The group of websites linked to yours; being in a “bad neighborhood” (spammy sites) can hurt rankings.
Why Link Neighborhood Matters
A link neighborhood is a foundational concept in SEO because it is a direct signal of your website’s trustworthiness. A search engine’s algorithms now use a variety of factors to determine a website’s ranking, and a link neighborhood is one of the most important. A website with a high number of high-quality backlinks from relevant websites is more likely to rank higher in search results. It’s about earning a reputation in your industry. When other websites link to your content, they are essentially vouching for your expertise, which helps to build your site’s E-E-A-T signals.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of a link neighborhood is a content and technical SEO strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily manage their link neighborhood by using a variety of plugins. A good SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can help you track your backlinks and to ensure you are using a variety of keywords that are relevant to your content.
Shopify
On Shopify, a link neighborhood is essential for your product descriptions and blog posts. You can use a variety of tools to find a backlink from a relevant website. A link from a high-quality blog or a news site can significantly boost your rankings.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for a link neighborhood. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated link-building strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your link neighborhood and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use a link neighborhood will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use it to build a stronger brand reputation. A site that sells running shoes could get a backlink from a blog that reviews running shoes.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use it to build a stronger community. A local restaurant could get a backlink from a local newspaper or a local blog.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use it to build a stronger brand reputation. A company that sells project management software could get a backlink from a blog that reviews project management tools.
Blogs
Blogs are a great way to capitalize on it. A blog that writes about cooking can get a backlink from a blog that writes about baking.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do focus on quality over quantity. A single backlink from a high-quality website is more valuable than a hundred from a low-quality website.
- Do use a variety of link-building tactics. A good link-building strategy includes a mix of guest posting, broken link building, and a backlink from a news site.
- Do use a link-building tool. A tool like SEMrush or Ahrefs is a must.
Don’ts
- Don’t use a black-hat link-building tactic. This can lead to a severe penalty.
- Don’t buy backlinks. This is a clear violation of Google’s guidelines and can lead to a severe penalty.
- Don’t use a link exchange with a low-quality website. This can harm your SEO.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to build a backlink profile: This is a basic but critical step. You cannot improve what you do not measure.
- Ignoring a user’s intent: A backlink should be used with a user’s intent in mind.
- Focusing on a single link-building tactic: This is a risky and outdated approach.
FAQs
Is a link neighborhood a ranking factor?
No, it is not a direct ranking factor. However, the quality of a website’s link neighborhood is a key signal of its authority and trustworthiness, which are major factors in search rankings.
What is the difference between a good and a bad link neighborhood?
A good link neighborhood consists of backlinks from high-quality, relevant, and trustworthy websites. A bad link neighborhood is one with backlinks from low-quality, spammy, or irrelevant websites.
How can I improve my link neighborhood?
You can improve your link neighborhood by focusing on getting backlinks from high-quality, relevant websites. You should also disavow any toxic backlinks using Google’s Disavow tool.
What is a “backlink”?
A backlink is a link from one website to another. It is also known as an inbound link.
Can a website with a bad link neighborhood still rank?
A website with a bad link neighborhood can still rank, but it can be difficult. A bad link neighborhood can harm your site’s authority and can lead to a drop in rankings. You should disavow any spammy backlinks.
