Backlink Essentials: Finding the Right Number for SEO Success
Backlink Essentials: Finding the Right Number for SEO Success
Backlinks remain one of the top ranking signals for SEO in 2023. However, the quality and authority of links matter more than pure quantity. Follow these best practices for earning backlinks strategically to enhance organic visibility.
1. Backlink Foundation
As a baseline, most sites need at least 50-100 referring domains linking back to pages with relevant anchor text and Partial Match domains to start ranking for competitive terms. However, the authority (Domain Rating) of these sites plays a bigger role than just hitting a particular number.
For example, securing backlinks from industry publications like Shopify’s ecommerce blog and market leaders like Amazon will boost rankings more than mass generic links. Focus on securing niche relevant sites with strong domain authority first.
2. Link Velocity Matters
Gaining new backlinks at a steady pace communicates popularity and relevance to Google. Set a target cadence for outreach to earn 2-4 new high-quality backlinks per month consistently versus batch efforts.
Tracking new links with rank tracking software like Ahrefs and SEMrush will quantify impact over time. Monitoring which pieces of link-worthy content and outreach channels drive results allows you to double down on what works.
3. Promoting Diverse Linking Pages
Ensure backlinks point to different areas of your site like service pages, popular blog content, resources, etc. versus just the homepage. This indicates broader subject matter expertise.
Include anchor text links with a natural mix of exact match, partial match, and branded name links too. Over-optimization raises spam flags.
4. Focus on Long Tail Keywords
Target less competitive long tail keywords in link outreach and anchor text where it’s easier to rank versus cutthroat phrases. Once established as an authority site, Google will start ranking the site for more popular main keywords.
For example, an outdoor gear site seeing more traction ranking for “hiking trails Bay Area” can leverage this domain authority to eventually rank for “hiking gear” too.
5. Quality Over Quantity
Not all links are created equal. Low-quality links from unrelated sites, broken pages, or spammy patterns can actually damage a website’s rankings.
Manually vet sites that agree to link back checking for relevant content, engaged visitors, solid domain authority scores as measured by Moz and Ahrefs, and credible links to reputable third party sites.
Just a few authoritative contextual links that align to your brand carry more weight than thousands of low quality links. As you build momentum, staying vigilant about link quality is critical.
Earning backlinks remains vital for SEO success. By following best practices around authority, velocity, promotion, relevancy and quality, brands can build a sustainable approach to securing the placements they deserve.
Relevant SaaS Products:
- Ahrefs: A comprehensive SEO tool that aids in backlink analysis, helping you evaluate the quality and relevance of your link profile.
- Moz: An all-in-one SEO toolset that includes link building insights, empowering you to focus on building high-quality backlinks.
- Semrush: Beyond keyword research, Semrush provides backlink analytics, allowing you to monitor your link profile and identify areas for improvement.
- Pitchbox: An outreach platform that streamlines the process of building high-quality backlinks by facilitating personalized communication with potential linking partners.
- Hunter: Helps you find email addresses associated with potential linking domains, facilitating outreach efforts for backlink building.
Conclusion
While the number of backlinks is a consideration, the emphasis should be on quality. Strive for a diverse and authoritative backlink profile, and adapt your strategy based on continuous monitoring and industry updates.
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