SEO Strategy

Link Building

Link Building, the SEO strategy for ranking your website in the top Google results.

Factory Communication is a Link Building Agency!

Link building campaigns are one of the most widely used strategies for ranking a website in the first pages of search engines by building external links that put to your website.

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SEO Strategy

SEO link building

SEO link building is a key component of search engine optimization (SEO) strategies.

Refers to the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own.

These links act as “votes” in the vast Internet ecosystem, increasing a site’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines, such as Google.

If you have arrived at this page on our site, you have probably asked yourself one of these questions:

  • What is link building?
  • Why is link building important for SEO?
  • What are the different types of link building?
  • How to build high quality backlinks?
  • What are the best tools for link building?
  • How to avoid being penalized by Google for link building

From a purely technical point of view, link building consists of building a network of links (links) between your site and web pages on other websites.

Link building, in the digital world, can be seen as the online version of traditional word of mouth.

When a website places a quality link pointing to your site, it is as if they are recommending your content, services or products to their visitors.

This act of digital sharing is a strong signal to search engines. Basically it indicates that your site has valuable and interesting content for users, or relevant offers in the case of eCommerce.

Link building, therefore, increases authority and ranking in search results (serp).

The concept of “links” is at the heart of the creation and development of the Internet itself. We can imagine the web as an immense spider web made up of millions of links.

It is no coincidence that the programs charged with examining these links are called“spiders

Thanks to links, spiders move from one site to another, from one page to another.

To build the right Link Building strategy, clear procedures have become established and are recognized by the global expert community.

Google itself gives extremely precise guidance on “what should be done.”

Then several online services have come to our aid that allow us to plan, verify and monitor the Link Building strategy we are implementing.

Link building allows us to promote the visibility of our site on the web and thus make it easily found on major search engines.

If you want your site to climb the top positions in Google check your backlinks now!

Backlinks are an important resource for the organic ranking of a website.

They can be a positive element when their Domain Authority is high, or an extremely negative element when they have a high toxicity score(Domains Toxicity Score).

For this reason, one of the most important points of the SEO Analysis carried out by our Agency refers precisely to Backlinks.

There are several services on the Web that allow you to monitor your link building strategy.

From the simplest and free ones such as Google Analytics, to more elaborate ones such as www.ahrefs.com e www.semrush.com which allow for in-depth Backlink Analysis.

We at Factory Communication use Semrush, as it provides Link Building analysis, integrated and developed with so many other variables, which are essential to prepare a proper web marketing strategy.

Thanks to the backlink analysis performed with Semrush, we can define which ones to keep active and which ones to ask Google to remove.

Semrush interface for SEO analysis of a website's backlinks
Semrush interface for website backlink SEO audit

Link building is a search engine optimization technique that aims to increase the number of valuable incoming links to a website.

The purpose of this practice, in essence, is to increase the organic ranking of the site in question. This can be done through 2 factors: Popularity and Authoritativeness.

Ideally, you want to have a site with high Authoritativeness and high Popularity on a specific topic.

Basically, we need to make the site the reference point for all possible Customers.

Popularity

It indicates the popularity index of a website.

This does not mean that the site is particularly knowledgeable in a specific subject, but that it is known to the general public.

We could compare him to a person in show business, who does not have great specific skills in any area (and here excuse the irony but we could bring a thousand examples) but who is known to the general public.

Self-reliance

It is one of the most important factors of Search Engine Optimization not to be confused with Popularity.

A site is authoritative when it is recognized by the community as Competent in that given subject.

For example, a Journalist may be extremely competent in a particular subject, be recognized by that specific Community, but not by the Collectivity.

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SEO Strategy

Link building agency

Link building therefore means acquiring external links pointing to your site, with the goal of improving its visibility and ranking in search results.

Link building agencies specialize in these activities, offering services ranging from finding link opportunities to creating and promoting content that attracts links naturally.

They play a crucial role in navigating the complex link building landscape, ensuring that the techniques used are ethical and in line with search engine guidelines.

In addition to web pages, links can also be placed:

  • In social posts
  • In the product descriptions of an e-commerce
  • In the text of a press release
  • In multimedia presentations
  • In the descriptions of videos for example on YouTube.
  • In the form of QRCodes in paper presentations.

Link building strategies can bring numerous benefits to a company, including improved search engine rankings, increased qualified traffic, increased domain authority, and growth in brand visibility.

However, link building is not always the right strategy.

For example, it may not be recommended for specific landing pages or for seasonal or short-term businesses, where immediate conversion is more important than long-term domain authority.

In addition, it is critical to avoid manipulative or unethical link building techniques, which can lead to search engine penalties.

A well-planned and ethically conducted link building strategy can be a powerful growth engine for an online business.

However, it is crucial that it is integrated within a broader SEO strategy and conducted with attention to detail and adherence to search engine guidelines.

Let’s make this parallel to explain how to achieve efficient and natural Link Building.
As we always say, to increase the seo ranking of a website, it is essential to publish content of value to users.

This aspect is extremely important, as people use search engines to find a wide variety of answers to their needs.

One point to always keep in mind is that Google, first and foremost, is a company that wants to generate profits.
Currently, a large part of these profits come from sponsored searches, the famous PPC Campaigns, made by Companies on the search engine.

The sine qua non, for companies to continue to run paid campaigns, is that users are always present and active on the search engine.

To ensure this continuous and constant presence, Google must necessarily maintain and increase the efficiency of its search algorithms.
That is, that extremely complex mathematical formula that defines what content to show and in what order.

If users were unable to find interesting and valuable answers to their searches, they would gradually start using another search engine.

Clearly Google does not want this.

Link building is effective when site content is useful and “valuable” to the user

So the answer is: valuable content, rich in information, authentic i.e., not copied from other sites, articulate and easy to read, appealing in layout, but very quick to download especially in mobile browsing.

As is also the case with content marketing, the winning and most effective solution for link building is to create of natural links.

Basically if we propose a product or service, of interest to the community, it is the community itself that provides content writing, with links back to our site.

A practical case of this is the articles written in some online newspapers. Often these articles are cited as sources by web writers or content writers who are involved in content writing.

We have never done an audit, but we believe that the Wikipedia site is one of the most linked to sites in the world. The site contains so much valuable content, which is cited (via links precisely) as a reference point or inspiration for thousands of articles on the Web.

Natural link building is extremely difficult. So it is supplanted by link building seo strategy, which involves building relationships with industry publications, bloggers, influencers, which involves publishing one or more valuable content on their sites.

This activity is also called guest posting.

There are different types of link building, which can be classified according to different criteria:

  • According to the acquisition method
  • Based on the type of anchor text
  • Based on the location of the link
  • Based on the attribute

Editorial links

These are Natural or Organic Links obtained without direct action on the part of the site owner.

They occur when other websites find your content useful or relevant and decide to link to it.

For example, if an article on your site is cited as a source to further a topic, this demonstrates the quality and relevance of your content.

These are the links obtained naturally and are the most valuable for SEO, as they indicate that your website is considered authoritative and useful by other websites.

Paid links

These links are included in editorial articles or paid guest posts.

Although they can be an effective way to gain visibility, it is critical that they are relevant, of high quality, and stated transparently to avoid search engine penalties.

There are several websites that sell backlinks. N.B. check in detail the sites where you insert backlinks because this practice is not recommended by Google and may penalize you.

Reciprocal links

These are the links that are exchanged between two websites.

This practice is also discouraged by Google, as it is not considered natural.

Automatic Links

Generally created by spam sites or programs, these links are often of low quality and can damage a site’s reputation and ranking.

I suggest you do a check of your site and if you have such links I suggest you send a request to Google to disregard these links.

They are divided into 3 different types.

Anchor text exact

It is the anchor text that corresponds exactly to the keyword you want to place.

This type of anchor text is effective, but can be penalized by Google if overused.

Remember that it is essential to carry out natural link building, this means Anchor text should include several keywords.

Partial anchor text

It is the anchor text that contains the keyword you want to place, but it is not exact.

This type of anchor text is less effective than exact anchor text, but it is more secure.

Anchor text generic

It is the anchor text that does not contain the keyword you want to place This type of anchor text is the safest, but it is also the least effective.

Semrush Audit Backlink - Display Link Anchor Type

Links in the body of the text

These are the links found within the text of a web page. These links are more visible and clickable than other types of links.

Links in the sidebar

These are the links found in the sidebar of a web page. They are less visible than links in the body of the text, yet they can be useful for SEO.

Link in footer

These are the links found in the footer of the site or a web page. Like links in the sidebar they enjoy less visibility, however they can be useful for SEO purposes.

REL: NoFollow

An attribute used to tell search engines not to follow a particular link.

It is often used for advertising or unreliable links to avoid transferring authority to the linked site.

REL: DoFollow

Implicit in most links, this attribute allows search engines to follow the link and pass authority from the source site to the target site, thus contributing to improved rankings.

N.B. if you are carrying out a link building campaign and you have decided to publish articles on some editorial titles, check that the links inserted are DoFollow type.

REL: Sponsored

The rel=”sponsored” attribute is an HTML tag introduced to mark sponsored links and those resulting from commercial agreements.

REL: UGC

The rel=”ugc” (User Generated Content) attribute is an HTML flag introduced to mark user-generated links within content such as comments, forums, reviews and other web spaces where users can freely insert hyperlinks.

Semrush Analysis of Backlinks. REL attributes screen

And now let’s look at the 10 most common mistakes in developing a link building strategy:

  1. Buying backlinks: Google prohibits buying backlinks and may penalize websites that do so.
  2. Link exchange: Exchanging links is another practice that Google does not appreciate.
  3. Use over-optimized anchor text: Anchor text is the text that is used to link one website to another. If the anchor text is over-optimized with keywords, Google may consider it spam and penalize your website.
  4. Post on low-quality websites: It is important to post your content only on high-quality websites that are relevant to your industry. Posting on low-quality websites can hurt your reputation and your SEO.
  5. Don’t diversify your backlinks: It is important to get links from a variety of different websites. If all your backlinks come from websites of the same type, Google may suspect that you are cheating and penalize your website.
  6. Ignore the speed of backlink acquisition: It is important to get backlinks gradually over time. If you get too many backlinks too quickly, Google may suspect you are cheating and penalize your website.
  7. Neglect content quality: The quality of your content is the most important factor in getting backlinks naturally and organically. Make sure you create high-quality content that is useful and interesting to your audience.
  8. Don’t monitor your backlinks: It is important to monitor your incoming links regularly to make sure they come from high-quality websites. If you find backlinks from low-quality websites, you should delete or disavow them. You can use platforms with SemRush for monitoring.
  9. Don’t be patient: Link building is a process that takes time and patience. Don’t expect to get immediate results.
  10. Ignoring Google’s best practices: It is important to follow Google’s best practices for link building. Google regularly updates its algorithm, so it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest changes.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve your link building and increase your online visibility.

Tools to use for your SEO link building

Now let’s look together at some tools you can use to monitor your strategy, or to find quality links on target with your SEO and communication goals, and some tips for managing backlinks.

There are several programs you can use to monitor a website’s backlinks, both free and paid.

  • Google Search Console: Google’s Search Console offers a number of tools to monitor your website’s backlinks, including the “Links” report that shows the websites that link to you, the “Pages with Most External Links” report that identifies the pages on your site with the most backlinks, and the “Disavow Links” tool that allows you to disallow low-quality backlinks.
  • Ahrefs Backlink Checker: The free version of Ahrefs allows you to check up to 100 backlinks from a website, with information such as link type (dofollow/nofollow), anchor text, and Domain Rating (DR) of the originating website.
  • SEMrush Backlink Checker: The free version of SEMrush allows you to check up to 100 backlinks from a website, with information such as link type (dofollow/nofollow), anchor text and Authority Score (AS) of the source website.
  • Majestic Free Backlink Checker: The free version of Majestic allows you to check up to 100 backlinks of a website, with information such as Trust Flow and Citation Flow of the source website.
  • Ahrefs: Ahrefs is one of the most comprehensive backlink analysis tools on the market. It offers a wide range of features, including the ability to monitor your website’s and your competitors’ backlinks, identify low-quality backlinks, analyze anchor text, and more.
  • SEMrush: SEMrush is another comprehensive SEO suite that offers a number of backlink analysis tools, including the ability to monitor your website’s and your competitors’ backlinks, identify low-quality backlinks, analyze anchor text and more.
  • Majestic: Majestic is a backlink analysis tool that offers a wide range of data on a website’s backlinks, including Trust Flow, Citation Flow, and Topical Trust Flow.
  • Cognitive SEO: Cognitive SEO is a backlink analysis tool that offers a number of advanced features, including the ability to identify low-quality backlinks, analyze anchor text, and more.
  • Monitor your backlinks regularly: You should monitor your backlinks at least once a month to make sure they are of high quality.
  • Identify and disavow low-quality backlinks: Low-quality backlinks can hurt your SEO. It is important to identify and disavow them using Google Search Console’s “Disavow Links” tool.
  • Analyze anchor text: The anchor text of your backlinks is important for your SEO. You should make sure the anchor text is relevant to your target keywords.
  • Compare your backlinks with those of your competitors: You can use a tool such as Ahrefs or SEMrush to compare your backlinks with those of your competitors. This will help you identify areas where you can improve your backlink strategy.

I recommend that you use Semrush to do this.

Semrush allows you to:

  • Perform backlink analysis
  • Divide them into “good” and “toxic” ones
  • Create a .csv file to export “toxic” backlinks

If you don’t want to use Semrush, you can read Google’s “Rejected links pointing back to your site” guide.

If you created the .csv file, you need to upload it via Google Search Console’s “Disavow Links” tool.

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The Web is constantly evolving. Search algorithms change. Consequently, positioning techniques change

If you have decided to improve the SEO positioning of your website or e-commerce request an SEO Consultation now.

Every day we look for new solutions to integrate into the SEO Strategies we develop for our Clients to maximize their investment by increasing the return in terms of leads, customers, sales, visibility, web reputation, Brand Awareness and Engagement.

A world of galaxies, solar systems, planets and satellites-this is the Web and social networks.

A fascinating and extremely complicated world that requires extremely verticalized skills to manage and govern.

Link building, if done amateurishly and hastily, can generate a counterproductive effect: being penalized by search engines.

We at Factory Communication devote hundreds of hours each year to in-house training.

In order to be sure to achieve an effective and efficient result that will allow your site to reach the top places on search engines, it is advisable not to improvise but to contact an SEO Agency with long experience in this type of activity.

As we always say, seo strategy and in this case link building, are activities that need to be done consistently over time. They require planning, lots of work and budget.

As Google’s guidelines say, there is no magic formula for getting quality backlinks however, if you follow best practices and equip yourself with a good dose of patience, you can achieve significant results.