Top 7 Link Building Mistakes In-house SEOs Make & How To Avoid Them
Nov 22, 2018
10 min read
Higher the number of backlinks a website has, higher will be its authority and rankings on SERPs. It has been proven time and time again.
While many SEOs are aware of this fact, not many care about the fact that it has to be done in the most natural way possible with strict quality control.
If you care about building a backlink profile for your company that Google will love, this post is just for you!
Being a link building company ourselves, we care about the link building services we provide to all our clients and actively use the best link building techniques to do so. It was about time we let you in on some of them as well…
But there are many ways to build backlinks for your business. You could approach other websites, industry influencers and biggies with your content and ask them personally to feature your content on their website for a backlink or you could create remarkable content that people and publishers would love to link to without asking.
Either way, here are some mistakes most SEOs commit that does more harm to their backlink profile and SEO in general than good. Let’s have a look at some of them -
1. Getting most of their backlinks from irrelevant websites
In their pursuit of getting as many backlinks to their website as possible, most SEOs tend to derail from their website niche and start acquiring backlinks from wherever they can, without looking twice at the website they are getting a link from.
Getting a backlink from a high quality but irrelevant website is equal to acquiring a low-quality link. For example, If you sell premium hair care products, getting a high-quality backlink from a publisher in the IT industry will do you no good. But if you get a backlink from an authoritative blogger that has a decent reader base and actively blogs about the best hair care services and products in town, it could prove to be pure gold for the authority of your website.
Try staying as close to your industry niche as possible when it comes to acquiring backlinks from other authoritative websites and watch your Google position rise up.
2. Going for automatic link building schemes
Automatic link building in any way is bad for your website.
But still many SEOs every year make use of ‘automatic natural link building’ tools found on the web. While many of these tools may give you an initial push in your rankings by publishing your website link on link farms and low authority web 2.0 sites, Google, sooner or later, catches up to them and may even penalize it for indulging in such practices.
The essence of link building is in providing relevant content to websites related to your industry and automatic submission kind of kills it completely because you never get to know on which website your links are being posted on. A big no-no when it comes to natural link building.
3. Building backlinks for just the homepage
Think about it for a minute. Obviously, no publisher who is looking to provide the best information to their readers would want to link to a services page, unless it’s a paid promotion of course. But if you are still putting links of your website’s homepage in all your guest posts with no informative blog of yours to accompany it, it will turn off readers, and eventually Google.
You could try internal linking for building the authority of your homepage but when it comes to guest posting, try only linking your blogs in it, that too if they are super relevant to the topic you are writing for.
4. Imitating competitor’s link profiles
In the fast-paced world of SEO, it is normal for SEOs to spy on the backlink profiles of their competitors and completely copy them to their last link. While doing this is a great SEO strategy to surpass them in SERPs, do it without your personal touch and you’ll never be able to outrank them.
It’s totally fine to copy your competitors backlink profiles, but do your own market research as well with it and try digging out opportunities that your competitors don’t have the slightest idea about. You’ll obviously have to do a little extra to gain that edge in website rankings over your competition.
5. No personal touch in outreach
Working on the way you outreach your content to authoritative publishers can sometimes make all the difference but sadly not many SEOs stress over it too much. Using the same outreach template for each and every outreach request can get your awesome content rejected without them having a look at it and most of the authoritative publishers can smell a template from a mile away.
Try adding your own personal touch to all your outreach requests. Be as personal as you can and write clearly how your content piece can help their readership and why are you approaching them in the first place. Doing this makes them interested in your mail and your chances of getting published increases by folds.
6. Building links too fast
Google keeps a close check on the number of backlinks a website acquires over time. Do it too fast and they might even penalize you for good.
Usually, if a website acquires too many links in a day or two, it’s because the webmasters are using a tool that is automatically doing it for them or they are posting their links on link-farms, which are both red flags for Google.
When done naturally, you would be able to gain 10-20 backlinks for your website at max and that includes commenting on various blogs in your niche, posting on social media, posting on social bookmarking websites, syndicating your blog to a high-authority publisher and all the other things SEOs do to acquire links.
See it from the eyes of Google. If a website is getting 1000 backlinks a day, doesn’t it reek of something fishy? Sounds spammy even when I say it, let alone doing it and getting away from the clutches of Google.
7. Not keeping a check on the current backlinks
Most of the SEOs build links and completely forget about it. But the task of building an authoritative backlink profile for your business doesn’t end when you acquire a link, it also includes making sure that the link stays active as long as possible.
It’s common for websites to delete certain blogs after a certain point of time, making sure that a proper redirection link is placed on all your backlinks if something like that happens to your publisher’s website is as important as acquiring that link.
Also, the domain authority of websites keeps fluctuating from time to time, so going through your backlink profile and making sure that your link stays authoritative and contributes positively to it is what SEO’s need to focus more on when it comes to staying on top of their game and gaining some valuable places on the SERPs.
While there are a ton of bad link-building tactics being put to use by SEOs every day out there, these 7 are the most prevalent in the SEO world of today. Stay away from the above-mentioned pitfalls and you’ll do just fine.
If there are any other link-building tactics you think hurts your SEO more than it does good, do share it with us in the comments.
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Snapchat: The Game Changer Of Marketing World
Every now and then, a new Social Media platform is introduced in the online/digital world. At present, Snapchat is the trending Social Media platform used by every user. Snapchat is creating a buzz in Social Media platform as most of the marketers are using it for their marketing strategies. Unlike Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat has diverse features and approaches to promote the business. Businesses who have already switched to Snapchat are witnessing the effective results. Besides, they are able to acquire new customers in a consistent manner. If the business is not familiar with the utility of Snapchat, it must come across several queries. They can relate with these questions such as how to use it with an authentic approach, who are the users and most important, “how to connect with the audience”. This blog will help you in understanding all the aspects of Snapchat in order to gain maximum profit. Let’s take a look at the following facts to create an effective Snapchat marketing campaign: Why should a business market on Snapchat? No doubt, Snapchat is the new Social Media platform and almost everybody is getting attracted towards it. In fact, Snapchat has acquired a massive amount of users in a short period of time, especially millennials. It’s time to check out these facts about snapchat to understand its merits and mechanism: It’s not competitive: Since, Snapchat is the new Social Media platform, most of the businesses are not aware of Snapchat marketing. Hence, it is a better opportunity for you, if you are well-acquainted with this platform aptly. It’s authentic: Marketing the business on Snapchat becomes authentic due to its unique features. It gives an insight of the trends in the market to help a business in boosting its profit and growth. It offers videos and photos that convey message in simplified, effective and efficient way as compared to simple informative articles. Everyday brings in new audience: If a business has products which are meant for youngsters, then, Snapchat is the best Social Media platform to reach out to prospective users as millennials are actively using Snapchat. Over the past few years, Snapchat has become a popular platform which serves the marketing goals of business owners. When it comes to attain a rapid growth of a business, increasing business visibility on Snapchat should be focused on initially. Features available on Snapchat` Snapchat offers various features, varied posts and settings that you can efficiently use in order to connect with audience. Using these features will be impactful for the success of your Snapchat Campaign.These include image editing options, the settings which can be customized for your profile and additional features that can help you interact and engage with your audience. Types of content you can share: Images Videos Snaps Stories Snapchat enables you to use edit options in order to modify all your posts and share them according to your preferences. Snapchat: Millennials’ Choice If you are promoting your business on any online platform, you must know that the youngsters are actively using these platforms. If a business is producing goods or services which target millennials, then, Snapchat will be an excellent platform to promote your brand. Most businesses are actively using Social Media in order to connect with the target audience for a rapid growth and popularity of their brand. Snapchat is a new and promising trend in the digital marketing world and businesses are embracing it to a great extent. Conclusion: People use online platforms and are dependent on them for basic utility or to accomplish the marketing objectives. Snapchat is an emerging Social Media platform which is beneficial for all business types. In case, you want to connect with the new and target audience, then, online presence has become a prerequisite which is being used by many organizations. Are you curious to use Snapchat, then, Contact us to explore more about the utility of this platform. ...
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Move Over Traditional Display Advertising, Go 'Programmatic'
If you are a seasoned player of display advertising, you must be well aware of the fact that traditional buying and selling of display advertisements is a cumbersome process that takes a lot of time to execute effectively and with precision. Also, tracking metrics of your ads placed through traditional advertising is often difficult and a task of its own. Did I forget to mention that traditional advertising is usually followed by a contract between the advertisers and publishers regarding the exact number of banner ads to be placed and the tenure of it, nothing more, nothing less and if your ads are not performing well, you are left with no other choice other than to watch all your money go down the drain. In short, there are a lot of hiccups when it comes to buying some ad space on websites. But Programmatic is here to change all that and more. 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DMP’s <!-- --> Source DMP’s or data management platforms are an integral part of programmatic advertising as they provide you with the needed insights on audiences. The main role of DMP’s is to collect data from a range of offline and online sources, segment them into audiences and use those audience segments to let buyers and sellers make better informed decisions about the type of ads they should place for a particular audience type. Usually, DSP’s and SSP’s also serve as DMP’s via third party integrations and most of them have it. Knowledge of all these different platforms is vital to start your programmatic journey, but what exactly are these platforms and how many are they? There are a lot of different platforms out there that are specifically demand or supply side and there are platforms which are one-stop programmatic shops which take care of all the verticals. I would suggest you to not dive deep into all that fluff and simply trust Google DoubleClick for all your programmatic buying, selling and insights. They are the leaders at it and are the most trusted. But why go for Programmatic advertising? Ok, so now you know exactly what programmatic advertising is and where you need to go to try your hands at it. But, is it worth the effort? Absolutely! Programmatic advertising has been called the ‘future of display advertising’ and is not just limited to fancy banners on websites. Video ads, mobile ads (apps and websites) and all other forms of advertising imaginable can be purchased via programmatic and it also allows advertisers with some great retargeting options with the help of DMP’s (Google’s DoubleClick has that as well), which is great for garnering the right exposure. 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Advertisers can also make use of detailed campaign reports that most DSP’s provide to make better informed decisions in the future. 4.Scale You can spread the marketing wings of your campaign as much as you want with programmatic, ofcourse it all depends on the budget you’ve allocated for display advertising. With programmatic, it can be done easily with a click rather than contacting different publishers for ad space, which was the norm in traditional advertising. 5.Control Programmatic advertising puts you, as an advertiser or publisher, in the driver’s seat as you have the option to select the publishers or advertisers you want, the number of ad spaces you want to buy or sell, the price you’re willing to pay or get for each ad space and if the performance of your bought ads isn’t performing upto your expectations, you can always pull those ads in an instant. With so much of power and publishers at your disposal, it’s quite easy to come across a fraud inventory and misplaced ads. According to WARC, the international authority on media and advertising effectiveness, the fraud rate (assumed) on programmatic spend was as much as 30%. There are basically two major types of frauds which have currently plagued the programmatic advertising industry with an estimated loss of around $6.5bn, according to the ANA (Association of National Advertisers), which are - 1.Ad misplacement Misplaced ads are a great threat to a brand’s image as your ads can be displayed right next to some objectionable content which you’d really not like your brand to be associated with. In the past year, as much as 43% of marketers claimed that they were already facing some reputational problems with programmatic advertising as most of their ads were placed right next to undesired or objectionable content and 37% of them pulled their ads as soon as they found out about it. And it can have some serious repercussions with your target audience as well, as one in five consumers (19.5%) state that they would likely take some direct action against a brand if it’s advertising appeared alongside objectionable content either by completely boycotting the brand (10.5%) or being local about it (9%), according to ANA. 2.Ad fraud (clicks impressions) ANA’s data show that almost 3 out of every 4 clicks on programmatically purchased 300*600 ‘half page’ ads are fraudulent. On an average, 1 in every 3 clicks on programmatic ads across all platforms and sizes are fraudulent. And this data doesn’t even count fake impressions! ANA also states that the estimated loss of $6.5bn could have been reduced to just $700 million if the entire industry had adhered to their safety guidelines. By following these guidelines, marketers can make use of the full potential of programmatic advertising and save themselves from getting stuck with hollow metrics that portray a fake image of your digital campaigns. As this industry matures further and big players like Google entering into the market, we think that it will be a lot safer for marketers to initiate their programmatic endeavours without any risk of deceit and fraud. If you’d like some more information on programmatic advertising, feel free to contact us . <!-- --> ...
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Lessons Legacy Brands Can Learn From Leading DTC Brands & How They Use First-Party Data
There's no doubt that direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands have disrupted the retail landscape. They've quickly become some of the most popular and profitable brands thanks to their unique ways of marketing and selling their products, which have made them very popular. What can legacy brands learn from these DTC success stories? A lot, it turns out. Here are a few lessons that all brands can take from leading DTC companies: Use first-party data to your advantage One of the biggest advantages of DTC brands is their ability to collect and use first-party data. This data is incredibly valuable, as one can use it to understand customers better and personalize their shopping experience. Here are a few lessons you can learn from leading brands on how to use data: Collect as much data as possible If you want to improve the customer experience, it's important to collect as much data as possible. DTC brands are experts at this, often using loyalty programs and customer surveys to gather information. This data is then used to make improvements based on customer feedback. Even if you don't have access to the same amount of data, there are still ways to collect valuable information from your customers. Using tactics like customer surveys, you can gain insight into what your customers want and need. That will help you make the necessary changes to improve their experience. Use data to personalize the customer experience. DTC brands use data to personalize the customer experience by understanding their customers' needs and desires. It allows them to create a shopping experience tailored to each customer. You can use data to personalize the customer experience in your store. By understanding your customers' needs and desires, you can create a shopping experience tailored to each customer. It will help you build relationships with your customers and increase sales. Use data to improve your business. DTC brands use data to improve their businesses continuously. They do this by using data to test new hypotheses and measure results. By taking advantage of data, DTC businesses can continually improve their products, services, and operations. It allows them to stay ahead of the competition and provide better value to their customers. There are many ways to collect data that one can use to improve your business. Online surveys, customer feedback forms, and user testing are all great sources of information. You can also use analytics tools to track how customers interact with your website or app. By understanding how people use your product, you can improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction. Build a strong brand identity Another key to DTC's success has a strong brand identity. These brands know who they are and what they stand for, and they use this to connect with customers on a deeper level. Here are a few lessons you can learn from leading brands on brand identity: Define your brand identity To create a strong brand identity, you need to understand who you are as a business. What values do you stand for? What kind of customer are you targeting? Once you have a clear understanding of your brand identity, you can start to craft messaging and visuals that will resonate with your target audience. A few important things should reflect your brand identity in everything from your website design to how you answer customer questions. By defining your brand identity, you'll create a consistent and recognizable brand that customers will trust and remember. Be true to your brand identity. It's not enough to have a strong brand identity; you also need to be true to it in everything you do. From how you communicate with customers to the products you sell, make sure that everything aligns with your brand values. That will help build trust and loyalty with your customer base. If you're not consistent with your branding, customers will get confused and may not trust your company. Make sure that you're always putting your best foot forward by staying true to your brand identity. It's the only way to build a strong, lasting relationship with your customers. Tell a compelling story. Your brand story is one of the most important elements of your business. It's what will connect customers to your business on an emotional level and make them want to support your brand. Tell a compelling story that will inspire customers to connect with your brand. Focus on why you started the business and what makes you unique. That will resonate with customers and make them want to support your brand. Keep it clear, concise, and authentic for the best results. Invest in marketing A strong brand identity is nothing without a well-executed marketing strategy. Invest in activities that will help you reach your target audience and deliver your message in a way that resonates with them. This could include online advertising, PR, content marketing, or influencer marketing. You'll ensure that your brand stands out from the competition and reaches the right people. With a solid marketing strategy in place, you'll be able to achieve your business goals and build a successful brand. Build a community DTC brands are often built on the power of community. Find ways to connect with your customers and create a space where they can interact with each other. It could be through social media, an email list, or even events and meetups. By building a community around your brand, you can create loyalty and customer engagement to help your business thrive. The community can also help you build relationships with other businesses and individuals in your industry. You can create a stronger network that can help you reach new customers and grow your business by working together. Spend money on the customer experience. DTC brands also know the importance of investing in customer experience. They know that making the experience seamless and fun is important to keeping customers happy and interested. Here are some things that leading DTC brands do to create a great customer experience: The first step to delivering a great customer experience is making it easy for customers to find what they're looking for. DTC brands need to have a well-organized website that makes it easy for visitors to navigate and find information. The second is providing a good customer experience; Good customer service means being available when your customers need you. Personalization can go a long way in making your customer feel valued. In today's fast-paced world, customers expect quick responses to their inquiries. DTC brands offer a wide range of products and services. From clothing and accessories to home goods and beauty products, DTC brands have something for everyone. And with competitive prices and convenient online shopping, it's easy to find the perfect item for your needs. They make it easy for customers to purchase items online or in-store. This makes it convenient for customers who may not have the time or ability to visit a store in person. They offer loyalty programs and discounts to keep customers coming back. This allows them to maintain a good relationship with their customers and encourages repeat business. Additionally, it helps them build brand loyalty among their customer base. By following these lessons, you can create a customer experience that will keep your customers happy and coming back for more. Be responsive to customer feedback. Finally, DTC companies are typically very responsive to customer feedback. They're always looking for ways to improve the customer experience and ensure that their products and services meet customer needs. Here are a few lessons that you can learn from leading brands about customer feedback: Always listen to customer feedback. DTC companies are constantly monitoring what customers are saying about their experiences. They use this feedback to improve their products and services. Be quick to respond to customer feedback. DTC companies understand that customers expect an immediate response when they give feedback. They respond quickly and address any concerns that customers may have. Use customer feedback to improve your product or service. DTC companies use customer feedback to improve their products and services. They understand that customer feedback is valuable and use it to make changes that will enhance the customer experience. Make sure your product or service meets customer needs. DTC companies focus on making sure their products and services meet customer needs. They understand that customers expect a high level of quality, and they work to meet those expectations. While one can apply these lessons to any business, they're especially important for legacy brands looking to stay relevant in today's ever-changing marketplace. By following these lessons, brands can keep up with the competition and set themselves up for long-term success. ...
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