When attempting to pursue relevant sites during internet research, link builders can become overwhelmed by the sheer variety of information retrieved after employing different search terms. Finding a site that is relevant, or one which most closely matches the client’s target market, or niche, should be top priority. To refine their searches, link builders generally apply a spectrum of keywords, along with restrictive search terms, allowing them to more accurately find quality sites which have the potential to produce a relevant link for the client. There are a few tried and true research methods depending on the nature of the link building strategy. Some of the more useful research techniques include creative search queries, researching the backlinks of competitors, and developing local universe relationships.
Search Term Strategies
Depending on the client and link building strategy, setting parameters next to search terms such as inurl:, -, and stringing phrases with “quotations” can drastically reduce the clutter. While such search term refinements are helpful, many times they can also impose restrictions on outcome, making the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) results for particularly useful sites impeded.
Applying too many restrictions may return page upon page of a single site that, while relevant and usable, is simply just one site. This situation produces an opportunity in itself, called a search vein. Search veins are the sites connected to each other via blogrolls, link partners, and other associations that would’ve been impossible to find via a search. Search veins are exploited by going into the site and browsing for sister sites, blogrolls, links pages, and other outbound links, researchers can not only find sites that might not have been covered through a tailored search, but can help denote the authority of certain sites within a particular niche. Each of these networked sites yield the possibility of containing further external links, but it is highly important to maintain the relevancy while following this trail.
Backlink Research
Although there are several tools available to assist in site research, among the more useful of these are programs that allow backlink research on a client’s competitors. Tools such as MajesticSeo enable a link building researcher to find external links leading to the competitor’s site, and on a grander scheme, the strategies which they have employed to optimize their site. This allows for a bit of fine-tuning while doing site searches to help the client better stand up to their competitor’s overall web rankings. Meanwhile, backlinking a client’s own site can give tell-tale signs of where the client is already well established and demonstrate the areas where more focus should be applied.
Local Universe – Geographic and Online
Depending on the size and scope of the client, local universe exploration creates yet another spectrum of site research that will manifest a bevy of useful results.
Geographic Local Universe is a tactic that focuses specifically on the hometown of the client’s company. While many sites are trying to expand globally, maintaining a strong footing in their native region demonstrates integrity in their company. Local universe research grants link builders the chance to develop relationships with existing members of a community both regionally and online. Entering search terms specifically for a particular area can introduce a grass-roots approach that allows for online partnerships with similar local companies, and increase the overall online presence of the client.
Online Local Universe strategies focus on the variety of subcategories of a particular niche. For example, if your client specializes in mattresses, the Online Local Universe strategy might include other items for the bedroom, such as alarm clocks, slippers, bedroom furniture, nightlights, and more. It’s a good idea to create partnerships that can share relevancy, while even motioning traffic back to the client’s website. Utilizing this strategy can actually build a niche from the ground up, making the client a cornerstone site in a broadened yet still specific category.
Relevancy
At Page One Power, the single most important strategy in link building comes directly from priority in relevancy. By representing a client within an established niche, relevancy opens the door for clients to obtain natural links within a competitive field. It offers the opportunity for writers to develop original content that will actually be beneficial to that community, and it grants site researchers the unique ability to refine their searches toward sites that would be most accepting of the topic being discussed, the highest rate of user traffic, and the greatest security against changes to Google’s algorithms.
By employing search refinement, backlink research, local universe and relevancy importance, link builders can quickly cut through the fog in the vastness of the web. Combining these simple strategies grants site researchers an arsenal of varying approaches to ensure the best quality sites with the most sustainable and relevant links.
Love the ideas, love the tips, all I gotta say is, SEO Rocks! All-together though, good post on link building.
Another amazing article guys! Good on you for making an effort to educate and to get these tactics out there.