July 5, 2025 • 23 mins
Dive deep into backlinks—the often misunderstood backbone of SEO success. In this captivating episode, we explore the evolution of link building and the drastic shifts in how quality, rather than quantity, dominates search rankings today. Discover the core elements that make a backlink invaluable, focusing on relevance and trust flow, and learn how acquiring high-quality links can propel your website to the top.
Get insights into ethical link-building practices, the significance of internal linking, and how to effectively monitor and disavow bad links that may damage your SEO efforts. We also shed light on emerging trends, such as the influence of niche-specific websites and the growing importance of visual content in attracting backlinks.
Enjoy this extensive discussion as we equip you with actionable strategies to create a formidable backlink profile. Whether you are a business owner or an aspiring marketer, knowing how to build and maintain your backlink strategy is crucial. Empower your digital presence and enhance your SEO knowledge today! Don't forget to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, let's dive deep into backlinks today, but
not the surface level stuff.
We're going way deeper thanyour average SEO blog post.
We're talking the how-to, thenitty-gritty and even why
quality matters more than evernow.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
It really is like backlinks 2.0.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Yeah, exactly, google's getting serious and bad
backlinks.
Well, they can actually hurtyou.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, it's a totally different ballgame now.
Remember back in the day whenit was all about quantity?
You know, just stuffingkeywords in and getting links
from anywhere you could.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, search engines they've gotten much smarter and
those tactics can actually getyou penalized.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yikes.
So let's start at the beginningfor our listener.
What exactly is a backlink inthe SEO world today?
I mean, we know it's a linkfrom one site to another, but
what makes it such a big dealthese days?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, think of it this way Imagine a backlink from
a website that's superrespected and authoritative.
Well, that's like having a VIPvouch for you Search engines.
They see that and think, hey,this site must be legit, right?
I mean, if someone like that isrecommending it, and well, that
translates to better rankings,more traffic, ultimately, more
business for you.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Makes sense.
So it's not just about havingtunnel links, it's about having
the right ones, and our researchreally emphasized how important
relevance is.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Oh, it's huge.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Can you break that down a bit more for us?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Sure.
So relevance, it mainly comesin two flavors Topical you know
the topic and then geographical.
Topically, you want backlinksfrom sites in the same industry
as you, the same niche.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So like if you're selling handmade jewelry,
getting a link from a fashionblog is awesome, but a link from
a site reviewing tech gadgetsprobably not going to do much
for you.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Our source actually had thisgreat example.
It was a roosting company andthey got a backlink from a
travel blog.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Totally irrelevant, right.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Google's probably raising eyebrows at that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Context definitely matters.
Now what about geographicalrelevance?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So geographical relevance that's super important
, especially if you're a localbusiness.
Let's say you're a bakery inChicago.
Well, a backlink from a foodblogger also in Chicago or a
local event site there, that'sgoing to be way more valuable to
you than you know some bakeryin London linking to you.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Want to build up your cred in your area.
Attract local customers.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Absolutely so.
Listener, if you've got a localbusiness, pay close attention
to this part.
Now things get a bit morecomplicated here.
Our research mentioned thisthing called trust flow.
What is that exactly?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Trust flow.
It's kind of like the secretweapon in the SEO world.
It's basically a measure of howmuch search engines trust your
website, and that trust is basedon the quality of the sites
that are linking to you.
Think of it as a website'sreputation, you know, like a
credit score, but for websites,Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So if I've got a bunch of links from, like,
spammy sites or sites that aretotally unrelated to what I do,
my trust flow is going to take ahit.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Exactly.
It's like hanging out with thewrong crowd right.
It kind of reflects poorly onyou, even if you aren't doing
anything wrong yourself.
The wrong crowd right, it kindof reflects poorly on you, even
if you aren't doing anythingwrong yourself.
But on the flip side, if youhave links coming in from sites
that are already super trusted,like, you know, gov or edu
websites, your trust flow isgoing to get a huge boost.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Ah, so that's why those gov and edu links are so
sought after.
But wait, if, like, a randomgov website links to my bakery
website, is that actually goingto help me?
It still seems like relevancehas to matter, even with a site
that has great trust flow.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You're totally right.
A link from, say, a governmentwebsite about environmental
regulations probably wouldn'tmake much sense for your bakery.
Yeah, the ideal scenario is tohave a site linking to you that
has high trust flow, but that'salso relevant to your specific
niche.
Now that's the relevant to yourspecific niche.
Now that's the SEO jackpotright there.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Okay, so it's all about relevance and trust flow
the dynamic duo.
Now, what about all those wellshady tactics we've heard about
when it comes to gettingbacklinks?
You know link farms, commentspam, buying backlinks.
Does any of that even workanymore?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Those are like relics of the past.
I mean, yeah, they used to work, but Google, they caught on.
They rolled out updates, likethe Penguin update, to
specifically fight those spammytactics.
Now those tactics can actuallyget you penalized.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So not worth the risk .
What does a Google-approvedgood backlink look like today,
then?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
A good backlink.
It should feel like a realrecommendation from a friend.
It comes from a website that'strustworthy, relevant to you and
has solid trust flow.
And the anchor text that's theclickable words in the link
those should make sense on thepage, not just be stuffed with
keywords.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Okay, so keep it natural no more of those keyword
stuff to click your links.
But how do you actually getthose high quality backlinks?
Where do you even start?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
One of the most effective strategies is guest
posting.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Think of it like sharing your expertise with a
bigger audience.
You write an amazing blog postfor a website that's relevant to
you and in exchange, you get abacklink to your site.
Everybody wins.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I love that Providing value and getting value in
return.
What else?
Speaker 2 (05:03):
For local businesses getting listed in those
reputable online directories andbusiness listings, that's a
must.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Think Yelp, Google my Business, your local chamber of
commerce, things like that.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Right Building that presence, that local cred.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Now I bet creating awesome content that people just
naturally want to link to isimportant too, right?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Oh, absolutely.
If you're putting out contentthat's truly valuable, that
people want to share, well,you're going to attract
backlinks naturally.
It's like a magnet for goodlinks.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So quality content attracts, quality links, makes
sense.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
But even if we're doing everything right, our
research also mentionedmonitoring your backlinks and
disavowing any bad ones.
Can you talk more about that?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, so even if you're super careful, you might
end up with some bad linkspointing to your site,
especially if you've been onlinefor a while.
It's kind of like having a fewrotten apples in the bunch.
You got to regularly check yourbacklink profile, you know, and
get rid of any of those toxicor spammy links that might be
hurting your SEO.
Ah, so it's like springcleaning, but for your website.
How do you actually go aboutdisavowing these bad links,
(06:11):
though?
Is it complicated?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Not at all.
Google Search Console has thisgreat tool for that.
You basically tell Google hey,just ignore these links over
here.
They don't represent my sitewell.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
It's like hitting the delete button on those bad
apples.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I like that.
So we've got some power toprotect ourselves from those
shady links.
So we've talked about buildinga solid backlink profile.
But how does all this affectwhere our website actually shows
up in the search results?
What's the magic formula atplay here?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
That's a great question and we're going to
explore that in much more detailafter a quick break.
Stay with us.
Welcome back.
Before the break, we weregetting into the good stuff
about backlinks and how to builda strong profile, but how do
those links actually affectwhere a website ends up in the
(07:02):
search results?
What's the secret sauce there?
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Well, it all boils down to authority and relevance.
Those are the two main thingssearch engines like Google use
to rank websites.
When you get a link from awebsite that has a lot of
authority, it's basically likethey're vouching for you, you
know, telling Google hey, thissite's trustworthy, it's a
valuable source.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So the more quality backlinks I get, the higher my
website's authority becomes forGoogle, and that means better
chances of ranking higher forthe keywords I'm targeting.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Exactly.
But remember it's not justabout how many links you have.
A single link from a superauthoritative site like a big
university or a respectedpublication that can be worth
more than tons of links from lowquality sites.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
That makes total sense.
It's like getting arecommendation from a Nobel
Prize winner versus just somerandom person on the street.
But how can our listeneractually figure out how
authoritative a website is?
Is there like a number theyshould look for?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
MELANIE WARRICK.
There are a few metrics.
You can use Domain authority orDA.
That's a popular one.
It was developed by Moz.
It's basically.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Okay, so if I'm trying to get backlinks, I
should aim for websites with ahigh DA right.
Is there like a magic number?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Well, da is a good starting point, but don't get
too hung up on it.
A site with a slightly lower DAbut super relevant to your
niche can still be reallyvaluable.
It's always a balancing act.
You know authority andrelevance working together.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Gotcha.
It's about finding that sweetspot.
Now let's talk anchor text, theclickable words in a link.
Why is anchor text so importantfor SEO?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Anchor text adds context to a link.
It tells search engines whatthe page you're linking to is
all about.
You know, back in the daypeople used to stuff keywords
into anchor text like crazyThought it was a quick way to
rank higher.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Oh yeah, I remember those.
Just a bunch of click here.
Links are crammed with keywords.
It was so obvious they weretrying to game the system.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, and Google.
They caught on pretty quickly.
They started penalizing sitesthat use manipulative anchor
text.
These days, it's all aboutkeeping it natural and relevant.
The anchor text shouldaccurately describe what the
linked page is about.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
So let's say I'm writing a blog post about I
don't know the benefits ofmeditation and I want to link to
a website that sells meditationcushions.
What?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
would be a good example of anchor text there.
Well, instead of usingsomething generic like you know,
click here or something keywordstuff like best meditation
cushions online, you could saysomething like comfortable
meditation cushions or find theperfect meditation cushion for
your practice.
You know, something that soundsmore natural and descriptive.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
That definitely sounds more helpful and a lot
less spammy.
It's like you're giving thereader a genuine suggestion, not
just trying to trick them intoclicking.
Now we've talked a lot aboutexternal backlinks links coming
to your site from others butwhat about internal linking?
How does that factor into SEO?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Internal linking is super important, just as crucial
as external backlinks.
It's about creating a networkof connected pages on your own
website.
Think of it like building aroadmap for your users, but also
for search engines, showingthem how all your pages fit
together.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
So instead of having all these separate pages on my
site, I should link themtogether logically.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, make it make sense for visitors and search
engines.
When you use internal linkswith relevant anchor text,
you're not only helping peoplenavigate your site easily,
you're also telling Google whichpages are the most important
and how they all relate to eachother, like creating a hierarchy
of information and spreadingauthority between different
pages.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
So it's kind of like creating these internal votes of
confidence within my ownwebsite to boost the overall SEO
.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Exactly, internal linking is so powerful but a lot
of people overlook it.
But by strategically linkingyour pages, you can improve the
experience for people visitingyour site, boost your rankings
and make it easier for Google toyou know, crawl your entire
site and index it, which canlead to way more visibility and
traffic.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
This is really starting to click for me.
Internal linking, externalbacklinks, anchor text is all
connected, but what about thosewebsites that still try to buy
backlinks?
Is that even a thing people doanymore?
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Unfortunately.
Yeah, there are always peopletrying to take shortcuts, and
buying backlinks is one of them,but trust me, it's a risky move
that can really backfire, liketrying to cheat your way to the
top it might work for a littlebit, but eventually you're going
to get caught.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
I bet Google is really good at spotting those
unnatural links.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Oh yeah, they've got these sophisticated algorithms
that can pick up on patterns ofartificial link building, and
when they catch you they don'tmess around.
You can get penalized, yourrankings can tank, you could
even get de-indexed completely,and recovering from that well,
it's a long and painful process.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
So definitely not worth the risk.
Better to focus on buildinghigh quality natural links
through, you know, ethicalstrategies that are actually
sustainable.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
A hundred percent.
Think of it like building ahouse.
You don't want to build it on afoundation of sand, right?
You need something strong,something solid and high quality
backlinks.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Well, they're that solid foundation for long-term
SEO success.
I like that analogy.
We've covered a lot of groundhere, from the basics of
backlinks to the nitty gritty ofrelevance, authority and anchor
text.
We've also busted some mythsabout those shady SEO practices.
But I'm curious what are someof the common mistakes you see
people making when they try tobuild backlinks?
What should they be avoiding?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
One of the biggest mistakes.
I see people getting so caughtup in quantity over quality.
They're obsessed with gettingas many backlinks as possible,
but they don't even think aboutwhere those links are coming
from or if they're even relevant.
Remember, it's not about howmany backlinks you have, it's
about how good they are, howmuch authority they have.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
So chasing after those easy backlinks from
low-quality sites can actuallyhurt you more than help you.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Yeah, it's like trying to impress someone with a
fake designer bag.
Might look good from afar, butup close not so much.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Right, the truth comes out.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Exactly Another mistake.
People forget about internallinking.
They don't realize howimportant it is for user
experience and SEO.
By linking your pages togetherthe right way, you create this
cohesive, valuable websitethat's easy for both visitors
and search engines to navigate.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Right.
It's like a well-organizedlibrary where you can easily
find what you're looking for,instead of a jumbled mess.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Perfect analogy.
And, of course, anchor text.
We can't forget about that.
Using those generic orkeyword-stuffed anchor texts is
a surefire way to get onGoogle's bad side.
It's like trying to fool yourfriends with a bad disguise.
They'll see through iteventually.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
So keep the anchor text natural, relevant and
descriptive.
And, whatever you do, don't buybacklinks.
It's just not worth the risk.
It can really hurt yourwebsite's reputation in the long
run.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
MELANIE WARRICK Agreed.
Now let's switch gears and talkabout how to build a killer
backlink profile.
How can our listener takethings to the next level?
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Yeah, that's a great question.
We've talked about what not todo, but what are some things
that actually work?
Give us the good stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
One of my top tips is to build relationships with
other website owners andinfluencers in your niche.
Networking is key in anyindustry and SEO is no different
.
By connecting with others, youopen up so many doors,
opportunities for guest posting,collaboration.
You know just overall betterbacklink building strategies.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
So it's not about sending those spammy emails
begging for links.
It's about making realconnections and giving value to
others.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Right.
Build a community, you know,where everyone supports each
other.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
What else?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Another tip Create content that's so good people
can't help but share it.
If your content is informative,engaging, solves a problem,
people will naturally want tolink to it.
It's like I don't know cookinga meal that's so delicious
everyone wants the recipe.
They can't resist sharing it.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
So create content that people just have to share
and link to.
How can our listener make surethey're creating that kind of
content, though?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Think about your target audience, really think
about them.
What problems are they facing?
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Think about your target audience, really think
about them.
What problems are?
Speaker 2 (15:05):
they facing.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
What questions do they have?
What information would maketheir lives easier or better?
If you understand youraudience's needs, you can create
content that really resonateswith them.
That's a great point.
Put yourself in their shoes.
But what about those times whenyou?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
want to reach out and ask for backlinks directly.
Is that ever a good idea?
Want to reach out and ask forbacklinks directly?
Is that ever a good idea?
It can be, but you got to besmart about it.
Don't just blast out genericemails asking for links.
Personalize your message, youknow.
Explain why your content wouldbe a good fit for their audience
.
Offer something in return.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
So it's all about reciprocity Give and take.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Exactly.
Maybe you share their contenton social media, offer to write
a guest post for them orcollaborate on a project.
It's about building thatmutually beneficial relationship
.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
I love that.
Building a strong backlinkprofile takes work, effort and a
good strategy, but if you focuson quality, relevance and
authenticity, you can earnbacklinks that will boost your
rankings and make your website atrusted authority in your space
.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, it's a marathon , not a sprint.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
This has been so insightful.
We've learned so much.
But before we wrap up, let'srevisit something you mentioned
earlier monitoring anddisavowing those toxic links.
Remind our listener what thatmeans and why it's important.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Right, not all backlinks are created equal and
unfortunately, there are somebad apples out there who try to
sabotage websites with spammy,low quality links.
And those links, well, they canreally damage your rankings and
your reputation.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
So we need to keep an eye on our backlink profile and
get rid of any links that looksuspicious or harmful.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, think of it like weeding a garden.
You want to pull out thoseweeds so your plants can thrive.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Okay, I like that analogy.
How can someone actually findand get rid of those toxic links
?
Are there any tools out there?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Google Search Console has a tool specifically for
disavowing backlinks.
You can upload a file listingthe links you want to get rid of
and Google will basicallyignore them when they evaluate
your site.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So we have some control over those shady links,
but how do you actually knowwhich ones are toxic?
What should we be looking for?
Speaker 2 (16:54):
There are a few red flags.
Look for links from websitesthat have nothing to do with
your niche sites with low domainauthority or a high spam score
and be careful with links thathave keyword-stuffed anchor text
or come from sites that havealready been penalized by Google
.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
So be vigilant, use common sense.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Exactly.
If a link looks fishy or toogood to be true, it probably is.
It's always better to be safeand disavow any links you're
unsure about.
It's a simple step that cansave you a lot of trouble down
the road.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Okay, this has been incredibly helpful.
We've covered everything frombacklink basics to advanced
strategies, even how to protectourselves from those toxic links
.
But before we move on, what aresome emerging trends in the
backlink landscape that ourlisteners should be aware of?
What's on the horizon?
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That's a great question.
Seo is always changing,backlinks included.
One trend we're seeing isbacklinks from those niche
websites and online communities.
Those are becoming more andmore important.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Interesting so, like forums, online groups, those
industry-specific platforms,even subreddits.
Why are those becoming sovaluable?
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Well, those are the places where your target
audience is already hanging out,having discussions, looking for
information.
Getting backlinks from thosesources tells Google you're
relevant to that specific nicheand it also brings in highly
targeted traffic to your site.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
It's like reaching an audience that's already
interested in what you have tooffer.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Exactly.
And another trend the rise ofvisual content.
That's having a big impact onbacklinks.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
We all know video is huge, but what does that have to
do with backlinks?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Well, think about it.
People are more likely to shareand link to visual content like
videos, infographics,interactive stuff.
Creating high quality visualscan be a great way to get
backlinks and boost yourvisibility.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
So it's not just about the written word anymore.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Nope Visuals are key.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
What else is changing the backlink?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
game.
Social media it's becomingsuper important for backlink
strategies.
It goes beyond just dropping alink in your bio.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Okay, so we're not just talking about a link in our
Instagram bio, then what elseis there?
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Social media platforms are like search
engines now, too.
When you share your contentthere and people engage with it,
liking it, commenting.
Sharing it creates these socialsignals that Google pays
attention to.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
So even if those links on social media aren't
direct backlinks, they're stillaffecting our SEO.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yeah, they add to your overall online visibility
and authority, which can thenaffect your rankings indirectly.
Plus, social media is a greatway to build those relationships
with other website owners andinfluencers that can lead to
more high-quality backlinks.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
It's all connected, so what should our listener be
doing to stay on top of all this?
What's the key takeaway?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Be adaptable, be a learner, don't be afraid to
experiment with new strategiesand platforms.
Focus on building a diversebacklink profile from different
sources niche websites, onlinecommunities, social media and,
of course, those high authoritysites in your industry.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
So be proactive, stay informed and keep evolving
those backlink strategies.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Exactly.
And at the end of the day,remember, the best backlinks are
the ones you earn naturally byputting out great content,
building real relationships andgiving people a great experience
on your website.
That's what sets you up forsuccess in the long run.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
That's a great point.
We've covered so much in thisdeep dive into the world of
backlinks.
Take what you've learned, useit to improve your own website.
Start building those qualitybacklinks and watch your SEO
take off.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
And don't forget, if you ever get stuck, there are
tons of resources online to helpyou.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
That's right.
Don't be afraid to ask for help, connect with other SEO experts
and never stop learning,Because in the SEO world,
knowledge is power.
Thanks for joining us for theDeep Dive.
So we've spent a lot of time inthis Deep Dive getting into the
nuts and bolts of backlinks,haven't we?
From the basics to some moreadvanced stuff.
But now I want to look ahead.
What's the future of backlinks?
(20:38):
What should our listener beprepared for?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Well, SEO is always changing right, and backlinks
are no exception.
One trend that's really pickingup steam is the importance of
links from those niche-specificwebsites and online communities.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Okay.
So, like forums and onlinegroups, industry platforms, even
those subreddits dedicated tocertain topics.
What makes them so valuablethese days?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Well, those are the places where your audience is
already hanging out, you know,talking to each other, looking
for information, getting a linkfrom one of those sources.
It's a signal to Google thatyou're relevant in that niche.
Plus, it sends you trafficthat's super targeted.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
So it's like a direct line to people who are already
interested in what you have tooffer.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Exactly, and another trend that's worth paying
attention to is how visualcontent is influencing backlinks
.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, video is king these days, right.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
But how does that tie into backlinks?
Are we just talking aboutdropping links in YouTube
descriptions?
Speaker 2 (21:33):
It's more than that.
People are way more likely toshare and link to visual content
like videos, infographics,those interactive tools.
I mean, think about it.
Are you more likely to share along text, heavy article or an
infographic that sums things upvisually?
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Yeah, I go for the infographic for sure.
It's easier to take in and it'sdefinitely more shareable.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Right, and when you create that kind of visual
content stuff that peopleactually want to share you're
naturally attracting backlinksand boosting your visibility.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
So we've got to think beyond the written word, got to
go visual.
What else is shaking things upin the backlink world?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Well, social media is playing a bigger and bigger
role in backlink strategies too.
It goes beyond just adding alink to your bio.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
OK, so it's more than just slapping a link in our
Instagram bio.
Then Fill us in.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Social media platforms are practically search
engines themselves these days,and when you share your content
on those platforms and peopleengage with it, you know they
like it, they comment, theyshare it.
That sends signals to Googlethey're paying attention.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
So those social media links, even though they aren't
direct backlinks, they're stillinfluencing our SEO in a way.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Yeah, they're boosting your overall visibility
and authority online, which candefinitely impact your rankings
down the line.
And don't forget, social mediais a great way to build those
relationships with other websiteowners and influencers, and
that can lead to more of thosehigh quality backlinks we've
been talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
It really is all connected.
So what's the biggest takeawayfor our listener here?
What should they do to stayahead of the game when it comes
to backlinks?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Be adaptable and stay curious.
Don't be scared to try newthings, new strategies, new
platforms.
Focus on building a diversebacklink profile from lots of
different sources niche websites, online communities, social
media and those high-authoritysites in your industry.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
So be proactive, stay informed and keep evolving
those backlink strategies.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Exactly.
And remember the best backlinksare the ones you earn naturally
, you know, by creating awesomecontent, building real
relationships and giving peoplea great experience when they
visit your website.
That's the foundation forlasting success with SEO.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
I think that's a perfect way to wrap things up.
We've really dug deep into theworld of backlinks and hopefully
you walked away with some greatinsights and actionable
strategies to take your websiteto the next level.
Remember, keep learning, keepexperimenting and keep those
backlinks flowing.
Thanks for joining us on theDeep Dive.
All right, let's dive deep into backlinks today, but
not the surface level stuff.
We're going way deeper thanyour average SEO blog post.
We're talking the how-to, thenitty-gritty and even why
quality matters more than evernow.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
It really is like backlinks 2.0.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Yeah, exactly, google's getting serious and bad
backlinks.
Well, they can actually hurtyou.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, it's a totally different ballgame now.
Remember back in the day whenit was all about quantity?
You know, just stuffingkeywords in and getting links
from anywhere you could.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, search engines they've gotten much smarter and
those tactics can actually getyou penalized.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yikes.
So let's start at the beginningfor our listener.
What exactly is a backlink inthe SEO world today?
I mean, we know it's a linkfrom one site to another, but
what makes it such a big dealthese days?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, think of it this way Imagine a backlink from
a website that's superrespected and authoritative.
Well, that's like having a VIPvouch for you Search engines.
They see that and think, hey,this site must be legit, right?
I mean, if someone like that isrecommending it, and well, that
translates to better rankings,more traffic, ultimately, more
business for you.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Makes sense.
So it's not just about havingtunnel links, it's about having
the right ones, and our researchreally emphasized how important
relevance is.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Oh, it's huge.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Can you break that down a bit more for us?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Sure.
So relevance, it mainly comesin two flavors Topical you know
the topic and then geographical.
Topically, you want backlinksfrom sites in the same industry
as you, the same niche.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So like if you're selling handmade jewelry,
getting a link from a fashionblog is awesome, but a link from
a site reviewing tech gadgetsprobably not going to do much
for you.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Our source actually had thisgreat example.
It was a roosting company andthey got a backlink from a
travel blog.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Totally irrelevant, right.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Google's probably raising eyebrows at that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Context definitely matters.
Now what about geographicalrelevance?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So geographical relevance that's super important
, especially if you're a localbusiness.
Let's say you're a bakery inChicago.
Well, a backlink from a foodblogger also in Chicago or a
local event site there, that'sgoing to be way more valuable to
you than you know some bakeryin London linking to you.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Want to build up your cred in your area.
Attract local customers.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Absolutely so.
Listener, if you've got a localbusiness, pay close attention
to this part.
Now things get a bit morecomplicated here.
Our research mentioned thisthing called trust flow.
What is that exactly?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Trust flow.
It's kind of like the secretweapon in the SEO world.
It's basically a measure of howmuch search engines trust your
website, and that trust is basedon the quality of the sites
that are linking to you.
Think of it as a website'sreputation, you know, like a
credit score, but for websites,Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So if I've got a bunch of links from, like,
spammy sites or sites that aretotally unrelated to what I do,
my trust flow is going to take ahit.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Exactly.
It's like hanging out with thewrong crowd right.
It kind of reflects poorly onyou, even if you aren't doing
anything wrong yourself.
The wrong crowd right, it kindof reflects poorly on you, even
if you aren't doing anythingwrong yourself.
But on the flip side, if youhave links coming in from sites
that are already super trusted,like, you know, gov or edu
websites, your trust flow isgoing to get a huge boost.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Ah, so that's why those gov and edu links are so
sought after.
But wait, if, like, a randomgov website links to my bakery
website, is that actually goingto help me?
It still seems like relevancehas to matter, even with a site
that has great trust flow.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You're totally right.
A link from, say, a governmentwebsite about environmental
regulations probably wouldn'tmake much sense for your bakery.
Yeah, the ideal scenario is tohave a site linking to you that
has high trust flow, but that'salso relevant to your specific
niche.
Now that's the relevant to yourspecific niche.
Now that's the SEO jackpotright there.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Okay, so it's all about relevance and trust flow
the dynamic duo.
Now, what about all those wellshady tactics we've heard about
when it comes to gettingbacklinks?
You know link farms, commentspam, buying backlinks.
Does any of that even workanymore?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Those are like relics of the past.
I mean, yeah, they used to work, but Google, they caught on.
They rolled out updates, likethe Penguin update, to
specifically fight those spammytactics.
Now those tactics can actuallyget you penalized.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So not worth the risk .
What does a Google-approvedgood backlink look like today,
then?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
A good backlink.
It should feel like a realrecommendation from a friend.
It comes from a website that'strustworthy, relevant to you and
has solid trust flow.
And the anchor text that's theclickable words in the link
those should make sense on thepage, not just be stuffed with
keywords.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Okay, so keep it natural no more of those keyword
stuff to click your links.
But how do you actually getthose high quality backlinks?
Where do you even start?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
One of the most effective strategies is guest
posting.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Think of it like sharing your expertise with a
bigger audience.
You write an amazing blog postfor a website that's relevant to
you and in exchange, you get abacklink to your site.
Everybody wins.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I love that Providing value and getting value in
return.
What else?
Speaker 2 (05:03):
For local businesses getting listed in those
reputable online directories andbusiness listings, that's a
must.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Think Yelp, Google my Business, your local chamber of
commerce, things like that.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Right Building that presence, that local cred.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Now I bet creating awesome content that people just
naturally want to link to isimportant too, right?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Oh, absolutely.
If you're putting out contentthat's truly valuable, that
people want to share, well,you're going to attract
backlinks naturally.
It's like a magnet for goodlinks.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So quality content attracts, quality links, makes
sense.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
But even if we're doing everything right, our
research also mentionedmonitoring your backlinks and
disavowing any bad ones.
Can you talk more about that?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, so even if you're super careful, you might
end up with some bad linkspointing to your site,
especially if you've been onlinefor a while.
It's kind of like having a fewrotten apples in the bunch.
You got to regularly check yourbacklink profile, you know, and
get rid of any of those toxicor spammy links that might be
hurting your SEO.
Ah, so it's like springcleaning, but for your website.
How do you actually go aboutdisavowing these bad links,
(06:11):
though?
Is it complicated?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Not at all.
Google Search Console has thisgreat tool for that.
You basically tell Google hey,just ignore these links over
here.
They don't represent my sitewell.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
It's like hitting the delete button on those bad
apples.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I like that.
So we've got some power toprotect ourselves from those
shady links.
So we've talked about buildinga solid backlink profile.
But how does all this affectwhere our website actually shows
up in the search results?
What's the magic formula atplay here?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
That's a great question and we're going to
explore that in much more detailafter a quick break.
Stay with us.
Welcome back.
Before the break, we weregetting into the good stuff
about backlinks and how to builda strong profile, but how do
those links actually affectwhere a website ends up in the
(07:02):
search results?
What's the secret sauce there?
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Well, it all boils down to authority and relevance.
Those are the two main thingssearch engines like Google use
to rank websites.
When you get a link from awebsite that has a lot of
authority, it's basically likethey're vouching for you, you
know, telling Google hey, thissite's trustworthy, it's a
valuable source.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So the more quality backlinks I get, the higher my
website's authority becomes forGoogle, and that means better
chances of ranking higher forthe keywords I'm targeting.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Exactly.
But remember it's not justabout how many links you have.
A single link from a superauthoritative site like a big
university or a respectedpublication that can be worth
more than tons of links from lowquality sites.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
That makes total sense.
It's like getting arecommendation from a Nobel
Prize winner versus just somerandom person on the street.
But how can our listeneractually figure out how
authoritative a website is?
Is there like a number theyshould look for?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
MELANIE WARRICK.
There are a few metrics.
You can use Domain authority orDA.
That's a popular one.
It was developed by Moz.
It's basically.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Okay, so if I'm trying to get backlinks, I
should aim for websites with ahigh DA right.
Is there like a magic number?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Well, da is a good starting point, but don't get
too hung up on it.
A site with a slightly lower DAbut super relevant to your
niche can still be reallyvaluable.
It's always a balancing act.
You know authority andrelevance working together.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Gotcha.
It's about finding that sweetspot.
Now let's talk anchor text, theclickable words in a link.
Why is anchor text so importantfor SEO?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Anchor text adds context to a link.
It tells search engines whatthe page you're linking to is
all about.
You know, back in the daypeople used to stuff keywords
into anchor text like crazyThought it was a quick way to
rank higher.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Oh yeah, I remember those.
Just a bunch of click here.
Links are crammed with keywords.
It was so obvious they weretrying to game the system.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, and Google.
They caught on pretty quickly.
They started penalizing sitesthat use manipulative anchor
text.
These days, it's all aboutkeeping it natural and relevant.
The anchor text shouldaccurately describe what the
linked page is about.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
So let's say I'm writing a blog post about I
don't know the benefits ofmeditation and I want to link to
a website that sells meditationcushions.
What?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
would be a good example of anchor text there.
Well, instead of usingsomething generic like you know,
click here or something keywordstuff like best meditation
cushions online, you could saysomething like comfortable
meditation cushions or find theperfect meditation cushion for
your practice.
You know, something that soundsmore natural and descriptive.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
That definitely sounds more helpful and a lot
less spammy.
It's like you're giving thereader a genuine suggestion, not
just trying to trick them intoclicking.
Now we've talked a lot aboutexternal backlinks links coming
to your site from others butwhat about internal linking?
How does that factor into SEO?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Internal linking is super important, just as crucial
as external backlinks.
It's about creating a networkof connected pages on your own
website.
Think of it like building aroadmap for your users, but also
for search engines, showingthem how all your pages fit
together.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
So instead of having all these separate pages on my
site, I should link themtogether logically.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, make it make sense for visitors and search
engines.
When you use internal linkswith relevant anchor text,
you're not only helping peoplenavigate your site easily,
you're also telling Google whichpages are the most important
and how they all relate to eachother, like creating a hierarchy
of information and spreadingauthority between different
pages.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
So it's kind of like creating these internal votes of
confidence within my ownwebsite to boost the overall SEO
.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Exactly, internal linking is so powerful but a lot
of people overlook it.
But by strategically linkingyour pages, you can improve the
experience for people visitingyour site, boost your rankings
and make it easier for Google toyou know, crawl your entire
site and index it, which canlead to way more visibility and
traffic.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
This is really starting to click for me.
Internal linking, externalbacklinks, anchor text is all
connected, but what about thosewebsites that still try to buy
backlinks?
Is that even a thing people doanymore?
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Unfortunately.
Yeah, there are always peopletrying to take shortcuts, and
buying backlinks is one of them,but trust me, it's a risky move
that can really backfire, liketrying to cheat your way to the
top it might work for a littlebit, but eventually you're going
to get caught.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
I bet Google is really good at spotting those
unnatural links.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Oh yeah, they've got these sophisticated algorithms
that can pick up on patterns ofartificial link building, and
when they catch you they don'tmess around.
You can get penalized, yourrankings can tank, you could
even get de-indexed completely,and recovering from that well,
it's a long and painful process.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
So definitely not worth the risk.
Better to focus on buildinghigh quality natural links
through, you know, ethicalstrategies that are actually
sustainable.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
A hundred percent.
Think of it like building ahouse.
You don't want to build it on afoundation of sand, right?
You need something strong,something solid and high quality
backlinks.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Well, they're that solid foundation for long-term
SEO success.
I like that analogy.
We've covered a lot of groundhere, from the basics of
backlinks to the nitty gritty ofrelevance, authority and anchor
text.
We've also busted some mythsabout those shady SEO practices.
But I'm curious what are someof the common mistakes you see
people making when they try tobuild backlinks?
What should they be avoiding?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
One of the biggest mistakes.
I see people getting so caughtup in quantity over quality.
They're obsessed with gettingas many backlinks as possible,
but they don't even think aboutwhere those links are coming
from or if they're even relevant.
Remember, it's not about howmany backlinks you have, it's
about how good they are, howmuch authority they have.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
So chasing after those easy backlinks from
low-quality sites can actuallyhurt you more than help you.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Yeah, it's like trying to impress someone with a
fake designer bag.
Might look good from afar, butup close not so much.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Right, the truth comes out.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Exactly Another mistake.
People forget about internallinking.
They don't realize howimportant it is for user
experience and SEO.
By linking your pages togetherthe right way, you create this
cohesive, valuable websitethat's easy for both visitors
and search engines to navigate.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Right.
It's like a well-organizedlibrary where you can easily
find what you're looking for,instead of a jumbled mess.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Perfect analogy.
And, of course, anchor text.
We can't forget about that.
Using those generic orkeyword-stuffed anchor texts is
a surefire way to get onGoogle's bad side.
It's like trying to fool yourfriends with a bad disguise.
They'll see through iteventually.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
So keep the anchor text natural, relevant and
descriptive.
And, whatever you do, don't buybacklinks.
It's just not worth the risk.
It can really hurt yourwebsite's reputation in the long
run.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
MELANIE WARRICK Agreed.
Now let's switch gears and talkabout how to build a killer
backlink profile.
How can our listener takethings to the next level?
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Yeah, that's a great question.
We've talked about what not todo, but what are some things
that actually work?
Give us the good stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
One of my top tips is to build relationships with
other website owners andinfluencers in your niche.
Networking is key in anyindustry and SEO is no different
.
By connecting with others, youopen up so many doors,
opportunities for guest posting,collaboration.
You know just overall betterbacklink building strategies.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
So it's not about sending those spammy emails
begging for links.
It's about making realconnections and giving value to
others.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Right.
Build a community, you know,where everyone supports each
other.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
What else?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Another tip Create content that's so good people
can't help but share it.
If your content is informative,engaging, solves a problem,
people will naturally want tolink to it.
It's like I don't know cookinga meal that's so delicious
everyone wants the recipe.
They can't resist sharing it.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
So create content that people just have to share
and link to.
How can our listener make surethey're creating that kind of
content, though?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Think about your target audience, really think
about them.
What problems are they facing?
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Think about your target audience, really think
about them.
What problems are?
Speaker 2 (15:05):
they facing.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
What questions do they have?
What information would maketheir lives easier or better?
If you understand youraudience's needs, you can create
content that really resonateswith them.
That's a great point.
Put yourself in their shoes.
But what about those times whenyou?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
want to reach out and ask for backlinks directly.
Is that ever a good idea?
Want to reach out and ask forbacklinks directly?
Is that ever a good idea?
It can be, but you got to besmart about it.
Don't just blast out genericemails asking for links.
Personalize your message, youknow.
Explain why your content wouldbe a good fit for their audience
.
Offer something in return.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
So it's all about reciprocity Give and take.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Exactly.
Maybe you share their contenton social media, offer to write
a guest post for them orcollaborate on a project.
It's about building thatmutually beneficial relationship
.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
I love that.
Building a strong backlinkprofile takes work, effort and a
good strategy, but if you focuson quality, relevance and
authenticity, you can earnbacklinks that will boost your
rankings and make your website atrusted authority in your space
.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, it's a marathon , not a sprint.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
This has been so insightful.
We've learned so much.
But before we wrap up, let'srevisit something you mentioned
earlier monitoring anddisavowing those toxic links.
Remind our listener what thatmeans and why it's important.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Right, not all backlinks are created equal and
unfortunately, there are somebad apples out there who try to
sabotage websites with spammy,low quality links.
And those links, well, they canreally damage your rankings and
your reputation.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
So we need to keep an eye on our backlink profile and
get rid of any links that looksuspicious or harmful.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, think of it like weeding a garden.
You want to pull out thoseweeds so your plants can thrive.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Okay, I like that analogy.
How can someone actually findand get rid of those toxic links
?
Are there any tools out there?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Google Search Console has a tool specifically for
disavowing backlinks.
You can upload a file listingthe links you want to get rid of
and Google will basicallyignore them when they evaluate
your site.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So we have some control over those shady links,
but how do you actually knowwhich ones are toxic?
What should we be looking for?
Speaker 2 (16:54):
There are a few red flags.
Look for links from websitesthat have nothing to do with
your niche sites with low domainauthority or a high spam score
and be careful with links thathave keyword-stuffed anchor text
or come from sites that havealready been penalized by Google
.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
So be vigilant, use common sense.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Exactly.
If a link looks fishy or toogood to be true, it probably is.
It's always better to be safeand disavow any links you're
unsure about.
It's a simple step that cansave you a lot of trouble down
the road.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Okay, this has been incredibly helpful.
We've covered everything frombacklink basics to advanced
strategies, even how to protectourselves from those toxic links
.
But before we move on, what aresome emerging trends in the
backlink landscape that ourlisteners should be aware of?
What's on the horizon?
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That's a great question.
Seo is always changing,backlinks included.
One trend we're seeing isbacklinks from those niche
websites and online communities.
Those are becoming more andmore important.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Interesting so, like forums, online groups, those
industry-specific platforms,even subreddits.
Why are those becoming sovaluable?
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Well, those are the places where your target
audience is already hanging out,having discussions, looking for
information.
Getting backlinks from thosesources tells Google you're
relevant to that specific nicheand it also brings in highly
targeted traffic to your site.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
It's like reaching an audience that's already
interested in what you have tooffer.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Exactly.
And another trend the rise ofvisual content.
That's having a big impact onbacklinks.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
We all know video is huge, but what does that have to
do with backlinks?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Well, think about it.
People are more likely to shareand link to visual content like
videos, infographics,interactive stuff.
Creating high quality visualscan be a great way to get
backlinks and boost yourvisibility.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
So it's not just about the written word anymore.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Nope Visuals are key.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
What else is changing the backlink?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
game.
Social media it's becomingsuper important for backlink
strategies.
It goes beyond just dropping alink in your bio.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Okay, so we're not just talking about a link in our
Instagram bio, then what elseis there?
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Social media platforms are like search
engines now, too.
When you share your contentthere and people engage with it,
liking it, commenting.
Sharing it creates these socialsignals that Google pays
attention to.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
So even if those links on social media aren't
direct backlinks, they're stillaffecting our SEO.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yeah, they add to your overall online visibility
and authority, which can thenaffect your rankings indirectly.
Plus, social media is a greatway to build those relationships
with other website owners andinfluencers that can lead to
more high-quality backlinks.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
It's all connected, so what should our listener be
doing to stay on top of all this?
What's the key takeaway?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Be adaptable, be a learner, don't be afraid to
experiment with new strategiesand platforms.
Focus on building a diversebacklink profile from different
sources niche websites, onlinecommunities, social media and,
of course, those high authoritysites in your industry.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
So be proactive, stay informed and keep evolving
those backlink strategies.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Exactly.
And at the end of the day,remember, the best backlinks are
the ones you earn naturally byputting out great content,
building real relationships andgiving people a great experience
on your website.
That's what sets you up forsuccess in the long run.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
That's a great point.
We've covered so much in thisdeep dive into the world of
backlinks.
Take what you've learned, useit to improve your own website.
Start building those qualitybacklinks and watch your SEO
take off.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
And don't forget, if you ever get stuck, there are
tons of resources online to helpyou.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
That's right.
Don't be afraid to ask for help, connect with other SEO experts
and never stop learning,Because in the SEO world,
knowledge is power.
Thanks for joining us for theDeep Dive.
So we've spent a lot of time inthis Deep Dive getting into the
nuts and bolts of backlinks,haven't we?
From the basics to some moreadvanced stuff.
But now I want to look ahead.
What's the future of backlinks?
(20:38):
What should our listener beprepared for?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Well, SEO is always changing right, and backlinks
are no exception.
One trend that's really pickingup steam is the importance of
links from those niche-specificwebsites and online communities.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Okay.
So, like forums and onlinegroups, industry platforms, even
those subreddits dedicated tocertain topics.
What makes them so valuablethese days?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Well, those are the places where your audience is
already hanging out, you know,talking to each other, looking
for information, getting a linkfrom one of those sources.
It's a signal to Google thatyou're relevant in that niche.
Plus, it sends you trafficthat's super targeted.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
So it's like a direct line to people who are already
interested in what you have tooffer.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Exactly, and another trend that's worth paying
attention to is how visualcontent is influencing backlinks
.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, video is king these days, right.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
But how does that tie into backlinks?
Are we just talking aboutdropping links in YouTube
descriptions?
Speaker 2 (21:33):
It's more than that.
People are way more likely toshare and link to visual content
like videos, infographics,those interactive tools.
I mean, think about it.
Are you more likely to share along text, heavy article or an
infographic that sums things upvisually?
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Yeah, I go for the infographic for sure.
It's easier to take in and it'sdefinitely more shareable.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Right, and when you create that kind of visual
content stuff that peopleactually want to share you're
naturally attracting backlinksand boosting your visibility.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
So we've got to think beyond the written word, got to
go visual.
What else is shaking things upin the backlink world?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Well, social media is playing a bigger and bigger
role in backlink strategies too.
It goes beyond just adding alink to your bio.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
OK, so it's more than just slapping a link in our
Instagram bio.
Then Fill us in.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Social media platforms are practically search
engines themselves these days,and when you share your content
on those platforms and peopleengage with it, you know they
like it, they comment, theyshare it.
That sends signals to Googlethey're paying attention.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
So those social media links, even though they aren't
direct backlinks, they're stillinfluencing our SEO in a way.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Yeah, they're boosting your overall visibility
and authority online, which candefinitely impact your rankings
down the line.
And don't forget, social mediais a great way to build those
relationships with other websiteowners and influencers, and
that can lead to more of thosehigh quality backlinks we've
been talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
It really is all connected.
So what's the biggest takeawayfor our listener here?
What should they do to stayahead of the game when it comes
to backlinks?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Be adaptable and stay curious.
Don't be scared to try newthings, new strategies, new
platforms.
Focus on building a diversebacklink profile from lots of
different sources niche websites, online communities, social
media and those high-authoritysites in your industry.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
So be proactive, stay informed and keep evolving
those backlink strategies.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Exactly.
And remember the best backlinksare the ones you earn naturally
, you know, by creating awesomecontent, building real
relationships and giving peoplea great experience when they
visit your website.
That's the foundation forlasting success with SEO.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
I think that's a perfect way to wrap things up.
We've really dug deep into theworld of backlinks and hopefully
you walked away with some greatinsights and actionable
strategies to take your websiteto the next level.
Remember, keep learning, keepexperimenting and keep those
backlinks flowing.
Thanks for joining us on theDeep Dive.
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