Link Building - Goals and Expectations
-
I'm trying to set concrete goals around link building and I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on what is reasonable to expect. If we are reaching out to 10 sites a day in a non-spammy, relevant way, is it reasonable to think that we'll get 5 links back, 2 links? I just don't know. Tips and tricks are welcome too!!
-
I can definitely see where you are coming from there. I would just say this- once you reach out to build that bridge, if that webmaster isn't buying it, then that bridge is likely burned forever. There are only so many blogs and other websites worth connecting to. I would be very deliberate in my approach to connecting with them, because you probably won't get a second chance.
If you want to connect with a blogger, start by commenting on their most recent posts. Follow the blog. Read each new update and comment. Find them on twitter. Retweet what they say occasionally. See if they have other websites. Check for a linkedin profile. Really understand not just the blog, but the blogger and what they are about. Then reach out to them with an actual proposal. Offering a link exchange is probably not enough. Have an actual plan formulated and an actual proposal for how you can work together for mutual benefit.
In my opinion, you can't do this 10 times a day. If I find a site I think I can work with, then it can take weeks before a connection is ever made. But if each day I find a new site, I'm working on creating a lot of those relationships simultaneously. But when I reach out, I tend to be very successful because I feel like I already know the person and they know who I am.
So everyone has their own approach, but I wouldn't try to be in such a rush to build up links that you give the blog a superficial review and then go for it. That's just not my style, but everyone is different.
You've actually inspired my next youmoz post with this though, so thanks for that. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as they hopefully publish it and I will offer some more tips on this.
-
First, thanks for the thorough response! I totally agree that link building is about building relationships. I would have to disagree however, that if we shoot for 10 sites a day, the answer will always be 0. I was in no way implying that we just send generic emails asking for a link and that's it. Let's take blogs for example. If I had a dedicated resource spending all day reading industry blogs, contributing, etc...wouldn't you say that 1 hour reading through 1 blog is sufficient to understand that blog in such a way that you can formulate an email that can demonstrate your knowledge and start a relationship? If this resource works 8 hours a day, that's a potential 8 new relationships. Maybe I'm naive, but with the time and effort, I think it's possible.
-
If your entire link creation process is asking 10 sites a day for a link, you can expect 0 and consider yourself lucky any time you get a link. I wouldn't even try 10 sites a week. Don't think of it as link building, think of it as relationship building. You cannot create 10 new relationships a day with new websites. You just can't. People recognize the non-spammy, relevant people reaching out to them. They also recognize the people reaching out to 10 sites a day just trying to get links.
If you're in it for the links, what incentive does that give the site you're reaching out to? You're just using them to further your own agenda. Do you offer a link in exchange? Then you are violating Google's guidelines and having too many of those reciprocals will definitely hurt you.
The key is to create synergistic, valuable relationships online. That's more than linking. For example, with my college football blog, I had lots of people approaching me to do link exchanges. I didn't really pay attention. So when I wanted to promote my blog, I approached a blog I knew was pro-BCS ( I am not) and challenged them. We posted our arguments and rebuttals. Naturally, we linked to the previous posts of the other. So they got links from me, I got links from them. More than that, we both increased readership by receiving visitors from each other.
Now if I want to promote something, I simply email them and let them know what I published and I know they will talk about it. I didn't just build a link here, I built a relationship. That relationship has results in more visitors, more exposure and of course, more links. That's better than just blanketing every college football blog and asking which will link to me.
So I would make a goal of trying to create a new relationship every day. Do a lot of research, come up with a good plan, and then execute that strategy. Webmasters are very open to new opportunities. You just have to present one to them in a way that shows value.
Do this and you can expect to come away with at least one solid relationship each week moving forward. Give that a try and see how it goes, I bet you'll be pretty glad you did.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
link building problems
Hello everyone
Link Building | | mkeshavarzmozprodt
I am not sure about the way Moz rank websites but sometimes I think it's a bit confusing. As an example, it kept changing in 3 days by going up and down. In addition, It is not compatible with my Ahrefs ranking. Would you please tell me which one is more correct and accurate in terms of my website authority?
It would be my pleasure if you take look at it first. Thank you in advance.
https://www.englishdon.ir/0 -
Page links, header links, footer links
HI I have been hearing about links, you should keep to 100 Just look at this url http://www.powerwale.com/store/acdelco-sealed-vrla-iacdv5l--b-5ah-bike-battery/77031 and go for Recommend section, where you same product applies to different vehicles 1. im confused, should keep it or not?
Link Building | | Rahim119
2. Header links are less, Footer links are less, and in the future, we are planning to add more, will this affect SEO more than 100
i see many ecommerce sites, has menu showing many categories, more 100 categories links
3. Wht about link equity? If I have more links in header and footer page(all this will follow in the rest of pages).
4. More links in the header and footer shows that you are big ecommerce site.. Pls suggest, which is right way and go gain SEO value1 -
Link Building Companies
Hi Moz Community, I'm currently looking into hiring a link building company. I found one promising lead out of Boise, ID who only specializes in white hat link building tactics but unfortunately, I found some tainted reviews as well. Any one has adice/recommendations on great companies out there? Many thanks!
Link Building | | SoFi_Moz0 -
Do you stop link building once you have your desired rank?
So with all these updates hitting sites left, right and center. Now you have your desired rank on Google, do you stop link building for that project? I can see some positives in this You will not add links that will get hit by future updates. If you do get hit in future updates you have less links to remove. Obviously it an outstanding link came along from BBC or CNN you would go for that. But press releases etc would you now stop anything like that?
Link Building | | tempowebdesign0 -
Link building for eCommerce
I have an engraving site where I am looking to increase traffic/ sales. We do local engraving services and sell engraved products via eCommerce. Perfectindesign.com It seems to me that locally I can't compete since most search terms are washed over with every local directory in and around the city that are selling there memberships. So I thought I could compete nationally via the 200 products we carry. I have used site explorer to go through my competitors links. My findings show that other then their twitter accounts and dmoz listing most everything else are paid links and lots of them. Keeping in mind I have 45 root domains with 411 links to my site. Three competitors links data. I probably shouldn't name them right? competitor #1 1k root with 13.9k links competitor # 2 147 root with 16k links competitor # 3 427 root with 28k Should I just start buying these links that range from $10-50 per link or is this a waste of time? Are these truly my competitors or am I comparing my tiny site to the major leagues?
Link Building | | YYV0 -
Back Link: Is LinkedIn keywords in profile good Link building strategy?
I distribute industrial products B2B with e commerce. I have a personal profile on LinkedIn. I listed the products I sell and I could have all my partners and associates list my web site on their profiles. Do search engines review LinkedIn personal profiles or company profiles and is it a good marketing strategy to have my web site, keywords, and my two largest selling products on LinkedIn?
Link Building | | Wales0 -
Link building
I have two separate websites on different servers and was wondering that since reciprocal links effectively eliminate each other, I'm curious if this link strategy will keep the links counting. Here's the strategy: I will have someone link to my site A and if i link to their site from my site B in a three way link strategy, will the links count even though both my site A and B have me listed as the Whois so Google knows that both sites are owned by me? Or will the links be discounted as reciprocal? Thanks in advance for your feedback! Take care, Ron
Link Building | | Ron100 -
Does anyone know of any good link building companies??
Hi there, Does anyone know of any good link building compnaies that will link build for you ? I am happy to supply PR Conent, but be great to find a company that can link build for me Any help guys would be great... Thanks Gareth
Link Building | | GAZ090