The algorithms of search engines are constantly changing, but there are things whose role is still important. These are backlinks and the quality of content – on the position of the site in search they have the strongest impact.
The requirements of Google to the quality of links and content are becoming higher, which complicates the work on search promotion. This is especially important for small businesses and new online stores, they are not ready to spend a lot of money to buy backlinks. But there is a solution: you can get quality SEO-links without buying them directly from other people’s sites.
In this article, there are some methods of obtaining external links, for the use of which you do not need to be an experienced specialist, and instead of money will have to invest only your time.
1. Creating pages in social media
The first thing to do is to create official company pages in social networks. This is the easiest way to get external links as soon as you launch your online store. Even if you do not plan to work actively on SMM, this opportunity is definitely worth using.
Do not limit yourself to the popular Facebook and Instagram, make pages for your company in Google+, Tweeter, YouTube and LinkedIn. You will get 6 quality and completely free links at once.
2. Working with forums (crowd marketing)
You can work not only with niche forums but also look for thematic branches in forums of thematic sites. If there is information on your site that could potentially be useful to participants of the discussion, you can safely share it in the discussion. It is well perceived by users, as opposed to direct advertising.
On many forums, members whose posts have exceeded a certain threshold (15-20 posts) can leave links to their site in their signatures. If you actively communicate via such a link, other users begin to move regularly.
3. Sites with reviews
For any company, regardless of its size, customer feedback is very important. They attract other people’s attention and can often have a decisive influence on your product selection.
There are specialized websites on the Internet that are aggregators of feedback about companies, their products, and services, for example, Otzovik.com, Tripadvisor.com.
On such platforms, you can create a company page where people can leave their reviews, and you get a free link to your site.
4. Interviews for media
This can work particularly well with regional media, which often lack interesting stories on the agenda. So you can get a link to the company’s website, and additional bonuses to brand recognition.
In addition to interviews, it is possible to work through individual materials on topics in which you are well versed and offer your comments as an expert (by writing a letter to the author of a blog or to the editorial office).
5. Thematic aggregators
Aggregators – sites with a lot of information, mainly business-oriented. We are talking about thematic catalogs, for example:
- Catalog of foreign language courses.
- Catalog of dental clinics.
- Catalog of companies that work in the construction industry.
- Aggregator of tutor services.
- Aggregator of online stores.
If your target region is large, you can find several dozens of aggregators through Google, and on each of them you can register by creating a company page.
6. Creation and distribution of valuable content
It can be a step-by-step guide to solving a particular problem, a research result, a checklist to complete a task or an electronic PDF book dedicated to a specific topic.
High-quality content takes time to prepare, but its publication attracts the attention of the audience, and many people share links to such a page on the site with friends, forums and social networks.
This approach is especially popular in the English-speaking segment of the Internet and has for many years been considered one of the most effective ways to get backlinks to the site. It also has a very positive impact on the credibility of the business. You can check LinksManagement, service that helps build links.
7. Cooperation with bloggers
This approach works very well in the case of online retailers. The audience of some bloggers is comparable to the audience of popular media. In exchange for a review and/or mention of your store, you can offer a blogger to test the product.
First of all, pay attention to authors of offline blogs (sites), owners of promoted Instagram accounts and YouTube channels. Working with them, you can get the link and a recommendation from a reputable person in your niche.
8. Info partnership for events
Even in small cities, not to mention millions of people, regular exhibitions and other events are held on a variety of topics. The organizers work with the media and individual companies to disseminate information about the event and attract more participants.
By contacting the organizers, you can offer them support in the form of information partnerships ( blog postings and social networks), in exchange for mentioning your company with a link to a shop. Often partner links are posted on the main page of the event website.
You can agree on cooperation with the organizers of fairs and masterclasses, offering them to organize a competition with a drawing of one of your products among the participants or give small souvenirs to the participants. For this, the organizers will tell about your shop on their website and on social networks.
Conclusion
If your online store has links to pages from other quality projects in your niche, the search engine considers it more authoritative than other similar sites, all other things being equal.
As a result, the visibility of important business keywords is growing, positions become higher, and all this together leads to an increase in traffic.
There are some other important bonuses that provide quality link mass:
- Brand recognition grows due to the increase in contact points with the target audience on external resources.
- Links from other sites to your store’s pages can be used by potential customers, and this is additional sales.
Marie Barnes is a writer for Bestforacar. She is an enthusiastic blogger interested in writing about technology, social media, work, travel, lifestyle, and current affairs. She shares her insights through blogging.
