6 strategies to build links for your small business website in 2016

Link building remains the cornerstone of most search engine optimization efforts. According to Moz’s “2015 Search Engine Ranking Factors Study,” links have the strongest association with higher search rankings of all the (known) attributes used by Google in its core ranking algorithm.

But one of the most common issues for small businesses is the struggle to build quality links. Lacking unfamiliarity with current SEO best practices, many small firms still fall for the infamous black hat tactics to get links.

That is a mistake.

You see, search engines will continue to crack down on link exchanges, paid anchor placements and other shady approaches to building links.

Therefore, it is best to avoid these “old school” methods and focus on relevant, authoritative links that drive real traffic. Here are six ways to build such links for your small business website in 2016:

1. Partner with niche-specific influencers

Niche-specific influencers have connections with readers that bypass the “industry atmosphere” and form meaningful relationships. You can establish content partnerships with influencers who serve relevant content to your target audience.

For instance, you can be a regular contributor to their blogs and occasionally link out to your own landing pages. Consumers are more likely to trust these links over one or two sponsored posts for two reasons:

• They trust the influencer to only allow contributors who provide value; and
  
• a regular contribution from a small business owner/employee is seen as an honest contribution.

Consider the case of Paul Downs, a contributor at The New York Times’s You’re the Boss blog (now discontinued). He started a custom furniture business in 1986 and grew it over the years, sharing his expertise with other small business owners through his column.

He has a link back to his website from The New York Times. He achieved this link and exposure through his regular contribution to the blog, which offers advice to small business owners.

[Read the full article on Search Engine Land.]

Some opinions expressed in this article may be those of a guest author and not necessarily Marketing Land. Staff authors are listed here.

About The Author

Pratik Dholakiya

Pratik Dholakiya is the Co-Founder & VP Marketing of E2M, a digital marketing agency and MoveoApps, a mobile apps development company. He has over 8 years of experience in digital marketing and has served more than 500 customers into different verticals. As a passionate marketer, he regularly shares his thoughts and knowledge on high-end publications like Search Engine Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Search Engine Watch, Moz, Fast Company, Huffington Post and many more. He has been recommended as a ‘must follow’ SEO expert by Search Engine Watch and has been named one of the top content marketing influencers by Onalytica two years in a row. He’s passionate about fitness, entrepreneurship, startups and all things digital marketing.

(Some images used under license from Shutterstock.com.)