The process of actively reaching out to websites to earn backlinks, rather than waiting for natural links.
Why Manual Link Building Matters
Manual link building is a crucial part of modern SEO because it allows you to take control of your backlink profile. In a competitive niche, you can’t always rely on other websites to link to your content organically. Manual link building helps you to:
- Increase Authority: A backlink from a high-quality, relevant website is a vote of confidence that signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy.
- Drive Targeted Traffic: By building links from websites in your niche, you can attract a highly motivated and high-intent audience.
- Build Relationships: It’s a great way to build relationships with other website owners in your niche, which can lead to new opportunities.
It’s a proactive approach to building a resilient and sustainable SEO strategy.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of manual link building is a content and technical SEO strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily manage their manual link building by using a variety of tools. A good SEO plugin 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, manual link building 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 manual link building. 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 building and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use manual link building will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use manual link building 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 manual link building 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 manual link building 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 manual link building. A blog that writes about cooking can get a backlink from a blog that writes about baking.
Do’s and Don’ts of Manual Link Building
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 manual link building a white hat SEO tactic?
Yes, manual link building is a white hat SEO tactic. It is a way to earn backlinks naturally by creating high-quality, compelling, and unique content.
How is manual link building different from a link exchange?
Manual link building is the broad process of reaching out to a website to get a backlink. A link exchange is a specific type of manual link building where two websites agree to link to each other. A natural link exchange can still be beneficial.
How can I find a link prospect?
You can find a link prospect by using a variety of tools, including SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz. You can also look at your competitors’ websites and your own analytics.
Can a website with a low domain authority still rank?
Yes, a website with a low domain authority can still rank. The key is to create high-quality, in-depth content that is relevant to a user’s search intent.
What is a “backlink”?
A backlink is a link from one website to another. It is also known as an inbound link.
