A backlink is a link that points back to your website from another site. The more backlinks you have, the better your search ranking is going to be, especially if your backlinks are included in heavy-ranking sites such as government or educational websites.
Backlink Basics
When it comes to using backlinks, you want to make the biggest bang for your buck, so to speak. What this means is that you need target the right words when linking. Make sure you are linking to sites that are relevant to yours. Make a list of the different keywords that are relevant to your blog or web site and then look for links and sources that are similar to this. Finding the right backlinks for your web site is all about search engine optimization and keyword selection. For help with choosing relevant keywords, check out the Google Adword Keyword Tool.
You also need to remember that not all backlinks are created equal by Google. In general, if you have 100 backlinks to your page, you will be higher in the ranking than someone with only ten backlinks… unless these ten links are from extremely reputable sources. You want to not only consider the quantity of your backlink but also the quality. Some types of backlinks will provide much more value than others, especially those that target the right audience and come from reputable sources. Linking to authoritative sites is one of the best ways to pack more punch into your backlinks. BBC, CNN, Wikipedia, the Bureau of Labor Statistics are all great examples of the backlink heavyweights.
Furthermore, you want to use the proper phrasing in your links. Using the word “click here” is not the best way to represent your backlinks or internal links. Whenever you link to your website from other sites, try and incorporate your keyword phrase into the link text. Then underline the hyperlinked phrase to help readers connect to the other sites.
Where to Find Backlinks
Looking for quality backlinks? Keep in mind that choosing the right backlinks for your blog should not be a two-minute job. It is all about networking and finding the right sources – put yourself out there to build connections that will work in your favor. Check out these valuable resources for finding quality backlinks to help your blog:
- Online directories such as DMOZ or Yahoo! Directory
- Blog Comments
- Video sites
- .edu (educational) and .gov (government) links
- RSS Feeds such as Feedage.com and Feedagg.com
- Internal linking
- Social bookmarking links including Digg, Propeller and Delicious
- Web 2.0 Sites such as Hubpages and Scribd.
- Article directories such as ezinearticles
However, the most important thing when it comes to obtaining backlinks is to constantly write quality content. When you have excellent and informative content, others will want to link back to you.
Want to learn more about backlinks? Contact us today for more information on how we can improve your business or create your company a web presence that will dominate the search engines and deliver results. Call today at (612) 558-1020 for a free phone consultation.
