What is Link Building and Why is it Important? - 3.1. SEO Course by Ahrefs

Summary

In this lesson, Sam Oh introduces the concept of link building, a crucial yet challenging SEO strategy. Link building involves acquiring backlinks from relevant websites, which are essential for improving search engine rankings. Sam explains the relational nature of link building, emphasizing that it’s not just about asking for links but about building trust and providing value to others. The lesson highlights the importance of backlinks for ranking competitive keywords and driving organic traffic. The next lesson will explore methods for acquiring backlinks, addressing their difficulty and effectiveness.

Takeaways

• 😀 Link building is the process of getting other websites to link to your content, also known as obtaining backlinks.
• 😀 The process of link building involves reaching out to other site owners via email, which can feel awkward and challenging for many people.
• 😀 Link building is relational; success depends on building trust and offering value, rather than just asking for a favor.
• 😀 Building links from strangers is hard, but links from those you have a relationship with or some level of connection tend to be more successful.
• 😀 For example, asking a mentor or a known figure in your niche for a link is more likely to succeed than reaching out to someone you have no relationship with.
• 😀 Effective link building requires a value exchange—your content must be seen as beneficial to the site you're asking to link to.
• 😀 Backlinks are crucial for SEO as they help search engines, like Google, rank pages based on their authority and relevance.
• 😀 Google’s PageRank algorithm judges a page’s value by the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to it, emphasizing the importance of relevant, high-quality links.
• 😀 Backlinks are directly correlated with organic traffic, and securing quality backlinks can drive substantial traffic and revenue for your business.
• 😀 The process of getting backlinks is challenging but essential for ranking highly for competitive keywords, which in turn generate significant business benefits.
• 😀 In the next lesson, the video will cover three methods of getting backlinks, along with their respective difficulties and effectiveness.

Q & A

What is link building in SEO?

Link building is the process of acquiring backlinks, which are links from other websites to your own. These backlinks help improve your site's SEO ranking by signaling to search engines that your content is valuable.

Why is link building considered important for SEO?

Link building is important because search engines like Google use backlinks as a key ranking factor. Pages with high-quality backlinks tend to rank higher in search results, which can drive more traffic and revenue to your website.

What is the main challenge people face in link building?

The main challenge in link building is acquiring backlinks through outreach. This often involves reaching out to other site owners, which can be time-consuming and difficult due to the relational nature of the process.

How does the process of link building relate to relationships?

Link building is not just about getting links; it's about building relationships with other website owners. These relationships increase the likelihood of earning backlinks because of mutual trust, respect, and value exchange.

Why wouldn't someone link to a random person asking for a backlink?

Most people wouldn't link to a random person because there is no existing relationship or trust. Without a prior connection, the request can feel intrusive, and they may not see the value in linking to that person's content.

How might the chances of getting a backlink change if the requester is someone familiar?

If the requester is someone familiar, like an influencer or a trusted brand, the chances of getting a backlink increase. People are more likely to respond to and link to someone they recognize and trust.

What is PageRank and how does it relate to link building?

PageRank is a Google algorithm that evaluates the quality and quantity of backlinks to determine the value of a webpage. It helps decide which pages should rank higher in search results. More and higher-quality backlinks can boost your PageRank.

Can link building impact rankings for competitive keywords?

Yes, link building is particularly important for ranking for competitive keywords. These keywords typically drive the most traffic and revenue, so acquiring backlinks from authoritative sites can help improve rankings and visibility.

What is the value exchange mentioned in the definition of link building?

The value exchange refers to offering something beneficial to other website owners in return for a backlink. This could be valuable content, insights, or any other form of collaboration that makes the link mutually beneficial.

How can outreach help in acquiring backlinks?

Outreach involves contacting other site owners to ask for backlinks. Effective outreach involves building relationships, demonstrating the value of your content, and creating a compelling reason for others to link to your page.