Figuring out how to get free backlinks gives you an advantage in search engine optimization (SEO). That’s because having lots of high-quality backlinks is still a factor Google and other search engines use to evaluate and rank pages.
If you haven’t discovered the tricks of the trade yet, we’re going to help you out. Find out why backlinks are so important, how to get them for free, and the best ways to build natural backlinks.
Why You Should Know How To Get Free Backlinks
Free backlinks build your website’s authority and visibility in various ways.
Drives More Traffic and Better Leads
First, an inbound link from another site is an additional source of traffic to your domain. If the linking page is popular, that means you’ll likely get a sizable uptick in traffic. When a linking page is reputable, you get higher-quality leads who are more likely to convert into customers.
Boosts Search Engine Rankings
Search engine web crawlers pay attention to increased traffic and the number of incoming links you get from popular and authoritative domains. These are stamps of approval showing you have “people-first” content that’s worthy of sharing. As a result, search engines decide your page is worth ranking higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Yields Higher Return on Investment Than Paid Ads
Paid ads can provide a short-term boost to traffic, but you’re paying for every lead. When you know how to get free backlinks, you enjoy more long-term benefits. Backlink management with high-quality content has a long shelf life that continues to strengthen your reputation, deliver traffic, and drive leads without high costs.
Builds Your Professional Network
Getting backlinks means someone thought enough of you to send their audience your way. Hopefully, that reference is someone you respect and who can add value to your business. You can often use a backlink request or a “thank you” to expand your professional connections, too.
The 9 Best Ways To Build Natural Backlinks for Free
The following methods are the best ways to get free backlinks to improve your SEO.
1. Write a Lot of Great Content
The foundation of a successful SEO strategy includes creating consistent, high-quality content. Fact-driven information that answers what people want to know is a magnet for inbound links.
Good writers are always looking for reputable sources to back up the statements they make in their articles. Create well-researched material with helpful data, and others will naturally want to link to you.
Plus, as you write good content that gets more traffic, you show up higher on SERPs. That positioning increases the odds people find your page when searching for links in areas of your expertise.
2. Link to Other Sites in Your Blog
You should be linking to reputable pages to add credibility with your readers. Naturally, these sites should have some relation to yours. For instance, when an apparel company writes about how to put together a stylish outfit, they might link to makeup tips.
Other companies that have good SEO practices and know how to get free backlinks will see that you’ve mentioned or linked to them. Now that you’re on their radar, they’ll be more likely to link to you when relevant.
3. Get a Friendly Favor
Getting links can be as simple as just asking for them. Business is full of “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” partnerships.
Ask your friends, colleagues, and existing contacts in complementary industries to provide helpful backlinks. Be appreciative and willing to return the favor for them through backlinks or some other fair exchange.
4. Ask for Them From Other Sites
You could also do cold outreach to companies and sites you don’t already have relationships with. How do you get free backlinks this way without being too “sales-y”? Success with this pitch requires a genuine and natural approach.
A good strategy is to primarily reach out to companies you’ve already linked to on your site and tell them how much you enjoy their service or content. You could suggest an article or two of yours that might be fitting for them to link to on their pages. Try this tactic with industry publications, too.
Even easier targets are sites that have already mentioned your brand, products, or services but don’t have a backlink to you. Contact them, express your appreciation, and ask if they’d be willing to insert a hyperlink to the corresponding page. Again, linking to them on your site in an appropriate context can give them extra motivation to do so.
5. Take Inspiration From Your Competition
When it makes sense, try to get backlinks on domains that mention your competitors. Doing so requires a little more research and finesse in your presentation, but you should learn how to get free backlinks with this method as well.
Instead of doing a regular web search to find these opportunities, use specialized link-building tools that give you a full breakdown of which domains have linked to your competition. Give primary attention to the sites that have high authority.
The easiest targets are resource pages or recommendation pages (such as “best of” articles and listicles) that present the top services and tools in a specific vertical. For example, a site that teaches authors about independent publishing may have a list of companies that offer translation. A translation service that isn’t on the list can reach out and make a case for why they should be there.
Of course, be sincere and gracious. Share the fact that you understand that the person might not provide the backlink but you’re still grateful for their time and what they do.
6. Ask Sites To Fix Broken Links
After you’ve discovered how to get free backlinks, you have to continue to monitor them to ensure they still work and provide benefits. Broken links hurt your crawl budget and SEO efforts. Just as you reach out to people who mention you and have no links, contact those who refer to you but have broken backlinks or the wrong link.
Again, thank them for having already mentioned you and trying to link to you. Share that you’ve linked to their site or will do so if it makes sense. Then, provide the link that you would like them to use instead.
