Link building has changed from being just a numbers game into a quality and relevance-based strategy. As Google’s algorithms continue to advance, techniques that might have worked yesterday may not work today or maybe even tomorrow. 

In 2024, link building is a mix of creativity, strategic thinking, and adherence to best practices. The blog below outlines a few tried-and-true link building strategies that will help you increase your website’s authority and easily handle fluctuating SEO dynamics. 

Each method is experience-based and supported by the latest trends. This ensures that your link building strategies are both efficient and sustainable. Let’s continue to learn more about these strategies in detail and how they help.

15 Strategies to Boost Your Website’s Authority

Building a strong website authority is important for better search engine rankings and credibility. Here are the best link building strategies you can use in 2024:

1) Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a means of gaining high-quality backlinks and building brand visibility. Writing well-researched articles and submitting them to reputable sites in your industry can help you reach your target audience and expand your reach beyond your own followers. 

At Outreach Monks, we create content with real value rather than self-promotion. More so, it positions you as an expert in your field. This will get you backlinks and build a relationship with the influential voices in your niche.

One of the great examples of guest blogging is the case of a leading British luxury fashion brand. They faced high competition and struggled with high advertising costs. They partnered with Outreach Monks to focus on securing high-quality backlinks through targeted guest posts. Over a period of 20 months, the results were impressive:

Organic Traffic: Increased from 70k to 355k visitors, a remarkable 407% growth.

Domain Rating: Improved from 50 to 57.

This significantly enhanced their visibility and competitiveness in the market.

You can learn more about case studies here, 7 Incredible Link Building Case Studies by Outreach Monks – A Must-Read!

2) Niche Edits

Niche edits involve securing links within existing content on authoritative websites. This technique works well because it uses content that is already indexed and performing. To execute this link building strategy, identify relevant articles that align with your content. 

Then, approach the site owner with a suggestion to include your link, highlighting how it enriches the existing article. This approach tends to be well-received since it improves the content’s value without curating new content. However, it’s crucial to ensure the link fits seamlessly and offers genuine value to the readers.

3) Digital PR

Digital PR uses online media and influencers for the purpose of gaining good backlinks. Unlike traditional PR, digital PR looks to create content that people will want to share to an online audience, whether it be research findings, infographics, or any interesting story. 

A successful digital PR campaign can lead to mentions from important websites. This helps improve your link profile and brings in a lot of visitors. It is important to know what interests journalists and bloggers and to create content that is unique in a busy online world.

4) Linkable Assets

Creating linkable assets can naturally attract backlinks and boost your link equity. These are valuable references that other websites want to link to, increasing your link equity. Here’s what these assets include:

• Develop Comprehensive Guides, Tools, or Infographics: These resources serve as valuable references that other websites want to link to. These may include a tool that addresses a common pain point in the industry or a well-researched and detailed research paper.

Here’s an example of the Outreach Monks infographic featured on a leading keyword rank tracker platform:

• Acquire Links from Various Sources: Well-crafted assets can help you get links from blogs, news websites, and industry forums.
• Promote Your Assets: Use outreach and social media to amplify their reach and drive further link acquisition.

The goal is to produce compelling content that others feel compelled to share.

5) HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

HARO connects journalists with experts in particular fields. It is another excellent way of acquiring quality backlinks. Quick, useful responses to questions on HARO will raise your chances of getting featured. The challenge lies in providing unique perspectives or data that enhance the journalist’s story.

Regular participation in HARO not only helps you build credibility but also establishes relationships with media professionals. This leads to more frequent backlinks from high-traffic sites. For those looking to establish or reinforce their authority, HARO is a resource worth utilizing.

6) Local SEO Focus

Local SEO is important for local businesses seeking to dominate their geographic markets. Here’s how to leverage local link-building:

• Engage in community events: Earn backlinks by participating in or sponsoring local events.
• Partner with local organizations: Collaborate with businesses or groups to build connections and links.
• Optimize Google My Business: Keep your profile updated to improve local search visibility.
• List in local directories: Boost your presence by being listed in relevant local directories.
• Connect with local influencers: Build relationships with local bloggers and influencers for mentions and backlinks.

These local link building strategies not only enhance your online visibility but also build stronger connections with your community. Over time, this will lead to more relevant traffic and improved local rankings.

7) Link Baiting

Link baiting through controversial and newsworthy content is one of the powerful link building strategies for attracting backlinks. Controversial content that challenges popular opinions or sparks debate naturally encourages sharing and discussions. This leads to more links as people reference it in arguments or critiques. 

On the other hand, newsworthy content capitalizes on current events or breaking news. This draws in links from those seeking timely information or unique perspectives. 

By being among the first to cover a trending topic or offering a bold take on an issue, your content becomes a go-to resource. It increases the likelihood of being linked by others in related discussions or articles.

8) Competitor Link Analysis

Looking into your competitors’ backlink profiles helps you find opportunities that you may have missed. Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush help you find out where your competitors are obtaining their links, so you can target similar sources.

Steps for Competitor Analysis:

• Identify competitors: List the top websites ranking for your target keywords.
• Use tools: Analyze competitor backlinks using Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz.
• Find link sources: Locate high-quality sites linking to your competitors.
• Spot content gaps: Discover what content earns links and where your site can improve.
• Plan targeted outreach: Use the insights to create outreach campaigns for similar link-building opportunities.

This process helps build a stronger, competitive link profile and uncovers potential content opportunities.

9) Broken Link Building

Broken link building strategies involve searching for dead links on other websites and recommending your own content in their places. The strategy is successful because it helps the websites fix their broken links, thus making them more user-friendly.

The process of broken link building includes the following:

• Identifying the Link: Find important websites in your area. Utilize tools such as Check My Links for finding a broken link. 
• Outreach: Next, reach out to the website owner, notify them where the broken link is, and recommend a good replacement for your content. 

This broken link building strategy not only earns you a backlink but also builds goodwill with the website owner.

10) Unlinked Brand Mentions

Unlinked brand mentions present an easy opportunity to gain backlinks. When your brand is mentioned online without a hyperlink, reaching out to the site owner or author with a request to add a link can often result in success. This process starts with monitoring mentions of your brand using tools like Ahrefs or Google Alerts. 

Steps to set Google alerts:

• Visit Google alerts official website and enter the keyword you want to set an alert for.

• Click enter, and you will see all the mentions of your brand on the list.

• Click on “Create alert” and Choose how often you want alerts, sources, regions, and email to which you want the alert to be sent.

Once you’ve identified unlinked mentions, a simple request for a link emphasizing how it benefits the site’s readers can lead to a valuable backlink. 

Here’s a template for requesting a link for an unlinked brand mention:

This approach is particularly useful for brands that are frequently mentioned online, providing a steady stream of link opportunities.

11) Link Reclamation

Link reclamation is an SEO strategy focused on recovering or fixing backlinks that were once pointing to your website but are now broken, missing, or incorrect. This typically happens when pages on your site are moved, deleted, or other websites link to the wrong URL. 

The process involves:

• Finding lost links: Identifying these broken or incorrect links through tools like Google Search Console or third-party link analysis tools. 
• Reaching out: Once identified, you reach out to the website owners and ask them to update the link with the correct URL or direct them to a relevant, updated page on your site.

12) Newsjacking

Newsjacking is when you use a current event or trending topic to take over a media discussion with your brand. Through the speedy creation of content on a hot event and linking your brand to it, you get mentions and links. 

This approach requires a sharp mind and knowledge of the latest happenings in your industry. If done well, it positions your brand as an ideation leader, offering fantastic visibility. Whether it be through a blog post, social media campaign, or press release, timing is everything when attempting newsjacking.

13) Testimonial Link Building 

Testimonial link building is one of the simple yet effective link building strategies. It involves providing a testimonial or review for a product or service you’ve used in exchange for a backlink to your site. 

Many businesses showcase customer testimonials on their websites, often including a link back to the reviewer’s site as a thank-you. This not only helps you earn high-quality backlinks from reputable companies but also strengthens your relationships with industry partners. 

14) Join Podcasts and Interviews

Appearing on podcasts and participating in interviews is a powerful way to earn quality backlinks while positioning yourself as an expert in your field. As a guest, the host usually includes a link to your website in the show notes or the related blog post. This not only brings visitors to your site but also strengthens your SEO with backlinks from respected sources.

To get involved:

• Connect with industry-relevant podcasts: Reach out to influencers and podcast creators that align with your niche and offer to share your insights.

To search for niche-relevant influencers you can search query (“niche keyword” AND “influencer” OR “content creator” OR “thought leader“) AND (“LinkedIn“) on Google and filter out the results.

Here’s an example:

• Prepare valuable content: Share unique expertise and relevant information that resonates with the audience.
• Leverage show notes: Ensure your website link is included in the show notes or accompanying blog post.

15) Resource Page Link Building

Resource page link building involves identifying websites with resource pages relevant to your industry and reaching out to suggest your content as a valuable addition. Resource pages are typically curated lists of helpful links and tools for a specific topic or industry.

The process involves:

• Researching: Identify relevant resource pages in your niche using search queries like “[your industry] + resources” or “[your industry] + useful links.”

Here’s the result when searching for “healthcare + resources.” This query will provide you with resource page results, but you must still filter out some of them.

• Evaluating: Assess the quality and authority of the resource pages to ensure they are worthwhile targets.
• Reaching Out: Contact the website owner or editor with a polite and personalized message explaining why your content deserves a spot on their resource page. Highlight the unique value and relevance your content brings to their audience.

Link Building Tips to Stay on Top of SERP / Link Building Essentials for SEO Success

Having well-planned link building strategies will give you good, consistent search rankings. Below are some important link building tips that can improve your standings on search engine results pages:

1) Relevancy to Your Niche

The importance of the relevance of links cannot be ignored. Whenever backlinks built from other sites come closer to your industry, then those backlinks are weighed more. More specifically, relevant link building from a well-recognized niche blog will carry far more weight than those from a non-specific site.

Search engines prioritize links that are contextually aligned with your content, as these are more likely to benefit users. Focusing on obtaining links from websites that share your industry focus helps solidify your standing as an authority within your sector.

2) Variation in Anchor Text

Maintaining a varied and relevant anchor text profile is essential. Search engines love to see varied anchor text in the words linking to your site. Too much repetition of the same keywords could mean trouble and, potentially, Google penalties.

Here’s how you can use variation:

• Branded Anchor Text: Uses your brand name as the anchor. Example: “Visit Outreach Monks“
• Exact Match Anchor Text: Matches your target keyword exactly. Example: “link building strategies“
• Partial Match Anchor Text: Includes your keyword along with other words. Example: “best link building tips for 2024“
• Generic Anchor Text: Uses non-specific phrases. Example: “click here” or “read more“

 This approach reduces the risk of over-optimization and ensures your site appears credible and trustworthy to search engines.

3) No-follow/Do-follow Ratio

Balancing no-follow and do-follow links is another critical factor. While do-follow links contribute directly to your site’s SEO by passing on link equity, no-follow links are also valuable. They help create a balanced link profile that appears more natural to search engines. 

A profile dominated by dofollow links might seem suspicious and could invite closer scrutiny. By ensuring a mix of both, you protect your site from Google penalties and maintain a natural-looking link profile.

4) Diversify Your Backlink Profile

Diversity in your backlink profile is crucial. Search engines give more preference to websites that have different sources of backlinks, as it means the content is liked on many platforms. This means getting links from blogs, news sites, forums, social media, and others.

Also, use different types of content to attract these links, such as:

• Articles: Well-written articles provide valuable information and can attract links from other websites and blogs.
• Videos: Engaging videos can be shared across various platforms, drawing attention and generating backlinks.
• Infographics: Visual content like infographics is easily shareable and can earn links from sites that reference or use your visuals.

This type of content can make your site stronger. Having a variety of backlinks can help your rankings and make your site more stable against changes in search engine rules.

5) Backlinks vs. Referring Domains

While the quantity of backlinks matters, the diversity of linking domains is even more impactful. Acquiring several links from unique domains holds more power than hundreds of links from one domain alone. This is because, to a search engine, a broad range of linking domains signifies that your site is relevant and authoritative across a wide range of contexts.

When working on your link building strategies, focus on gaining links from a wide variety of sites. This reflects your authority and minimizes the risk of becoming too dependent on one or a few sources.

6) Focus on Quality Over Quantity

In link building, it’s essential to focus on acquiring links that provide real value to your site rather than simply accumulating as many as possible. A few high-quality links can have a much greater impact than dozens of low-value ones.

• Focus on quality over quantity: A few links from reputable, trustworthy websites are far more valuable than many from low-quality sites.
• Google values credibility: Search engines prioritize links from credible and authoritative websites, enhancing your SEO.
• Boost ranking potential: High-quality links help improve your site’s ranking and build a reliable online reputation.
• Avoid low-effort tactics: Low-quality link building can harm your long-term success, so focus on sustainable, effective link building strategies.

By emphasizing quality in your link building efforts, you’ll ensure a stronger foundation for your site’s SEO. This approach not only boosts rankings but also builds a lasting, trustworthy online presence.

7) Be Patient and Consistent

Link building is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a long-term effort that requires patience and steady work. Results will not appear instantly, especially when targeting high-quality backlinks. It’s about maintaining an even pace of constantly searching out new opportunities and building relationships with authoritative sites.

Avoid taking shortcuts or engaging in black-hat techniques, as these can lead to penalties that hurt your site in the long run. By sticking to best practices and remaining consistent, you’ll gradually build a strong, resilient link profile that supports sustained growth in your rankings.

Link Building Mistakes You Should Be Aware Of

Link building is a great way for your website to rank higher in search engines, but it is easy to mess up. Avoid these common mistakes to make sure your link-building efforts benefit your long-term SEO goals without the receipt of any penalties or harming your reputation.

1) Buying Links from Unauthoritative Websites

Buying a load of links from sources like Fiverr at once may be an easy success. But that also is a very risky choice which can pose trouble. Search engines like Google can easily detect unnatural patterns, and building up too many paid links at once has penalties that will hit the ranking of your site. 

In link building, quality matters more than quantity. You must focus on the creation of good content that would get linked with all-natural proper links, not from buying them. It may take longer, but that builds a better foundation for your site’s long-term success.

2) Low-Quality Directory Submissions

It used to be an easy, fast link building activity to send your site to a load of lousy directories. Nowadays, most directories are considered spam by search engines, and this kind of link really does hurt your SEO efforts. 

While some specialized directories still prove useful, most simply aren’t worth it. What counts is selectivity and only submitting to directories that are trusted, relevant, and useful for your audience.

3) Private Blog Networks (PBNs)

PBN stands for Private Blog Network. These are networks built up for the creation of backlinks to other websites. While PBNs can improve the ranking for some time, they are actually against Google guidelines and highly vulnerable to serious penalties upon discovery.

Search engines continually work on and improve their algorithms to find and punish PBNs; thus, their risks are just so much greater than any possible reward. It is wiser to spend money on actual, safe link-building methods that won’t negatively affect your site’s future.

4) Comment Spam

Another misused technique is comment spamming, which means leaving a link to your site in the comment section of blogs and forums. Yes, it’s okay to participate in the discussion and leave your links, but just leaving them in for SEO advantages actually counts as spam and will start affecting your reputation.

Here’s what a comment spam looks like:

Source: ResearchGate

Most websites today add a no-follow attribute to links in comments; therefore, they do not pass any SEO value. Without spamming the links, focus on leaving comments that are rich in meaning and that actually contribute to the conversation. This approach shows respect for people’s reputations and builds relationships with other owners and readers at the same time.

5) Hidden Links or Text Cloaking

Hiding links or text on your website to trick the search engine ranking can be considered a dishonest act that can lead to severe penalties. Cloaking involves showing search engines different results from what users see, which is a clear violation of Google’s guidelines. 

These practices may sound clever, but the search engines are very good at finding them out. The best policy is transparency! Make sure all the content and links on your site can be seen by both users and search engines. This creates trust and makes sure your SEO plan is both right and successful.

6) Keyword Stuffing in Anchor Text

Using a lot of keywords in anchor text may seem a good way to better your ranking, but it can bring more problems than benefits. Search engines prefer a natural and diverse anchor text profile, and having too many exact-match keywords can make your link profile seem unnatural and manipulative. 

Example of Keyword Stuffing: Imagine a website about digital marketing. Instead of using a variety of anchor texts, the site repeatedly uses the keyword “best digital marketing strategies” in every link.

Anchor Text with Keyword Stuffing:

• Click here for the best digital marketing strategies.
• Learn more about the best digital marketing strategies on our blog.
• Discover the best digital marketing strategies for your business.
• The best digital marketing strategies are essential for success.

In this example, the repeated use of “best digital marketing strategies” in the anchor text could be seen as an attempt to manipulate search engine rankings.

This may trigger penalties that will actually hurt your SEO efforts so much. To avoid this, make use of varied anchor text types that include branded, generic, and partial match terms. This keeps your link profile natural and helps you in trying to stay away from possible punishments.

Audit Your Backlink Profile Regularly! 

Regularly auditing your backlink profile is essential for maintaining a healthy and effective SEO link building strategies. Over time, links can lose value, become irrelevant, or even turn into liabilities if they come from spammy or low-quality sources. Keeping a close eye on your backlinks, you can identify and address any issues before they negatively impact your rankings.

Tools for Tracking and Analysis

To effectively manage and optimize your backlink profile, you need the right tools. Here are a few tools you must know:

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free and essential tool for monitoring your website’s performance, including your backlink profile.

• Monitor Backlinks: Provides an overview of sites linking to yours, helping you track and manage your backlink profile.
• Identify Anchor Text: Shows the anchor text used in backlinks, allowing you to spot patterns and potential issues.
• Disavow Harmful Links: This allows you to disavow toxic or harmful backlinks that could negatively affect your rankings.

Third-Party SEO Software

Platforms like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz offer comprehensive backlink analysis tools that go beyond what Google Search Console provides.

• In-depth Backlink Analysis: Evaluate the quality, authority, and relevance of each backlink to your site.
• Competitor Research: Identifies where your competitors are getting their backlinks, revealing new link-building opportunities.
• Keyword Tracking: Monitors how backlinks influence your keyword rankings and overall SEO performance.
• Toxic Link Detection: Identifies harmful backlinks that may require removal or disavowal to protect your site’s reputation.

Analyzing Backlink Profile

Regularly assessing your backlink profile is essential for maintaining a healthy SEO strategy.

• Assess Relevance: Ensure backlinks come from sites within your industry or niche for maximum SEO benefit. Evaluate the context in which your link appears to determine its relevance to the content.
• Examine Anchor Text Distribution: Review the anchor text used in your backlinks for a natural and varied profile. Balance between branded, generic, and keyword-rich anchor texts to avoid appearing manipulative.
• Monitor for Toxic Links: Identify and address toxic or harmful backlinks that could negatively impact your site’s performance. Use tools like SEMrush’s Backlink Audit or Ahrefs’ Site Explorer to detect and analyze toxic links.

Conclusion

Successful link building in 2024 is all about balance in methodology, focusing on quality, relevance, and sustainability. Since the algorithms of the search engines keep getting updated, so should the link building strategies one uses.

You can develop a strong backlink profile through great content creation, connecting with your industry, and ethical practices that improve your website’s authority and search engine rankings.

Patience, consistency, and the use of appropriate methods ensure that your link building strategies produce long-lasting results. This enables your business to continue to compete in an ever-changing online environment.

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