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What is link building, exactly?

Link building, also called “link earning” or “backlinks SEO” is the process of getting other websites to link back to your website.

As a business owner, whether you own a small business or if you own a well-established business, there’s no denying the fact that linking building is one of the most influential factors in ranking on Google and other search engines. However, despite the popularity of link building, it’s often misunderstood.

When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), links let Google know that your site is a credible source of information worthy of citation. But, of course, Google is complex, and it’s always changing, so building links isn’t going to be as easy as it may sound. However, with the right approach and the right digital marketing team, you will be able to acquire more backlinks, thus, earn higher rankings.

The Right and Wrong Way to Build Links

Just as there is always some kind of “short cut” to most processes, there is also a short cut to link building, known as black-hat SEO. This is the process of achieving links by way of manipulative measures. This practice will temporarily boost your Google and other search engine ranking but you’re putting your business at risk of serious fines and penalties from Google, as well as getting your site banned from search results altogether, ultimately, losing the hard-earned reputation you worked so hard to build.

The right way to go about link building is through natural link building, where you earn your links versus buying them. In all honesty, natural link building is a time-consuming process, and can be difficult at times, but you also must understand that natural link building is all about building toward the long-term viability of your website or business. So, the process may take a little time, but the time spent will all pay off in the end.

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It’s also important to understand that not all links are created equal. If link building is the process of getting other websites to link back to your website, imagine how well your link would rank on an authoritative website such as Forbes or Wall Street Journal versus a newly built website.

While quality links are much harder to come by, they are not impossible to come by. It is possible to achieve high organic search rankings without violating any of Google’s guidelines, and you can have faith in knowing that when your site starts to go up in ranking, it is not because of shady antics.

Importance of Link Building for SEO

In the eyes of “Lord Google,” acquiring links from other sites that are authoritative and relative to yours, will increase your site’s authority, which is a comprehensive approach to improving your website traffic and rankings. Did you know that around 75% of internet users never scroll past the first page of Google after performing a search? To add to that, many (30%) will not even look past the first few websites on the search engine results page (SERP).

Link building is not a practice that can be learned overnight or from a single guide. Because Google’s guidelines are constantly changing, you must be committed to continued learning of the new guidelines to avoid penalties.

With link building, when internet users search the internet using terms or keywords related to your business, your website can not only appear higher in Google rankings, but you will also get immediate exposure to the audience of the referring site linking to you, you will get referral traffic, and your brand recognition will be increased.

There are many factors that Google takes into consideration when determining how well your site should rank. Sites that are well-optimized are what Google really likes to see, and without SEO and the SEO keywords that are relevant to your site, users conducting internet searches would never be able to find your site. Some of the factors include:

· Page loading speed

· User experience

· Mobile friendliness

· Links

There are, of course, more factors that are considered but these listed above are some of the major factors. However, with these considerations, it also poses the question of “do I please Google or my audience?”

If you find yourself asking that question, you, of course, want to keep both considerations in mind. However, you first want to create content that your audience will love and truly engage with, while equally making sure your content is optimized so that Google understands why your audience enjoys your content so much. But you want to always keep your audience in mind first to ensure its good, quality content they can benefit from. Then, optimize it to be pleasing in the eyes of Google.

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Let DevDigital Handle Your Link Building Needs

At DevDigital, we have a team of SEO content writers with extensive knowledge of link-building strategies who can create content that truly delivers the message you want to give your audience.

We start by having you fill out a brief questionnaire about general information about your company, and then dig a little deeper into any SEO keywords you want to target or pages you want us to link to. Whatever you may need, we know exactly what to do and how to promote your business. To learn more about our SEO services, contact us today!