Any new website that’s factoring in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) will undoubtedly be keen to create a strong profile of backlinks. For the uninitiated, backlinks are what we call links that enter your site from another website. It can be anything, from a reputable blog to a national newspaper.
They’re particularly valuable because when Google sees other websites linking to your site, it recognises it as an authority on the topic. This can lead to it ranking you higher in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Many small businesses lack the budget to employ a freelancer or an agency to assist with creating articles or reaching out to journalists. Luckily, there are ways to make the process more succinct and streamlined so that creating backlinks can remain an in-house job.
The first problem you might encounter
Gaining a backlink is as easy as writing a piece of compelling content and then reaching out to an online publication to see if they would like to feature your link on their site. Sometimes this approach works, in which case job done, but for most people it’s a little trickier. Unfortunately, these requests are hardly few and far between, and often they get lost in inboxes or even junk folders. If you’re lucky enough to get a response, there’s also no guarantee it’ll be a positive one.
At this point you may despair. After all, there’s no point creating tonnes of juicy long-form content if it garners little-to-no traffic and other sites aren’t linking to it. Luckily, there are ways to make sure your email is noticed and that the response you receive is a good one.
Create content people want to read
The key to creating your own backlink profile from scratch is to make sure the content on your site is worth linking to. To do this, always opt to create detailed long-form content over shorter pieces. That isn’t a hard and fast rule though. When deciding between a 5,500-word article full of useless, repetitive content, and an 800-word article with lots of detail and well-made points, the shorter article will always win. So, opt for quality over quantity first and foremost. Amine Dahimene SEO Expert says, “A middle-ground of about 2,000 words is probably where you should aim for your article to sit. Include as much detail and factual information as possible."
The content should also be well written and readable. That isn’t to say a rogue comma here or there will completely damage your chances of getting a backlink, but a clear format and scarcity of typos will certainly work in your favour. Remember, publications put their reputation on the line when linking to other sites, so what visitors find at the other end of the link needs to be quality content. Use subheadings to format the content and always include images to illustrate your point.
Choose your publication wisely
Most sites only accept a backlink request if the content on offer is relevant to their site. So, the most effective way to encourage a publication to create a backlink to your content is to offer them something that supports one of their existing articles and pinpoint that as the place for your link.
When approaching a publication, do your research properly and find a piece of existing content that your own article would enhance. For example, your article could support one side of an argument or it could be an updated article that easily replaces an existing, outdated link in the article. If your article can support what is already being said on the site then publications are much more likely to accept it.
Pitch email
It’s all well and good writing a top-drawer blog post, but it isn’t worth much until it’s linked to. So, when writing to online publications to request a backlink, you need to make the request so appealing it’s impossible to turn down.
Something to keep in mind whilst writing your pitch is to keep is short, concise and to the point. The recipient likely gets lots of emails every day and needs to be able to read yours quickly. So, superfluous words and large paragraphs of text won’t be easy to read. Keep it catchy.
When it comes to writing your email, the first challenge is to make sure it gets opened. To do this, you need a catchy subject line. Opt for a format that will grab their attention, like a question or a statement that ends with an exclamation point. If emojis are your thing then that’s another way to get noticed.
Don’t use too many though, otherwise it may get marked as spam. Now onto the main pitch. To sell your content as an invaluable resource you need to be explicitly clear about the benefits it offers the publication. Take your time to formulate some strong reasons why including your link will benefit their site. This can be anything from it adding substance to an argument or promising to share it on your own site or social media channels.
Once you’ve explained the major benefits of including your link, ask them upfront if they’d be willing to accept it.
Including a direct question encourages a response, whether it’s positive or not.
To conclude
There’s no sure-fire way to guarantee a website will accept your backlink request. However, making sure your article is well-written and easy to read means it should stand a chance.
Accompanied by an attention-grabbing email pitch that showcases the reasons you should be featured, then you’re really increasing your chances of winning more backlinks. Good luck!
Blog submitted by Amine Dahimene Empower Inc https://aminedahimene.com/