The importance of quality backlinks to your SEO strategy

In recent years, the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for promotion on the web has grown exponentially as more and more sites and pages are published online. Indeed, in 2018, it was estimated the world produced around 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day - a figure that is expected to grow to a frankly astounding 463 exabytes by 2025.

Whether you run an e-commerce venture, a blog, or just a simple showcase site, the aim of pretty much all websites remains the same - to build traffic and generate footfall. After all, there’s little point in being online and producing content if no one’s ultimately going to see it.

However, with so much noise and distraction now online, website owners are increasingly coming to rely on search engines to prioritize their content over their rivals to help users find their content - and one of the best ways to get noticed by engines and prioritized in their Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) is by gaining quality backlinks to your site.

PageRank and how it still influences today’s search results

Google’s original algorithm was based heavily on inward links to rank the importance of a website - a process it referred to as PageRank - and, while its software is in constant development, the firm still places inward links high up its list of criteria for prioritizing sites in its SERPs.

As Google now accounts for around 92% of all online searches, working to its standards is vital if you want your site to be found by the majority of users. 

Ways to generate quality backlinks (inward links)

By far, the best way to encourage and generate positive inward links to your site is to work with a professional SEO and web marketing company. Firms like www.clickintelligence.co.uk have vast experience of building inward links and know the best sites to target - and can also look after every other facet of your online promotion. However, if you should decide to try and do the work yourself, below are a few tips to help get you started. Even if you choose to work with an agency, it can be helpful to know these tips.

Link exchanges: If you do a little research, you’ll likely discover sites similar to your own or that operate in a complementary sector that might be willing to exchange links with you (i.e., you link to them, they link to you).

Directories: While they are less common today due to the all-encompassing domination of major search engines like Google, directories still exist online and can be a useful source of backlinks - just be sure to only list your site on reputable directories like Dmoz or Jayde to avoid having unwanted, lower-rated links.

Guest write on other sites/blogs: Guest blogging and writing articles for other sites is a great way to not just increase your backlinks but also improve your exposure and reputation online. If you write informed content for other websites, you’ll go a long way to establishing your site as a source of useful information while also proving your knowledge and expertise.

Try link bait: Link bait refers to the practice of producing articles that are likely to receive inward links organically from other sites, e.g., by offering free content, discussing controversial topics, etc. While it can be difficult to select subjects that are guaranteed to pique the interest of other sites, if you manage it, it can have a huge effect on the overall effectiveness of your SEO.