Feb 08 2010

Link Building Strategies: Checklist

What are your Link Building Strategies? Do you have any? If you do have any, are you following them? Do you have a link building checklist to follow?

These are some questions that you must ask yourself if you want to build quality and quantity links to a website or webpage. With Google using around 200 data points to size up your website, we all know that links are one of the most important aspects of search engine optimization. The problem lies in the actual taking action to gather links.

If you are not willing to spend some labor intensive time link building, then I suggest you outsource this part of your search engine optimization to a reputable SEO firm that specializes in getting links. It just might be worth the investment. If you do decide to go down this road by yourself, then make sure you dot your I’s and cross your T’s. I suggest you find a consultant or firm that has experience. Be specific about the results you expect.

If you are willing to spend time and effort getting quality links, then here is a suggested link building checklist:

1. What is the purpose? Decide what your link building is for (choose one) –

More traffic
Better rankings
Get a web page indexed
Make you feel good
Other?

2. Map out your strategy. (Part 1) Who and When? –

Who is going to do the work?
When is the work going to start?
Is the work ongoing? or
Is there a date that the work should be finished?
Who reports to whom? Is there a reporting process?

3. Map out your strategy. (Part 2) What and How? –

What web pages are the links directed to (in importance)?
What keywords (anchor text) will be used in each webpage?
What types of content/websites will be targeted to get links?
How will the content/websites to get links be found?
How to approach the content/websites to gather links?

4. Map out your strategy. (Part 3) Where will the links be gathered? (ideas) –

Your own sites
Internal Link building strategies
Friends
Competing websites
News sites
Forums
Relevant blogs
Related specialty sites
How-to sites
Social sites
Social groups
Social lists
Social profiles
Directories
Widgets
Guest posting
Reviews
Local and business links
Article syndication
Press Releases

5. Follow the ACT system. Using the list above it is now time to ACT. Start networking, exploring, and researching and take action today.

Ask – be bold and simply ask for links!
Content – create valuable relative content. “Modern SEO is all about crafting content so compelling that other people want to make note of it by linking back to you, thereby increasing your trust and authority and attracting links to the pages you want to rank well for certain keywords.” – SEO Copywriting 2.0 by Brian Clark
Timing – plan and build a process that works for you.

Conclusion

Whatever your link building strategies, you need to have a plan and a checklist. If you don’t you will either never begin or you just might get off course. Link building is about determination not necessarily knowledge or creativity (although they help). Focus on the strategies but spend most of your time implementing the plan you have set forth.

Garrett Pierson is Founder and President of New Generation Consulting, a consulting firm specializing in search engine optimization, social media, website conversion, and success. He is the creator of Building Social Equity 2.0 a “SEO Meets Social Media” training course. Garrett can be followed on Twitter @garrettpierson

Written By:

Garrett Pierson | Building Social Equity 2.0 | @garrettpierson

More Posts By Garrett Pierson

zoekmachinestrategist

Great list, i was looking for a list for along time now. Thanks
osiasalexander

very comprehensive explanation you have given here. no other words or additional tips or ideas to add. I also learned a lot with your post.. keep up the good work and thanks for the knowledge...
SEO Guru Doug

I have been looking for this list for a long time... Excellent! Thank You.
Ken Harper II

Very good article.
Right now I cannot think of any additional recommended line items to add to your well thought out lists, but do think it would help if your readers approach a variety of your suggested link sources (strategy, part 3), to reflect more diversity while adding to their experiences.
And handy use of the ACT acronym; Well done! Thank you for sharing.
Helen Neely

Link building can be very time-consuming and laborious, but it's a necessary process to get ones site. I will try out some of the tips on that list.

Thanks for sharing
Blue SEO Los Angeles

Yeah you definitely need a checklist and a strategy going into any link building campaign. Of course there are items in the list that you don't need to revisit as much as others, but having a multi-faceted approach will help you build a diverse link portfolio and stay ahead of your competition in many cases. Some link builders focus too much on activities that don't amount to quality links that pass equity, so learn which activities yield the best results and focus your energy in those areas.
Kerry-Ann

Thank you for an informative post. Link building seems to be the 'pain' of every new website. We know we need links but how to start can be daunting. It is a time intensive exercise and for the unsuspecting even 'dangerous'. It is so easy to be conned when you are new to link building - it sounds good, sounds reputable and then suddenly you are blacklisted or kicked off the search rankings.
Xstroy

The most difficult thing to get myself to work on the plan, but no longer need to work from scratch.
There is a framework that can be changed under its terms.
Garrett Pierson

Brian,

You asked,

"Since people will use anchor text like “Gumbo recipe” how will that help me rank higher for my important keywords?" and "Do I build my Gumbo page-rank up and channel PR to my homepage via internal links? " (yes)

You are wanting links to your home page/sales page then the content you are writing should be as closely targeted as possible.

If your content is "Gumbo Recipe" then on that content page you should have a link back to your home/sales page. For example at the end of the content you should write something like, "This article was provided by Brian a professional Brooklyn Caterer (link) that has 15 years experience..."

Hopefully you get the idea.

Garrett PIerson
Brian

Garrett,

Thanks for the checklist. It makes a complicated job a lot simpler. I have a question for you ... I run a small biz and I'm puzzled by the concept of creating great content to attract links.

If I create a wonderful, entertaining and useful page of content I may attract links to that page ... but I need links to my sales page and my homepage - not my content page.

For example - if I'm a caterer in Brooklyn NY and I publish my recipes as content I may get a lot of links to my Gumbo page - and I may end up on page 1 for "gumbo" --- but I want to be on page 1 for "Brooklyn caterer."

Since people will use anchor text like "Gumbo recipe" how will that help me rank higher for my important keywords?

Do I build my Gumbo page-rank up and channel PR to my homepage via internal links?

Sorry to be way off tangent but I really enjoy your articles and figure you're one guy who could give me a straight answer. Thanks Garrret - keep up the very useful articles.
SEO Text Links

EXCELLENT article and list! (LOL @to make you feel good). I've seen a lot of lists and strategies but I appreciate how simple, yet encompassing, this one is. Really great break down of the various parts to consider when preparing your strategy.
Kathleen Gage

Excellent checklist. You've covered a great deal of content without any fluff. Great job.
Sylvia Buetow

Link Building is a strategy I strongly recommend in my blog. Now I need to build my own plan and check list. Thanks for the help.
Sean Odell

This was a great article and right on target for developing strong SEO strategies. SEO is an art, just like playing a musical instrument. Different musicians can play the same song yet one just creates a result that is more fulfilling than the other. Remember that you must practice and be patient.

If you are new to SEO do not be discouraged by the length of the check lists mentioned above. Once you develop a technique that works for you (and there will be some trial and error) it becomes very addicting and absolutely one of the most rewarding things that a developer can achieve.

Thanks for the GREAT info!
Xstroy

Early did not pay any attention to it, but it is obvious that clear thinking over all these items will no longer be the majority of issues in moving the site.