Everyone is itching for new link building ideas. Google is getting smarter, and the game is getting harder. What worked five years ago — shoot, what worked last year — isn’t going to work today.
Except, that’s not necessarily true.
Sometimes, it’s not the tactic that stops working — it’s the way people approach it. SEO got the reputation it has because people started gaming the system. They started taking the easy way out.
Below are 4 outdated link building practices and how to update them for sustainable SEO.
Resource Listings
The Old Way
Scrubbing every page from an [intitle:resources + keyword] search, sending blanket emails to [email protected] asking to be included, and maybe — just maybe — getting a response 1 in 100 times.
The New Way
There are billions of pages on the Internet. I’d guess less than 20% of them are actively updated. Most of those probably still have people linking to them — .gov sites are notorious for this.
Instead of just asking to be included as a resource, find a page that’s linking to outdated content, and update that content on your blog. Greenland SEO has an Outdated Content Finder that will find pages related to a search term between certain dates. Update the content on your blog, find who links to this page, and then contact those sources. (Note: The tool’s still in beta, and for a couple of queries I put in, nothing came up.)
Furthermore, broken link building is still a great way to get your listing up because we are trying to make the web a better place. Make your outreach personalized and stay targeted to your specific industry.
What You Need
- Google advanced search queries
- Outdated Content Finder
- Good copywriter
- Check My Links
Outreach & Guest Posting
The Old Way
(If you are a blogger, you still probably get these. I’m sorry — I really am. We’re not all like that!)
That typically leads to a guest blog like this:
Facepalm.
The New Way
You can hate it and chastise it and call it a “buzz word” all you want, but relationship building works. People are no longer wanting to do business (yes, and that means links) unless they know you — unless they trust you. The only way to do that is get out from behind your keyboard and show your face, even if that’s just on your Twitter profile.
Find people who matter in your industry. Talk to them. See what they need help with. Do something without expecting anything in return. Tailor content so it’s really, truly specific to their source.
What You Need
- Keen fact finding abilities
- FollowerWonk
- Rapportive
- Basic human etiquette
Bonus: Jason Acidre talks about reverse guest blogging in his latest Moz post. Don’t underestimate the power of having good people write good content for your site. It will get linked!
Press Release Submission
The Old Way
Sending two press releases a month, every month, across PRNewswire, PR Web, Online PR News, and every other mass distribution site you could find.
The New Way
Do something newsworthy. Host a scholarship in your local community for students involved in your industry. Put on a 5K. Donate your time. What’s newsworthy? It has to be new, and you’ll have better success if it’s local. If a dog bites a man, that’s not new. If a man bites a dog, well, now we’re talking.
When you do send out press releases, be targeted about it. Send your release to specific journalists who cover that niche.
One tactic you could use is to release your own research or put together a study related to your industry. Think about what the general public wants to know about your industry, and then go ask people. (For example, are people really okay with checking email on vacation? How few are too few stars when looking for a hotel?) News outlets eat up statistics.
What You Need
- Journalists contact information (You can usually find this on a newspaper’s website.)
- Something newsworthy
Directory Registration
The Old Way
Manually — or worse, automatically — submitting your website to 1,000 “one-way link SEO directories to increase your PageRank.”
The New Way
Submit your company to be nominated for an award. Find some of these sources with [keyword + award], but think big picture: Do you have a fun place to work? Is the office in a creative space? Is the business fast growing?
Look for sources that allow people to vote for the winner. For example, AWWWARDS lets you submit your website to get voted on by its user base for its design, creativity and content. How do you know if a site has a good user base? Domain Authority is good, but look at their social profiles: Are they active? Do people engage with them?
What You Need
- Good advanced search queries
- Time
How else would you update some old, shady link building practices to be more sustainable for the future?
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.
New on Search Engine Land
About The Author
Erin Everhart is an experienced digital strategist, content developer and search marketer. She’s currently the Senior Manager, Media Strategy for The Home Depot and has previously worked agency-side for mid-sized business and Fortune 500 companies. She speaks regularly on digital strategy, content development and inbound marketing at conferences nationwide. Follow her on Twitter @erinever.