Asking other websites for links can be tiring and usually doesn’t return what you are looking for. Instead of looking for links, why not make content that people want to share by themselves?

With a good linkable asset, others will link to your content on their own, making your link-building easier and more effective.

This article will help make content that others want to link to Natural backlinks will be brought in, along with a strong link profile, with much less effort. 

So, let’s begin by understanding what a linkable asset is and why does it matters for SEO.

What Are Linkable Assets?

Linkable assets are valuable content pieces created with the goal of attracting backlinks naturally. They provide unique value that others find useful enough to reference or share, which helps improve a site’s authority and SEO.

These assets can be presented in so many ways: infographics, written articles, videos, online tools, or downloadable documents like published ebooks. Providing something that’s really valuable, linkable assets helps people share naturally, meaning there’s less need for constant outreach.

Why Are Linkable Assets Important?

Linkable assets are essential for building a solid SEO strategy because they naturally attract high-quality backlinks, which directly impacts your site’s rankings and authority.

1) SEO Benefits

Linkable assets are created for organic backlinks without continuous outreach. A backlink from a trusted site tells search engines that your content is good enough and, therefore, helps improve the domain authority, leading to higher rankings. These assets attract good backlinks, which improve your overall SEO performance.

2) Organic Growth

A well-crafted linkable asset encourages organic growth by attracting backlinks from other sites without needing aggressive link-building efforts. As your content is shared across the web, it brings in more traffic, visibility, and brand exposure. This kind of backlink-worthy content not only increases your site’s traffic but also builds trust with both users and search engines.

3) Google’s Perspective

Google favors websites with good backlink profiles. When content gets links from trustworthy sites, Google proves that it is credible and has value, thus increasing rankings. Producing high-value content through more strategic approaches will help the site meet Google’s requirements for high-quality content and organic growth. This will make it more competitive on the search results page.

Linkable content that brings value to readers will likely create natural authoritative links, which boost your site’s long-term SEO performance.

6 Types of Linkable Assets You Can Create

Creating the right types of linkable assets is key to driving backlinks and improving your site’s SEO. Different formats appeal to different audiences, and knowing what works best can boost your content marketing for backlinks. 

Here are some common types of linkable assets:

1) Infographics

Infographics are graphical representations of data, often created to simplify complex information to make it easy to understand. These are among the most effective linkable assets because they combine education with visuals, which can make them very sharable and engaging.

Example: Here, our infographic for “Local SEO Mistakes” serves as a linkable asset by offering shareable, valuable content that naturally attracts backlinks through its visual representation of SEO data.

Why They Work as Linkable Assets:

• Visual Appeal: Infographics grab attention with their design, making it easier for readers to digest large amounts of information quickly. This makes them prime linkable content for sites that want to provide value to their readers through visuals.
• High Shareability: As part of link bait strategies, infographics are often shared across social media, blogs, and websites due to their quick impact and easy-to-understand format. This helps build backlink-worthy content that others naturally want to share.
• Credibility and Authority: By including data or research, infographics become link magnets, attracting backlinks from sites that want to cite credible sources. This boosts your overall SEO through organic link building.
• Diverse Topics: You can create infographics on almost any topic, allowing you to generate shareable content for a wide range of audiences and industries, helping you find relevant linkable asset ideas for your niche.

Infographics are a great tool for building content that attracts links naturally, enhancing your SEO performance through linkable assets SEO strategies.

2) Online Tools and Calculators 

Online Tools and Calculators are excellent types of linkable assets because they provide practical value and save users time. By allowing users to input data and receive personalized results, these assets can solve problems or offer insights. For example, SEO calculators, keyword tools, or ROI calculators for marketing are highly popular.

These tools naturally attract backlinks because they offer value, especially in fields like SEO, finance, or marketing. When others find them useful, they tend to share and link back to them, making them a perfect link magnet for your site.

Offering tools that solve real problems ensures you’re providing backlink-worthy content that people will naturally want to reference, improving your natural link-building efforts.

This ABV Calculator from Brewer’s Friend helps users determine the alcohol content of their brew by entering basic details such as gravity readings. It’s a valuable resource for homebrewers, making it easy to share and link to thanks to its practical utility and ease of use.

3) Research and Case Studies

Research and Case Studies are powerful linkable assets because they offer insights based on thorough experiments and analysis. These types of content are frequently referenced by other websites due to their credibility and detailed findings.

For example, Ahrefs’ blog post, How Long Does It Take to Rank?, analyzes data from two million keywords to provide an answer to a common SEO question. The depth of the study and the actionable insights make it a prime resource for others to link to when discussing SEO strategies.

But why did these studies attract so many links? Here are some key reasons:

• Data-driven content: Unique insights based on solid data naturally attract backlinks.
• High relevance: The study addresses a frequently asked question, making it useful for various audiences.
• Trust and credibility: Reliable data from a trusted source like Ahrefs enhances its linkability.
• Shareability: Research-based content offers valuable information that others are inclined to share.

For a closer look at successful link-building strategies, check out our link building case studies. These examples showcase how we’ve helped clients improve rankings and traffic with proven tactics, offering insights into the tangible results of effective link building.

When you provide such research, you establish your content as a key resource, increasing its chances of being cited and linked by others.

4) Blog Posts and Articles

Blog posts and articles are good linkable assets when they provide highly valuable content that others would want to mention. A good example is the “History of Google Algorithm Updates” by Search Engine Journal (SEJ), which is attracting nearly 3,000 backlinks as of the research basis with Ahrefs.

What made this blog post so successful? Here are the key factors:

• Comprehensive Coverage: SEJ covers the topic in detail, offering insights into every Google algorithm update.
• Regular Updates: The post is updated with each new algorithm change, ensuring continued relevance.
• High-Demand Topic: Google algorithm updates impact the entire SEO industry, making it highly relevant.
• Credibility: SEJ’s authority in the SEO space adds trustworthiness, increasing the likelihood of others linking to it.
• Valuable Resource: Many websites cite the post as a key resource, driving organic backlinks.

By creating content like this, your blog posts and articles can also serve as effective linkable assets, attracting natural backlinks and improving your SEO.

5) Videos and Podcasts

Videos and Podcasts are increasingly popular linkable assets because they provide engaging, easily consumable content. Both formats allow you to cover topics in-depth while building a connection with your audience. Videos can visually explain complex concepts, while podcasts offer detailed discussions, interviews, or insights.

Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/service/cross-channel

Here’s why they work as link magnets:

• Visual and Auditory Appeal: People love multimedia content, and it’s more shareable across platforms.
• Easier to Engage: Users can consume this content while multitasking, making it convenient and appealing.
• High Shareability: Videos and podcasts are frequently embedded or linked to in blog posts, social media, and other websites.
• Diverse Topics: You can cover anything from tutorials and interviews to product reviews, making them versatile assets for different audiences.

When well-crafted, these assets can help build backlinks from those looking for multimedia content to enhance their own articles or blog posts, contributing significantly to your overall SEO strategy.

6) Free resources

Free resources make excellent linkable assets because they offer immediate, valuable content at no cost to the user. These assets can include downloadable guides, templates, tools, or checklists, which naturally attract links from blog posts, forums, and social media due to their usefulness and shareability.

For example, the Ultimate Link Building Checklist is a great example of a free resource. It offers step-by-step guidance on streamlining a link-building campaign, from identifying opportunities to implementing successful strategies. Available for download as a PDF, it’s easy to share and follow, making it an excellent resource that naturally draws attention and links.

Why do free resources work as link magnets?

• High Practical Value: Checklists, templates, and tools offer immediate utility, prompting users to share and link to them.
• Easy to Share: Free, downloadable resources are widely shared across blogs, social media, and forums, amplifying their reach.
• Boosts Credibility: Offering useful, free resources positions you as a trusted authority in your niche.

By offering valuable, free content, such as checklists, you can naturally attract backlinks and improve your site’s SEO performance.

Best Practices for Creating Linkable Assets

To build effective linkable assets, it’s essential to follow these practices to attract natural backlinks and improve your SEO profile.

1. Focus on Evergreen Topics: Choose topics that stay relevant over time, ensuring your content continues to provide value and attract backlinks. Creating linkable assets on subjects that won’t quickly become outdated helps sustain long-term link building.
2. Make It Easy to Share: Encourage sharing by adding social buttons, clear call-to-actions, and embedding options. The more accessible your linkable content is, the more likely people are to share it.
3. Optimize for SEO: Include SEO best practices by using primary keywords like “linkable assets,” along with secondary keywords like “link magnet” and “backlink-worthy content” to improve search engine visibility and organic reach. Proper SEO optimization makes your linkable asset more discoverable.
4. Outreach: Reach out to relevant websites, influencers, and blogs in your niche. A targeted approach helps you secure backlinks from authoritative sources. Personalize your outreach and demonstrate how your linkable asset can benefit their audience.
5. Promotion: Share your content across multiple platforms including social media, newsletters, and niche-specific forums. Consistent promotion increases the visibility of your linkable assets and encourages more organic backlinks.

By focusing on these best practices, you ensure that your linkable assets are effective, natural-looking, and SEO-friendly, helping your content rank better in search engines.

Conclusion: Linkable Assets

Creating linkable assets is a smart strategy to gain organic backlinks and boost your SEO. By focusing on high-quality content, optimizing for search engines, and promoting your assets, you can attract valuable links that elevate your site’s rankings and credibility.

Though it requires effort, the long-term benefits of linkable content make it a worthwhile investment for sustained growth. Remember, making great linkable assets is fun and creative. Happy creating!

FAQs on Linkable Assets