Have you ever wondered why certain sites show up during a web search? The reason is SEO. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a digital marketing strategy that can increase the visibility of your website’s pages in a web search on search engines such as Google or Bing. Why does this matter for your website? Sites with better visibility are usually those that are higher ranked on the search engine results page, which means more web traffic. Continue reading →
Rick Grimes probably wasn’t pondering backlinks in 2021 when he said, “We don’t kill the living” in AMC’s The Walking Dead.
Oddly enough, Grimes’ quote can be applied to backlinks today. It beckons the question: Why kill backlinks if they’re still alive?
Don’t!
Backlinks aren’t dead – and there’s certainly no reason to squash them in 2021.
Backlinks, “inbounding links” or “incoming links” connect webpages through incoming hyperlinks and are created when websites link to each other.
Backlinks signal greater Google (and other search engine) authority, upping search engine rankings. Backlinks can be a leading benchmark performance indicator of stellar content marketing and SEO strategy.
In fact, the number of domains linking to a page was the top factor in correlating the highest rankings in Google, according to Backlinko.
Backlinks for the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2021? Fingers crossed.
The positive correlation coefficient between authoritative backlinks and website ranking is real: As your website develops authoritative backlinks, Google recognizes that and boosts your ratings. Your website is power-hungry for king or queenship as the top #1 spot on Google, right? Finding cutting-edge ways to maximize quality, authoritative backlinks to improve SEO can only help. Hard-earned backlinks can bolster a site’s ranking position and search visibility with Google.
Google’s algorithms are a beacon of constant change – but backlinks remain.
Sure, business owners may hear about the mélange of options to boost SEO in 2021. This may give the impression backlinks are not in-vogue, wandering aimlessly in Myspace forgotten-land.
Not true – backlinks are alive and well.
Backlinks remain one of Google’s top three ranking factors. Link building and backlink maintenance will continue to be a part of a successful SEO strategy heading into 2021.
There are many reasons why backlinks aren’t dead in 2021.
‘Yes’ votes still count. Backlinks represent “votes” for specific pages, according to rankings for Google and other search engines like Bing, Baidu, and Yahoo. They’re a signal to search engines that other web pages “vouch” for your content. It makes sense that more backlinks equal pages with boosted organic search engine rankings. Linking one website to another is still perceived by Google as votes of confidence and authority. Well-earned backlinks coming from topically relevant, authoritative websites remain beneficial.
Public relations still benefit from backlinks. Backlink development from websites with high authority such as Search Engine Journal, Wine Enthusiast, and Forbes Magazine certainly isn’t a one-recipe-fits-all situation, and it may require some top-level groveling from the public relations department. Leveraging public relations is all about offsite SEO building in this case. You can build brand mentions through your business connections or become a source for bloggers and publication writers, for example. Provide value to clients you want a backlink from.
More resources, more backlink potential. As resources grow, your resource backlinks must keep pace. Resource link building adds value to the audience by asking, “How can I help my audience?” Resources can change, expand, be modified, or even be eliminated. If you’re a private entity, think about relevant outside resources for your client, as well as the plethora of business associations in your local area that you might be able to network within.
Backlinks still establish relevance. With tons of websites competing for Google’s top search results, it’s evolutionarily advantageous to stand out amongst “unverified” sources. Keep two qualities in mind. First, seek backlinks from quality, authoritative sites. The degree of technicality in your field can oftentimes dictate whether it’s a common-sense decision or one worth investing in researching. Second, seek backlinks with a solid contextual connection – there are more now than ever before with the wide variety of businesses springing up. Relevant backlinks aren’t easily attainable. Supercharging SEO strategy with the correct backlinks can start with identifying ways to earn these authoritative backlinks – think of human networking potential as a valuable backlink commodity.
Business-related services need backlinks. Many local businesses provide professional services that need backlinks. If you’re a business servicing the public with medical, legal, financial, engineering, or science-related services, having quality backlinks is important as your search results will likely be narrowed according to a specific field of expertise. Specificity demands specificity in this case. For example, a medical products manufacturer in Ventura, CA may have a very limited demographic scope of potential buyers keying in on “silicon-based medical products,” so the power of backlinks that connect relevant sources within that field is even more relevant today than ever.
Backlink analytics can help you. Edging out the competition requires knowing the competition. A thorough analysis of your competition’s backlinks’ performance can offer key insight into how to adjust backlink strategy to match performance – or how not to make the same mistakes. Traffic analytics will remain a steadfast portion of the diet of every business looking to capitalize on organic website traffic from backlinks. Curious how to build backlinks with authority? Analyze competitors who do.
The fact of the matter is that it’s all interpretation, as the exact logarithmic equation of how Google ranks content is a moving and complex target. Despite what some may say to the contrary, most internet marketing experts agree that backlinks will remain a ranking factor you should pay attention to – at least for the near future. There also appears to be an overarching consensus pointing to original, quality long-format content as a driving force in backlink potency.
Read ‘em and weep: Backlinks aren’t dead, according to data collected from many authoritative online sources for SEO and SEM. Here are some statistics that speak to their importance:
By the numbers: Backlinks
2% of content generates links from multiple websites (Backlinko)
92% of respondents said links will be an algorithmic signal in five years (Aira)
69% said links will be an algorithmic signal in 10 years (Aira)
69% believe buying links can positively affect Google rankings (Aira)
71% said Google still relies heavily on links for ranking (Aira)
52% expect organic search engine ranks to stay constant in the future (Aira)
77% said it takes 1-6 months to observe any changes in organic rankings after a link-building effort (Aira)
You have now heard the “why.” It’s time for the “how.” How exactly do you improve backlinks in 2021?
If backlinks aren’t dead, then it’s in your best interest to feed the monster. Be sure to stay up-to-date with SeoTuners’ blog for more information on how to improve your backlinks.
If you’ve seen The Walking Dead, you know Rick Grimes drove his friends to survive against all odds during the apocalyptic, zombie-infested cult classic. If you think about it, maybe Rick was onto something – maybe it is best to let backlinks walk amongst the living.
Small, medium and large businesses alike can benefit from a thorough analysis of backlinks. At SeoTuners, we understand the difference between quality and quantity, and our custom link building and outreach approach can help you earn high page authority. Based in Ventura, Calif., SeoTuners is proud to also service the greater Los Angeles County area. Contact us today for a consultation at (877) 736-1112.
If you are trying to get your business more exposure by the most effective means, especially during the global pandemic, it’s no surprise that you will need to harness the marketing power of the internet. Having boosted ad campaigns on social media geared towards encouraging sales will reach your immediate followers, but this is truly just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface, it’s no secret that businesses that successfully market online earn a great majority of their impressions through Google. But what isn’t as commonly known are the intricate inner workings of how Google operates. While you could spend hours doing research and watching the tutorial videos on how to take advantage of Google’s ad capabilities, it’s time-consuming and nearly impossible while trying to run a business. And when you start looking for assistance with your online advertising, you’ll find that self-proclaimed AdWords expert are everywhere with bold claims like, “We help your Google Ads increase performance for better ROI and more leads, guaranteed.” How do you know which agencies are reputable and will be able to work within your budget to get the advertising results you need? Continue reading →
Google is in relationships with multiple businesses. And while it isn’t necessarily picky, Google definitely plays favorites based on the clever keywords you choose, your online reputation, and of course the amount of time you spend with it. Google is the main object of our desire because it has the potential to bring us more than enough business to take our breath away. And while you could settle for other search engines, nothing quite compares to Google’s swoon-worthy capabilities. It can generate leads, improve your reputation, and ultimately funnel more money in your direction all at the same time. What’s not to love? This trifecta of benefits, however, only happens when you make it to the top results on Google’s search pages.
Here are five tips to follow to help beat out the competition to win over Google’s affection:
1) Harness the Power of Blogs
For starters, Google needs to get to know you. What are your interests? Who do you serve? What are your passions? These are questions that help Google figure out your personality to direct you to the right customers. Blogs provide a way to answer those questions and provide a clear picture of the character of your business. And don’t forget to add pictures. Who wouldn’t fall in love with your facilities, colleagues, and services in action? But the beauty from within, driven by your literary content, makes all the difference. Think of your business blogs like a love letter. The very words you use become the tags that can drive your company to the top of the searches.
Google wants to know if you’re an authority in your field, if you have a community of people interested in your niche, and what experience you’ve had helping your clientele. Don’t be intimidated if you’re company is just starting out, Google will always welcome your blogs whether your business is old or new.
2) Aim for the Local 3-Pack
Finding a match can be hard, especially if your potential suitors can’t figure out exactly where you’re located. The one thing Google and businesses have in common is that they both know the importance of location, location, location. In order to court Google properly and make it into the coveted top 3 list, otherwise knows as the Local 3-Pack, make sure that your Google My Business page has accurate information, includes photos of your business, and has recent customer reviews. While there are no guarantees, doing these things will certainly help attract Google’s roving eye.
And once you’ve become a part of Google’s local 3 pack, customers will be able to easily find you, greatly increasing your chance for a successful match.
3) Woo With the Right Words
In order to impress the classy tastes of Google, you have to be willing to spend money on them. Investing in the benefits of Google AdWords is a true item of commitment, so what words should you use to get this relationship off the ground?. Thinking in the mindset of the customer avatar you’re trying to attract is essential for making this affectionate gesture worthwhile. Keep in mind that adwords should be created in the form of a question since that is generally how users seek search engine help. One of the ways Google has adapted throughout the years is by putting their users needs and process of thought into consideration. This is especially important for your business needs. This type of virtual relationship with Google allows your business to be found by any prospect, even if they weren’t directly looking for your particular business. All of this to say, don’t cheapen your relationship with Google by missing this essential step. The minute your company owns those adwords, the number of clicks to your business’s website will send positive results your way.
Build Trust
Trust is not a word to be taken for granted. Google has had some trust issues with relationships in the past, so they developed an algorithm to make sure they can have confidence in your business. Creating your profile, serving customers in your network, and paying for the advertising is one thing, but the bigger step to establishing trust is to regularly update your content. Use pictures and videos to show your team, location, personality, clientele, and more, and Google images will work in your favor. This is especially crucial if you’re a small business. By consistently building up your relevant and unique content, your company’s reputation for successful activity will sell itself, leading to a higher ranking in the search results.
Analyze Your Relationship
Once you and Google have been going steady for a while, it’s time to take a closer look at your relationship to see if there is any room for improvement. Google Analytics can help you do just that. It’s a very effective tool in Google’s arsenal that tracks data about the way visitors both find and use your website. It is a treasure trove of analytical information that can help you make the most of things like keyword optimization and fine-tuning your website. Using Google Analytics helps them and helps you – so it’s a mutually beneficial part of your relationship that’s definitely worth diving into.
No matter what your business’s current relationship status might be with Google, as these five tips show, there is always room for improvement. Looking for some help wooing your way to the top of Google’s list? Call SeoTuners today for an affordable solution for your business to increase exposure with custom SEO strategies. We are confident that we can help cultivate your relationship with Google, as well as customize services to assist with all of your business marketing needs.
Building a successful website is not always as easy as it looks. Creating a good-looking home page and organizing all of your information on your site is a solid starting point, but sometimes that Google ranking just won’t move in your favor. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as “if you build it, they will come”. In reality, it can be quite complicated to improve your rank on Google, and there may be things you are inadvertently doing that are having a negative effect on where you currently stand. Continue reading →
