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Outreach Monks

Link Prospecting: A 5-Step Guide to Find Quality Backlinks

Link Prospecting A Guide to Find Quality Backlinks

Building a website is just the starting line. To really succeed online, you need people to find you. And that’s where backlinks come in – they’re like signals to Google, boosting your site’s credibility and visibility.

But finding those valuable backlinks isn’t always easy. That’s why we need link prospecting. It’s all about finding hidden opportunities to get other websites to link back to you.

In this article, we will discuss the step-by-step process of effective link prospecting and its common challenges.

So, let’s delve in and learn more!

What is link prospecting?

Link prospecting is the process of finding relevant websites and web pages to approach for your link building efforts.

It’s like finding valuable partnerships that can boost your website’s authority and visibility in search engine results. You don’t just randomly ask websites to connect with yours. You carefully pick sites that have similar audience and have a genuine reason to share your content. 

To do this well, analyze their content, assess their link profile, and understand their audience to determine if they’re a good fit.

Here are the three main parts involved in link prospecting:

  • Prospecting: This is the process of finding relevant websites and web pages that might be willing to link to your content.
  • Qualification: Once you have a list of potential websites, you need to qualify them to make sure they’re a good fit for your link-building goals.
  • Outreach: This is where you reach out to the website owners or editors and try to persuade them to link to your content.  

What’s the difference between link prospecting and link building? 

  • Link prospecting is finding websites to approach for your link building campaign. While, link building is getting those websites to actually link to you. Prospecting is the research phase, building is the action phase.

 

Step-by-Step Process of Effective Link Prospecting

Link prospecting isn’t just sending emails to every site we find. It’s a planned and careful work that really pays off. So, let’s plan how to succeed in your link building journey.

Step 1: Define Your Link-Building Strategy

As we know that there are different types of strategies helping in building quality backlinks. These include guest posting, broken link building, linkable assets, or the resource page link building. Deciding what’s best for your niche and can provide value can greatly help. 

Here’s the detail about different link building strategies which can help you:

a) Guest Posting

Guest posting, also known as guest blogging, is when you write an article or post for someone else’s website. You create content for another site, usually in your area of expertise, and in return:

  • You get exposure to a new audience.
  • You build relationships with other websites and influencers.
  • You earn backlinks to your own website, improving your website’s visibility on search engines.

b) Broken Link Building

Broken link building is a technique used to improve your website’s search engine ranking by replacing broken links on other websites.

Here are some benefits of broken link building:

c) Resource Page Link Building

Resource page link building is getting your website listed on other websites’ “useful links” or “resources” pages. This earns you backlinks and helps people find your site.

Step 2: Finding the Right Prospect

Look for top-notch websites for a successful link-building campaign. Choose well-known, niche-relevant websites with a good backlink profile. Here are some strategies for finding the best link prospects for your website.

a) Use Google Search Operators

Using specific search terms like “write for us” or “submission guidelines” along with your niche in quotation marks can help you find websites that accept guest posts.

Lifestyle - write for us Google operator

To refine your search, try Google operators like intitle: or inurl: followed by phrases like “contribute” or “category/guest” for more targeted results.

intitle google operator for link prospecting

Resource pages are another great option for link building. Search for them by pairing the word “resources” with your niche, such as “digital marketing resources” or “tips digital marketing.”

inurl google operator

📝Note

  • Using this search method won’t always lead you directly to resource pages. You’ll need to go through the search results and pick the ones that best fit your niche.

 

b) Reverse-engineering Competitors’ Backlinks

Finding where your competitors are getting backlinks can save a lot of time. As they are getting backlinks from those sources, there is a high chance that you can also get a backlink.

So, analyze your competitor’s backlink profile to learn about the websites your competitors are looking for. Here’s how you can do it using Semrush:

  1. Login to your Semrush account, then click on the Backlink Analytics button present on the left menu.
    Step 1 for backlink analysis using Semrush
  2. Enter the competitor’s URL and click on the Analyze button. After the results appear, click on Referring Domains. Step 2 for backlink analysis using Semrush
  3. Here, you will see the referring domains of your competitors and can adjust the filters as you want. Step 3 Competitor referring domains

By doing so, you can make an Excel file of relevant websites and contact them for your link building campaign.

c) Use Moz’s Link Explorer

You can also use Moz’s Link Explorer to track your competitor’s backlinks. Here’s a step-by-step guide for using this tool:

  1. Visit Moz’s Link Explorer tool. Enter your competitor’s URL and press the Analyze button. Moz Link explorer Step 1
  2. Now, you can see the backlink profile of your competitor with the number of new and lost backlinks. There is also an option to download the CSV file for the linking domains. Moz Link explorer Step 2
  3. Scroll down and see a complete list of inbound links coming to your competitor’s website. Moz Link explorer Step 3

By using these methods, you can easily find websites that can provide you with quality and relevant backlinks

Step 3: Metrics to Analyze and Evaluate Link Prospects

Okay! So now you have found the potential websites. But hold on! Before sending outreach emails, it’s important to learn about a few key metrics of that website.

You have to make sure the websites you’re targeting are high-quality and relevant so they won’t drag your site down with them.

So, what metrics should you be looking at? Here are a few key indicators to help you:

a) Domain Authority (DA) and Spam Score

This metric, developed by Moz, is like a popularity contest for websites. The higher the DA, the more influential and trustworthy the website is in the eyes of search engines. You generally want to aim for websites with a DA of at least 30, but the higher, the better. 

But try to keep your backlink profile diverse. Get backlinks from websites with DA lower than 30, as this can help your backlink profile seem natural.

To find out the DA and spam score of a website, you have to install Moz’s browser extension. Here’s what the result will look like:

Moz' domain authority and spam score for link prospecting

Nobody likes a spammer, and neither do search engines. Moz’s Spam Score assesses the likelihood of a website being penalized by search engines for black hat practices. A high spam score is a major red flag, so stay away from such websites.

b) Domain Rating (DR)

Domain rating by Ahrefs

This metric, developed by Ahrefs, is like a credit score for websites. It predicts how well a website will rank in search engine results based on the strength and quality of its backlink profile. The higher the DR, the more powerful the website is in the eyes of search engines.  

c) Niche Relevancy

Make sure the website’s content is relevant to your niche and target audience. For example, a backlink from a website about knitting won’t do much for your website about dog training. So, if you are a lifestyle website, consider choosing a high-authority lifestyle website to get a backlink.

Ideally, you want to find websites that cater to the same audience as you. By doing so, their visitors will be genuinely interested in your content when they follow the link.

d) Website Traffic 

Does the website actually have any visitors? A website with low traffic might not be worth your time, as your link won’t get much exposure. Tools like SimilarWeb or Ahrefs traffic checker can give you an estimate of a website’s traffic.

Ahrefs website traffic checker

Ahrefs traffic checker can show organic traffic as well as the traffic value to the website. 

e) Content Quality

Is the website’s content well-written, informative, and engaging? Or is it riddled with typos, grammatical errors, and thin content? 

You want to associate your website with high-quality content that provides value to its readers. Always choose websites that are regularly updated and offers insights helpful for the readers.

f) Audience Engagement

Audience engagement shown in comments
Are people actually reading and interacting with the website’s content? Look for signs of audience engagement, such as comments, social shares, and backlinks from other reputable websites.

A vibrant community and active discussions are excellent indicators that the website has a loyal and engaged readership, which can ultimately benefit your content as well.

Step 4: Find Contacts for Your Prospects

Take the time to find the right contact person, the one who’s most likely to be receptive to your request. This personalized approach shows that you’ve done your work and you genuinely value their time and attention.

Here are some strategies to help you find the right contacts:

a) Check the “Contact” or “About Us” Page

Many websites have a dedicated contact page where they list key personnel or provide a contact form. This is often the easiest and most direct way to get in touch. 

Outreach Monks Contact us Page

If you’re targeting a specific blog post or article, check the author’s bio. Many authors include their contact information or social media links in their bio.

b) Use Email Lookup Tools

Email lookup tools like Hunter.io

There are some fantastic tools out there that can help you find email addresses associated with a website. Hunter.io, VoilaNorbert, and RocketReach are a few popular options. These tools can save you a ton of time and effort, especially when dealing with larger websites.

c) Search on Social Media

LinkedIn is one of the best platforms for finding professional contacts. You can also try searching on Twitter or other social media platforms to see if the website or its authors have a presence there. 

LinkedIn the best source for finding contacts for link prospecting

Many individuals and companies actively engage on social media, providing valuable insights into their interests and expertise. Often, you can find direct links to their websites or contact information in their profiles or posts.

Step 5: Outreaching the Prospects

You’ve found the perfect websites and tracked down the right contact people. Think of outreach as starting a conversation – you want to be engaging, genuine, and leave a positive impression.

Here’s how to craft outreach emails that get responses:

  • Personalize: Show them you’ve done your homework. Mention something specific about their work or website that resonated with you.
  • Be concise: Respect their time. Get to the point and clearly state your request.
  • Highlight the value: Explain how linking to your content benefits them – their audience, website, or business.
  • Clear call to action: Tell them exactly what you’d like them to do (e.g., “Would you be willing to add a link to my article on your resource page?”).
  • Proofread: Typos and grammar errors are a no-no.
  • Follow up: A gentle nudge after a week or so is okay, but don’t be pushy.
  • Professional signature: Include your name, title, website, and social media links.
  • Track your results: Monitor your outreach to see what works and what doesn’t.

Here’s a personalized template for outreach:

Personalized Outreach Template for link prospecting

You can use such templates and modify them accordingly as per your client’s needs and niche.

Common Challenges in Link Prospecting

Link prospecting can be tough! It takes time and effort, and you’ll likely face some hurdles along the way. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you overcome the most common challenges:

#1: It Takes Time

Finding and properly evaluating websites can be a time-consuming task. You need to analyze their content, audience, and metrics to make sure they’re a good fit.

How to conquer it:

  • Use tools like Ahrefs and Moz to speed up the process.
  • Prioritize the best websites.
  • Stay organized to avoid wasting time.

#2: Spammy Emails

Nobody likes spam, and website owners are no different. Generic, impersonal emails might get ignored or marked as spam.

How to conquer it:

  • Personalize your emails by mentioning something specific you liked about their website or content.
  • Explain how linking to your content will benefit them.
  • Focus on building real relationships, not just getting links.

#3: Getting Rejected

Not everyone will say yes to your request, and that’s okay. It’s totally normal in link building. Don’t let it discourage you!

How to conquer it:

  • Remember that rejection is part of the process. Keep trying!
  • Improve your emails to make them more convincing.
  • Explore different link-building tactics.

By understanding these challenges and using the right strategies, you can succeed with link prospecting and get those valuable backlinks.

📞🙋How Can Outreach Monks Help?

  • Why face these challenges! Outreach Monks is here to help. We can help you in building backlinks without worrying about the link prospecting. We will do everything from finding a high-quality website to Blogger Outreach Services and from writing a guest post to getting it published. Outreach Monks can help you in all this, so you can just focus on your business. Contact us today and get your free quote based on your needs.

 

Conclusion

Link prospecting is the foundation of any successful link-building campaign. It ensures you’re not wasting time on low-quality links that could harm your SEO. Link prospecting allows you to tailor your approach to get maximum impact for your campaign. 

While thorough research takes effort, it’s an investment that pays off in the long run with higher rankings, increased traffic, and a stronger online presence. So, with dedication and the right techniques, you can achieve lasting SEO success for your website.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is link prospecting?

Finding and analyzing prospective link possibilities is the practice of link prospecting, which is done to raise the backlink profile and search engine rankings of your website.

Why is link building important?

In order to increase organic traffic to your website, establish trust and authority in your field, and improve your website's search engine results, link building is essential.

What are some effective link prospecting techniques?

Some effective techniques include resource page link building, guest posting, broken link building, competitor analysis, and the Skyscraper Technique.

How can I measure the success of my link prospecting efforts?

Monitor your backlink profile using tools like Ahrefs or Moz Link Explorer, and track KPIs such as the number of new backlinks, referral traffic, and improvements in search engine rankings.

Tiered Link Building: What It Is, Types, Benefits and Risks!

Tiered Link Building What It Is, Types, Benefits and Risks!

Backlinks can have different levels of impact on your site’s SEO. Some give a big boost, while others provide steady benefits over time. 

Tiered link building is a strategy that helps increase the value of all your backlinks. By creating layers of links that support your main site, you can strengthen your SEO from multiple angles. Even smaller links can play a key role in lifting your rankings. 

In this article, we’ll explore how tiered link-building works and how it can help improve your search rankings.

Curious to learn more? Let’s get started!

What is Tiered Link Building?

Tiered Link Building

Source: ghostmarketing

Tiered link building is a strategy where links are built in different layers to strengthen the impact of your main website’s backlinks.

You start by getting links that point directly to your website—these are called Tier 1 links. Then, you build more links—Tier 2—that point to those Tier 1 links.

This creates a backlink structure where every layer supports the other, improving the effectiveness of your links. The tiered link building strategy boosts your website’s authority and contributes to its improved rank in search engines.

Let’s say you have a blog about fitness. You get a link (Tier 1) from a well-known health blog that talks about your workout plans. To give this link more power, you build tier 2 links (like social media shares, smaller fitness blogs, or posts in forums) that point to the health blog’s article. This is how tier 2 link building strengthens the original link. The result is a stronger link to your site, improving your SEO link pyramid and helping your site rank higher over time.

Types of  Tiered Link Building

In tiered link building, there are different levels, or “tiers,” that help create a stronger backlink structure. Each tier has a specific role in boosting the power of your primary backlinks. Let’s break down the types of links you’ll build in this strategy.

1) Tier 1 Links

Tier 1 links are the most significant links in a tiered backlink structure. These links point directly to your website and come from high-quality, trusted, and authoritative sources.

Because Tier 1 links point directly to your site, they have the highest value in your search rankings. These links signal trust and authority to the search engines, making them an important part of the tiered link building strategy.

Examples of Tier 1 Links

Tier 1 Backlink created by Outreach Monks

This is an example of a Tier 1 backlink (https://www.webdew.com/blog/types-of-backlinks) that we created directly for our domain, OutreachMonks.com.

How to Build Tier 1 Links Effectively

  • Guest Posting: Publish well-researched guest posts on high-authority websites in your niche. Include a natural link back to your website in that blog.
  • Outreach to High-Authority Sites: Reach out to authority sites in your niche offering relevant content or collaboration opportunities. This is one of the best and effective way to secure Tier 1 links.
  • Press Features: Respond to journalists through platforms like HARO to earn backlinks from news websites. Being quoted or mentioned in articles can help you secure powerful Tier 1 backlinks.
  • Content Marketing: Create high-value content like guides, infographics, or case studies that others want to link to. Promoting this content through outreach helps attract best tier 2 backlinks and even higher-tier links.

Let Experts Help You Build Tier 1 Backlinks

Building strong Tier 1 backlinks, like guest posts on popular blogs, can take time and effort. If you want it done faster, you can let experts like Outreach Monks do it. We specialize in getting guest posts on high-quality sites that are relevant to your business, giving you the best links to improve your SEO.

Outreach Monks as a Tier 1 Link Building Service provider

Leave the hard work to us and focus on growing your business. Check out our case studies to see how we’ve helped other businesses through guest posting.

1) Tier 2 Links

Tier 2 links are links that point to your Tier 1 backlinks. They don’t link directly to your website but are still important. These links help strengthen the Tier 1 links and increase their SEO value. Building these second-layer links supports the first layer, helping pass more authority to your site indirectly.

Examples of Tier 2 Links

  • A blog post linking to a guest post you’ve written (which is your Tier 1 link).
  • Social media posts or shares that link back to an article featuring your website.
  • Smaller blogs or directories linking to your Tier 1 backlinks.

Tier 2 backlinks

In this example, we have also built a Tier 2 link that points to our Tier 1 backlink (for the page: https://www.webdew.com/blog/types-of-backlinks).

How to Build Tier 2 Links Effectively

  • Social Media Sharing: Share your Tier 1 links on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to spread the word and get traffic.
  • Comment on Blogs: Leave thoughtful comments on blog posts that are relevant to your Tier 1 links. Make sure you include a helpful link where appropriate.
  • Outreach to Niche Blogs: Connect with smaller blogs in your industry and ask if they’d be interested in linking to content that contains your Tier 1 link.
  • Participate in Forums: Share your Tier 1 backlinks on relevant forums where people look for helpful information.

Focus on quality when building Tier 2 links. Avoid automated tools that can flood you with low-quality links, as this can harm your SEO. It’s better to build a few solid links that really help strengthen your main links.

1) Tier 3 Links

Tier 3 links are the third layer in tiered link building. These links don’t point to your website or even your Tier 1 backlinks. Instead, they link to your Tier 2 links. Their job is to add support to the whole link structure and help pass more authority up the chain. Even though they are farther from your website, they still help strengthen the overall SEO impact.

Examples of Tier 3 Links

  • Links from smaller forums or directories that point to your Tier 2 links.
  • Social bookmarks or profile links from sites like Reddit or Pinterest that lead to your Tier 2 links.
  • Automated backlinks from tools (though these should be used with care).

How to Build Tier 3 Links Effectively

  • Social Bookmarking: Use platforms like Reddit or Pinterest to create links to your Tier 2 links.
  • Forum Participation: Share links leading to your Tier 2 links in relevant forums.
  • Free Directories: Submit your Tier 2 links to free directories or listings. These can still add value, even if they’re lower quality.
  • Automated Tools (with Caution): Some people use automated tools for Tier 3 links, but it’s important not to overdo it to avoid spammy links.

While Tier 3 links focus more on quantity, don’t sacrifice quality completely. Avoid spammy or poor-quality links that could hurt your SEO. Aim for a balance between quantity and relevance to keep your link-building strategy strong.

Quick Insight! Tier 4 Links

Tier 4 links are not very common in most SEO strategies. These links connect to Tier 3 links and add another layer of support. However, most SEO experts avoid building too many layers, as it can take a lot of time, and the benefits are small. Going beyond Tier 3 links can also appear risky to search engines, which may lead to penalties. This is why many prefer to stop at Tier 2 or Tier 3 to keep the strategy simple and safe.

What Are The Benefits of Tired Link Building?

What Are The Benefits of Tired Link Building

Tiered link building is one of the best strategies with minimal risks but great impacts on your ranking. Building multiple layers of backlinks becomes more effective in improving the authority of your main links, thus enhancing your overall performance in SEO. Here are a few key benefits of tiered link building:

1. Strengthens Your Main Links

Tiered link building makes your main backlinks stronger. By creating layers of links that point to your top-tier links, you help boost their power. This can make a big difference in how well those links help your site rank higher in search engines.

2. Build a Natural Link Profile

Using multiple tiers creates a natural-looking link profile. When search engines see a variety of links pointing to your site, from different sources and types, it looks more organic. This reduces the chance of getting penalized.

3. Reduces Risk to Your Main Site

Tiered link building helps lower the risk of penalties. Instead of pointing low-quality links directly to your site, you point them to Tier 2 or Tier 3 links. If search engines flag those links, your main website remains safe.

4. Helps Search Engines Find Your Content

Tiered links make it easier for search engines to find and index your content. Multiple layers of links create a trail for crawlers that may even make your pages likely to be found and ranked.

What Are The Risks Present in Tiered Links?

What Are The Risks Present in Tiered Links

Here, we’ll discuss the key risks involved in using tiered link building that you should be aware of before implementing this strategy.

1. Google Penalties for Low-Quality Links

In tier 2 link building and tier 3 links, the quality often drops. Many of these links come from low-quality or spammy websites. If Google spots too many bad links pointing to your Tier 1 backlinks, it can penalize both the site building those links and the site being linked to. This can cause a drop in your search rankings and harm your SEO​

2. Algorithm Changes

Google is always updating its algorithm to catch manipulative link-building tactics. A tiered link building strategy that worked well last year might not work as well after an update. This can make tiered link building less reliable over time​

3. High Cost and Resource Demand

Tiered link building takes a lot of time and resources. You’re building links to support other links, which can get expensive and time-consuming. Tracking and managing tier 2 link acquisition can be especially tough for smaller teams.​

Other Strategies You Can Go For!

If tiered link building isn’t for you, or if you want to try other approaches, here are a few effective strategies to build strong backlinks:

1. Guest Posting

Write valuable content for blogs in your niche, and in return, get a link back to your site. This helps build Tier 1 backlinks and can expand your audience. Make sure to choose blogs that are trusted and relevant to your industry.

Guest Posting Done Right: Let Outreach Monks Lead the Way!

At Outreach Monks, we’ve helped clients across multiple niches through our expert guest posting services. One such example is BlueMagic Group, a well-known hair transplant clinic in Istanbul.

With our guest posting campaign, BlueMagic saw remarkable growth in a short time. Their targeted organic traffic increased by 4x, and their Domain Rating (DR) improved from 19 to 22. This boosted their online presence and overall visibility.

DR Increment Bluemagic:

DR Increase Bluemagic-Link Building Case Studies

Traffic Increament Bluemagic:

Bluemagic Traffic

We’ve achieved similar results for many clients. Check out more success stories on our case study page to see how we can help grow your business, too!

2. Broken Link Building

Find broken links on websites and offer your content as a replacement. This benefits the website owner and gives you a backlink. Tools like Ahrefs can help find broken links. Focus on offering useful content that fits the topic of the broken link.

3. Create Linkable Assets

Create content like a guide, infographic, or video that people may want to link to. Your content will naturally gain backlinks when it is unique and really helpful to users.

4. Use HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

Sign up for HARO, answer journalists’ questions, and provide expertise in quests. You will get quality backlinks from great sites like Forbes and Business Insider. This is a quicker way to build Tier 1 links while building up your credibility.

Conclusion

Tiered link building is a powerful strategy when done thoughtfully and with care. While it requires time and effort, the returns can be very high on improving the authority and SEO of your website. However, guest blogging and other linkable asset creation should be balanced accordingly. 

At the end of the day, success in SEO comes from a well-rounded approach. Keep experimenting, learning, and adapting your strategy to find what works best for your site and your goals. As always, focus on quality over quantity, and you’ll see long-term growth.

FAQs on Tiered Link Building

What types of websites can benefit from Tiered Link Building?

Tiered Link Building can benefit a wide range of websites, from e-commerce stores and blogs to corporate websites, by improving their search engine rankings and authority.

How do I determine the ideal number of tiers for my link building strategy?

The number of tiers depends on various factors, including your website's current authority and the competitiveness of your niche. It's essential to analyze your specific situation and adjust accordingly.

Are there any risks associated with Tiered Link Building?

While Tiered Link Building can be effective, it's crucial to avoid black-hat techniques and low-quality backlinks, as these can lead to penalties from search engines.

Can I combine Tiered Link Building with other SEO strategies?

Yes, many SEO professionals incorporate Tiered Link Building into a broader SEO strategy, such as content marketing and on-page optimization, to achieve even better results.

Is Tiered Link Building a one-time effort, or should it be an ongoing strategy?

For sustainable SEO results, Tiered Link Building should be viewed as an ongoing strategy. Regularly monitoring and adjusting your link building efforts can help maintain and improve your rankings over time.