What are Backlinks?
Many new website owners are writing articles regularly. But after publishing the content, they are waiting for traffic and ranking. Sometimes the content is good, but still the page is not getting better result on search engines.
One reason is backlinks.
Backlinks are still important in SEO. Because backlinks help search engines understand about your website and pages. If a website has good backlinks from relevant websites, there is a better chance to get visibility on search engines.
But backlinks should not be created only for ranking purpose. Nowadays search engines are checking quality, relevance and helpful content also. So creating backlinks naturally is better than creating many low quality backlinks.
What are Backlinks?
Backlinks are links coming from one website to another website. If another website adds your website link in their article, that link is called backlink.
Backlinks are playing an important role in search engine optimization. You can also learn more about SEO basics from Google Search Central. If the site has more quality and natural backlinks, that site may get more priority in ranking. So, backlinks are still considered as one of the ranking factors in search engine.
But backlinks are not the only ranking factor. Content quality, website speed, user experience and useful information are also important for rankings.
Link Building – Backlinks
Backlinks are needed for new sites to get visibility on search engines. So, the new site owner can create backlinks from different methods like social media backlinks, guest posting, forum participation, business profile backlinks and resource page backlinks.
Though, there are many ways to create backlinks, all are not natural way. So, initially try to create backlinks naturally. If you create valuable content, there is a chance to get natural backlinks from bloggers and other website owners. Google also recommends creating helpful content instead of focusing only on backlinks.
Natural backlinks are always better. Because those backlinks are given by others when they find your content useful.
Types Of backlinks
You already might be known, that there are two major types of backlinks in SEO. One is dofollow backlink and another one is nofollow backlink.
Both dofollow and nofollow backlinks are useful for SEO. Because a natural backlink profile should not look same always. It should have different types of backlinks.
Do follow
Do follow backlinks means the search engines can follow the links. These backlinks are usually considered more valuable than nofollow backlinks.
When you get dofollow backlinks from relevant websites, there is a chance to improve ranking on SERPs. But don’t focus only on dofollow backlinks.
Because, if a website has only dofollow backlinks, sometimes it may not look natural.
Nofollow
Nofollow backlinks are also important in SEO. Nowadays many social media websites, forums and comment sections are using nofollow backlinks.
Though, nofollow backlinks are not passing the same value like dofollow backlinks, they can still bring traffic to your website. So, nofollow backlinks are mainly useful for traffic, reference and natural backlink profile.
Now, next see how you can create backlinks without putting much effort.
The Ways of Creating Backlinks
1. Social Media Backlinks
This is one of the most people using strategy to create backlinks for initial growth. Even though majority of social media backlinks are nofollow, it is still beneficial.
So, when creating social media page for the website, don’t forget to add the website link in the profile section. Also share some articles on your page regularly.
By sharing articles as posts, more people can discover your content. Sometimes if the content is useful, other website owners may also link that content from their website.
2. Guest Posting
Guest posting is another popular way to create backlinks from relevant websites. In this method, need to write content for another website.
If the website owner accepts the article, they may allow a backlink to your website. Also, guest posting can help to build relationship with other website owners.
But don’t create guest post only for backlinks. Try to give useful information in the article. Otherwise, it may not give much value.
3. Forum Participation
Forum participation is also another way to create backlinks. Many forums allow users to share useful links during discussions.
But don’t create backlinks everywhere. If you share links without reason, those links may look spammy. So, create backlinks only when it is related to the discussion topic.
This is better than dropping links in every forum page.
4. Business Profile Backlinks
Business profile backlinks are also useful for websites and businesses. Many business listing websites allow users to create profile and add website link.
These backlinks may not be very powerful like backlinks from high authority websites. But it can help search engines discover your website and business details.
So, if you have business website, you can create profiles on trusted business listing websites.
Need to be Aware When Creating backlinks
1. Check Spam Score
If you decided to create backlinks from the site, first check the site’s quality and spam score. Because high spam score sites are not healthy for creating backlinks. You can check website authority and backlink details using tools like Ahrefs.
When you create backlinks from spam websites, that backlink may not give good value to your website. Sometimes it may create bad impact also.
2. Don’t Create Too Many Backlinks Quickly
Many beginners think more backlinks means better ranking. But it is not always true.
Creating too many backlinks in short time may not look natural. So, create backlinks slowly and focus on quality backlinks instead of quantity.
This is important for new websites also. Because sudden backlink growth from poor sites may look suspicious.
3. Create Backlinks on Relevant Post
This is the most bloggers repeatedly do mistake when creating backlinks.
Backlinks should be created on relevant posts only. If your website is about SEO, create backlinks from SEO, blogging or digital marketing related pages.
Otherwise, those backlinks may not give much value.
4. Don’t Create Spam Backlinks
Every blogger and SEO analyst should aware of this one. Because spam backlinks can create problems for the website.
So, don’t create backlinks from low quality websites, auto generated pages and unrelated websites. Always try to create backlinks from relevant and trustworthy websites.
FAQ About Backlinks
Are backlinks factors to rank on the search engines?
Yes, backlinks are important to rank the site or page on search engines. Not only backlinks are involved in ranking, there are also many things like content quality, readability, website speed, user experience and helpful content.
How long does it take for the backlinks to work?
It depends on the search engine crawler and crawling process. Because backlinks work when search engines are recognising those given backlinks by crawling and indexing the backlinks included page.
Sometimes it may take few days and sometimes it may take few weeks.