Link Building Strategies For 2023: Things Changed

Guest Posting

I know, I know. It’s 2023, and I’m still talking about guest posting? Well, believe it or not, guest posting is like the little black dress of link-building strategies – it never goes out of style. Here’s why I still swear by it:

1. Exposure: You get to showcase your stellar writing skills (and, let’s face it, your wit) to a new audience, potentially bringing in new customers. It’s like crashing a party but being invited to do so!
2. Relationship building: By providing valuable content to other websites, you’re basically extending a virtual handshake to fellow business owners. These connections can lead to future collaborations, partnerships, or even just a mutual appreciation for dad jokes.
3. Backlinks: The pièce de résistance of guest posting. By adding your website’s link in your author bio, you’re creating a nice, juicy backlink that Google can’t resist (and neither can your readers).

Podcasts and Webinars

In the age of Instagram reels and TikTok, who has time to read anyway? Podcasts and webinars are the link-building strategies for the modern entrepreneur.

1. Podcasts: Let’s face it, everyone and their dog has a podcast these days. Why not hop on the trend and score some sweet backlinks in the process? Reach out to relevant podcasts in your industry and offer to be a guest. Not only will you get a chance to showcase your incredible expertise, but you’ll also score a backlink in the show notes. It’s a win-win situation, really.
2. Webinars: You know what they say: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you create a loyal customer for life.” Well, maybe they don’t say exactly that, but the point still stands. Host a webinar on a hot topic in your industry, and watch the backlinks roll in as people share your content. Plus, you’ll gain a reputation as a thought leader, which is basically the business equivalent of being prom king or queen.
3. Collaborations: Partner with other influencers, experts, or businesses in your industry to co-host webinars or podcast episodes. Not only will you get double the exposure, but you’ll also be twice as likely to score those sweet, sweet backlinks.

Social Media Engagement

When it comes to link building, you can’t ignore the power of social media. It’s like trying to ignore the fact that you have spinach in your teeth at a networking event – it’s just not going to end well.

• Share your content: It’s time to put those witty captions and eye-catching images to good use. Share your content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and watch the backlinks come flooding in. Just don’t forget to include your website’s link in your bio – it’s like the cherry on top of this link-building sundae.

• Engage with your audience: Remember, social media is a two-way street. Don’t just post your content and ghost your followers like a bad Tinder date. Respond to comments, answer questions, and even slide into those DMs to build relationships with potential customers and influencers who might just link to your content in the future.

• Join relevant groups: Facebook and LinkedIn are teeming with industry-specific groups where you can share your content and engage in discussions. It’s like a never-ending networking event, but without the awkward small talk and questionable hors d’oeuvres. Just make sure to abide by each group’s rules, or you might find yourself booted out faster than you can say “backlink.”

The Secret Sauce: Creative Content Marketing

You didn’t think I’d leave you hanging without some exclusive link-building strategies for 2023, did you? These are my secret weapons, so use them wisely (and don’t tell anyone I told you).

Infographics

A picture is worth a thousand words, but an infographic is worth a thousand backlinks (or at least a few dozen, if you’re lucky).

1. Visual appeal: Let’s face it, our attention spans are shorter than a goldfish’s these days. Infographics are the perfect way to present information in a visually engaging format that people will actually want to look at – and, more importantly, share.
2. Easily shareable: When was the last time you saw someone share a 2,000-word blog post on Facebook? Yeah, I can’t remember either. But an infographic? Everyone loves a good infographic. They’re like the digital version of a warm hug.
3. Embed codes: Provide an embed code with your infographic, making it easy for other websites to share your masterpiece while also linking back to your site. It’s like lending someone a cup of sugar and getting a five-star Yelp review in return.

Original Research

Want to really stand out from the crowd? Conduct some original research and share your findings with the world. Trust me, this is the link-building equivalent of wearing a sequined jumpsuit to a networking event – people will not be able to ignore you.

1. Authority: Original research establishes you as an authority in your field. After all, you’re the one doing the legwork and discovering new insights. This, in turn, makes other websites more likely to link to your content.
2. Shareable: Just like infographics, original research is incredibly shareable. People love to be the first to share a new discovery or groundbreaking insight, so give them what they want and watch the backlinks roll in.
3. Press coverage: If your research is particularly newsworthy, you might even score some press coverage, resulting in even more backlinks and exposure. Hello, 15 minutes of fame!

The Undiscovered Gems

You’ve asked for it, and as a fellow business owner who loves to share the wealth (of knowledge, that is), I’m here to deliver even more link-building strategies for 2023. Buckle up because we’re about to dive into some lesser-known tactics that’ll leave your competitors wondering how you managed to get all those backlinks.

Resource Page Link Building

Unleash your inner detective and hunt down resource pages in your industry. These pages are like a treasure trove of backlink opportunities just waiting to be discovered.

1. Find relevant resource pages: Use Google search operators like “in the title: resources” or “inurl: links” combined with your industry’s keywords to find pages that list helpful resources. If you can uncover the Chamber of Secrets, you can certainly find these pages.
2. Assess the quality: Not all resource pages are created equal. Look for high-quality, well-maintained pages that are relevant to your niche. You don’t want to end up on a sketchy list of “resources” that makes you question your life choices.
3. Reach out with your content: Contact the website owner and politely suggest your content as a valuable addition to their resource page. Be genuine and emphasize how your content will benefit their audience – it’s like trying to convince your mom to let you go to that cool party, but with less eye-rolling.

Broken Link Building

Broken link building is like being the helpful neighbor who points out a missing shingle on someone’s roof – except, in this case, you’re fixing broken links on websites and earning backlinks in the process.

1. Find broken links: Use tools like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, or Check My Links to identify broken links on websites in your industry. It’s like going on a digital scavenger hunt but without the sunburn and mosquito bites.
2. Create or find relevant content: Once you’ve found a broken link, check if you already have content that can replace the dead resource. If not, put on your creative hat and whip up some stellar content that’ll leave website owners begging to link to you.
3. Notify the website owner: Reach out to the website owner, inform them of the broken link, and offer your content as a replacement. Be courteous and helpful – you’re doing them a favor, after all. Plus, everyone loves a good Samaritan, right?

Event Sponsorships and Local Partnerships

Get involved in your local community and forge partnerships that can lead to valuable backlinks.

1. Sponsor events: Look for events in your industry or local community that you can sponsor. Not only will you gain exposure and goodwill, but many events also provide backlinks on their websites for sponsors. It’s like being the cool aunt or uncle who always brings the best gifts to family gatherings.
2. Local partnerships: Partner with local businesses, charities, or educational institutions to create mutually beneficial projects. You could collaborate on a blog post, host a joint event, or launch a charitable campaign together. These partnerships often result in natural backlinks, as well as an increased sense of camaraderie in your community.
3. Industry associations: Join industry-specific associations and take advantage of their membership benefits, which often include the opportunity to be listed in their online directories. It’s like being part of an exclusive club – but with backlinks instead of secret handshakes.

AI Revolution and Its Concequences

As AI continues to revolutionize the digital landscape, it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd with exceptional content. In fact, the best link-building strategy of all might just be creating content so mind-blowingly fantastic that people can’t help but share it everywhere. 

Let’s explore how AI is changing the game and how you can harness its power to craft content that’s irresistibly shareable.

How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Content Creation

AI is rapidly transforming the way we create and consume content. From generating headlines to crafting entire articles, AI is becoming an increasingly integral part of the content creation process. So, how does this impact your link-building strategy?

1. Raising the bar: With AI-generated content becoming more prevalent, the competition for attention is fiercer than ever. To stand out, you’ll need to create content that’s not just good but spectacular – the kind of content that makes people stop scrolling and take notice.
2. Targeted content: AI can help you identify the topics, keywords, and formats that resonate most with your audience. By leveraging this data, you can craft content that’s hyper-relevant to your target market and more likely to be shared.
3. Efficiency: AI can streamline your content creation process, allowing you to produce high-quality content more quickly and consistently. This means you’ll have more opportunities to generate share-worthy content and, in turn, earn more backlinks.

Crafting Content That Begs to Be Shared

So, how do you create content so amazing that people will be clamoring to share it? Here are a few tips to help you hit that sweet spot:

1. Be unique: With the internet saturated with content, being unique is more crucial than ever. Find a fresh angle, a new perspective, or an untold story, and you’ll have people lining up to share your content.
2. Provide value: Whether it’s a how-to guide, an insightful analysis, or a list of little-known tips, your content should offer real value to your audience. Make their lives easier, solve their problems, or simply entertain them, and they’ll reward you with shares and backlinks.
3. Tell a story: Humans are hardwired to love stories, so weave narratives into your content to make it more engaging and memorable. From personal anecdotes to case studies, storytelling can breathe life into even the driest of topics.
4. Evoke emotion: Content that sparks an emotional response is more likely to be shared. Whether it’s awe, curiosity, amusement, or even outrage, don’t be afraid to tap into your audience’s emotions.
5. Make it visually appealing: A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a well-designed piece of content is worth a thousand shares. Use eye-catching visuals, infographics, and multimedia elements to make your content more engaging and shareable.

AI and the Future of Link Building

As AI continues to shape the future of content creation, it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve and adapt your link-building strategies accordingly. By harnessing the power of AI and crafting exceptional content that people want to share, you’ll be well on your way to securing those coveted backlinks and climbing the ranks of the SERPs.

In the age of AI, it’s not just about churning out content and hoping for the best – it’s about creating content that’s genuinely worth sharing. So go forth and conquer the world of SEO, my fellow business owners, and remember: with great content comes great link-building potential.