There are many ways to increase the webpage’s SEO ranking. One of the elements that tell search engines the credibility of a page is backlinks. When you understand why backlinks are important, you can use them as part of your SEO strategy.
What Is a Backlink?
A backlink is a hyperlink that points back to another website. It’s a link on another website that points to your site. Sometimes, a backlink is called an inbound link. If you link to another site on your website, you are using an outbound link. Outbound links are not as valuable as inbound links.
Why Do Backlinks Matter?
Search engines use backlinks as a way to vouch for your site. It’s a way of establishing authority. If your local Chamber of Commerce links to your site as a good restaurant, the search engine reads that as credible support for your business. Search engines look at the subject matter and relevance of the referring site to determine the validity of the link. Essentially, not all backlinks have the same value. In our example, a backlink from your friend’s auto shop for your restaurant wouldn’t have the same authority as a backlink from your state’s restaurant association.
Backlink Diversity Matters
You want as many quality backlinks as possible, but ideally, you want them from credible sites. You also want them from as many different sites as possible. The best backlinks are in actual content, high on the page, instead of buried in a footer or as a sidenote. You also want to be one of only two or three links on the page instead of in a list of hundreds.
Building Backlinks
Establishing your webpage as link-worthy isn’t an easy task. You need to create content that others do want to link to. Buying backlinks could backfire on you because the search engines could drop your SEO ranking. Unique content with a unique spin can earn you backlinks.