet as a giant road network.
Signs within any road network direct you to another destination, which you follow until you arrive. That same principle applies to backlinks.
A basic example is when you are on a website with a link that says, ‘Click Here to Visit mywebsite.com’.
It is obvious that if you click, you will be taken to ‘mywebsite.com’.
The Art and Science of Link Building
Not all backlinks work like that, though.
Many are disguised, and instead of ‘Click here’, a highlighted word may take you to another website when you click.
There are also links hidden behind images, banner ads, and social media posts.
When it reads a backlink, Google sees a URL, which may be the destination URL.
However, it often contains text, a keyword; thus, Google sees that keyword as something your website relates to.
Why Links Matter: Google’s Open Secret
Picture this: You’re at a party, and everyone’s talking about this cool new restaurant in town.
The more people mention it, the more curious you get, right?
Well, that’s kind of how Google sees links. The more quality websites that link to your site, the more Google thinks, “Hey, this must be pretty important!”
Don’t just take my word for it.
According to a study by Backlinko, the number of domains linking to a page correlated with rankings more than any other factor.
I’ve been using SEO Perth Experts since 2018 for my business Waist Trainers Australia. They have been consistently achieving our website high page rankings and great SEO results. Highly recommend Peter and the team for SEO.
Sheree McRae
Waist Trainers Australia
waisttrainersaustralia.com.au
A Little Trip Down Memory Lane
Back in the day (we’re talking late 90s, early 2000s), link building was the Wild West of SEO.
I remember when I first started in this field, people were doing all sorts of crazy stuff to get links.
Spamming comments, buying links by the thousands – you name it, someone tried it.
But then, in 2017, Google decided enough was enough.
They released an update, dubbed “Penguin,” and it absolutely rocked the boat!
All of a sudden, all those spammy tactics stopped working. Sites that were riding high on fake links came tumbling down faster than a house of cards in a hurricane.
The Golden Rule: Quality Over Quantity
Now here’s the thing: links still matter. A lot. But it’s not just a numbers game; it’s about quality as well.
It’s like your friend group, basically.
Would you rather have a ton of acquaintances who barely know you, or a smaller circle of close friends who’ve got your back?
Google’s looking for those close friend links—the ones that come from reputable sites in your industry.
“Getting a link from a high-quality, relevant website is like getting a recommendation from a trusted friend”.
Building Links: It’s Not Rocket Science, But It’s Close
Alright, so we know we need good links.
But how do we get them?
Well, buckle up, because we’re about to go on a little adventure through the land of link building.
Know Your Keywords
Before you set foot out there trying to get links anywhere, you had better know what you want.
It’s like taking a road trip. You can’t drive aimlessly for long without knowing where you’re headed.
Once there was a client of mine who specialised in handcrafted fine leather bags.
Which keywords were they going for? Luxury handbags, naturally. That should have them ranking in no time!
But when we took a spin around the block, we discovered something interesting—their genuine niche was “handmade leather goods.”
After that, their rankings just went up!
Create Content That’s Worth Linking To
This is a hard fact: nobody wants to hook up with boring, run-of-the-mill content.
What you have to do is create stuff that grabs people’s attention.
Consider what type of content you enjoy sharing. Probably stuff that’s:
- Super helpful
- Really interesting
- Makes you laugh
- Teaches you something new
And that’s the content you have to create.
And I promise you, it’s not always easy. I once dedicated three weeks to researching and writing a guide to sustainable leather practices.
It was a passion project, but you know what?
That guide got picked up and linked to by multiple big fashion blogs and even an environmental non-profit.
Spread the Word
All right, now, you have your killer content. Now what? Now it’s time to share it with the world!
This is where many, many people get hung up.
They produce amazing content and then simply… wait. However, there is a caveat — the online realm is a cacophonous one.
If you want to be heard, well, you’ve got to make some noise yourself.
Here are some ways to get your content out there:
1. Reach out to industry influencers
Find the big names in your field and let them know about your content.
But don’t just spam them! Build a relationship first. Comment on their blogs, share their stuff on social media. Then, when you reach out, they’ll be more likely to listen.
2. Guest posting
It is still one of the best ways to get links. Search for blogs in your industry that accept guest posts, then pitch them your ideas.
Most importantly, make quality posts for your feed!
3. Be active on social media
Share your content, engage with others, and be a part of the conversation in your industry.
4. Participate in online communities
Go where your audience hangs out – Forums, Reddit, Quora.
When I first started doing this, I was so scared of talking to people.
What if they ignored me?
What if they said no? But you know what? The truth is that most people are nice.
I once emailed a name-brand fashion blogger, knowing she’d probably ignore me.
They not only responded, but they included my client’s bags in a roundup post!
Mix It Up
Here’s something a lot of people get wrong—they focus all their energy on getting links from the biggest, most authoritative sites.
And sure, those links are great.
But Google likes to see a mix of links from all kinds of sources.
Think about it like this: if you only had friends who were CEOs and celebrities, wouldn’t that look a bit… suspicious? Google feels the same way about links.
So don’t ignore those smaller blogs or niche forums. A diverse link profile looks more natural to Google, and that’s exactly what we want.
Keep It Natural
Speaking of natural, let’s talk about anchor text. That’s the clickable text in a hyperlink, for those who might not know.
Back in the day, people used to use the exact same anchor text for every link, thinking it would help them rank for that term.
Big mistake! Google’s too smart for that now.
Instead, mix up your anchor text. Use variations of your keywords, use your brand name, use generic terms like “click here” or “read more.”
Heck, sometimes just use the URL itself as the anchor text.
I once worked with a site that had over-optimised their anchor text.
Every single link pointing to their homepage used the exact same keyword phrase.
We spent months cleaning that up, reaching out to site owners and asking them to change the anchor text.
It was a pain, but it worked—their rankings recovered, and they learned a valuable lesson about natural link building.
The Long Game: Patience Pays Off
Here’s the thing about link building – it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You’re not going to see results overnight.
But if you stick with it, consistently creating great content and building relationships in your industry, you’ll start to see those links (and those rankings) grow.
I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
One client I worked with spent six months consistently creating and promoting great content.
For a while, nothing seemed to happen.
But then, around the seven-month mark, things started to take off.
Their rankings improved, their traffic increased, and suddenly, people were reaching out to them for links and collaborations.
Link building isn’t easy. It takes time, effort, and a whole lot of patience.
But it’s still one of the most effective ways to improve your search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your site.
Remember:
- Create content worth linking to
- Build relationships in your industry
- Promote your content (don’t be shy!)
- Keep your link profile diverse and natural
- Be patient and persistent
And most importantly, always focus on providing value.
Whether you’re creating content, reaching out to other site owners, or participating in online communities, ask yourself: “Am I adding value here?”
If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.
So, what are you waiting for?