In the previous article I talked about some tips that will help you develop your niche site . Among these tips, one of the important tips was about link building. In this new article, discover all the link building strategies for niche sites.
Link building or Link Building is an integral part of the growth of any website. It doesn't matter if it's a long-term site or a niche site. Even though link building used to be a natural process, due to increasing competition we have to do it manually.
Although you can rank a website purely based on good content, the chances are negligible in a competitive niche. Today I am going to share with you the complete link building process, step by step, that you can apply to your niche site to do this skyrocket in search rankings and gain authority.
Table of contents ☰
Link Building Strategies for Success with Niche Sites
While hundreds of people are making millions of dollars by flipping their niche sites, most others fail to even make a dollar.
Do you know the reason?
Most people are not aware of the importance of link building for niche site growth . Those who also know are too lazy to do it themselves.
People think that building connections is as difficult as climbing the Himalayas. This is why you will see hundreds of companies SEO and thousands of'ads on Fiverr , pretending that you give the moon.
While you might expect a good article from a freelance writer, you won't find a perfect link building solution. Most companies SEO who provide cheap services use blackhat SEO techniques and will never secure your ranking.
I know the problem you are facing, so I will walk you through the step-by-step process you can take to get quality links to your website.
I have spread the different approaches over several months so that you get a gradual increase in your links . It looks good and saves you from Google's eyes.
Note: It is not that the approach mentioned in month 1 cannot be used in month 2. But it is not recommended to use any approach earlier than what has been recommended.
For example: you don't want to guest post on other related blogs before you've even published at least five articles on your blog.
Niche Link Building Strategy: Month 1
The main goal when building links is to do it in a way that it looks natural. You don't want your blog to fly under Google's radar.
Although it is not recommended to build links from day one, there are few methods you can apply to your niche site to get the initial boost. These methods will also help you get out of the sandbox.
What is a sandbox in SEO?
The Google Sandbox is a so-called filter placed on new websites. The result is that a site does not receive a good ranking for its most important keywords and key phrases. Even with good content, abundant inbound links and a strong Google PageRank , a site is always affected by the Sandbox effect.
Social cues also help greatly in getting out of the sandbox quickly.
Note: These methods may not help you much in ranking or increasing your domain authority. But these links are useful for diversifying your link profile.
Make a blog by commenting:
Blog comments are one of the most underrated link building methods. Popular among beginners, this method has its own advantages besides offering you a nofollow link from a good blog .
Here's the thing:
Nofollow links do not affect the authority of your blog.
So why should we comment on niche-related blogs? We'd better do something better and useful.
This is not about authority. Let’s break down the benefits of blog comments into different points.
Help you diversify your link profile
Blog comments help you get nofollow links. Although nofollow links give no authority to your blog , they are important for diversify the link profile . There should be a good ratio of do-follow links and no-follow links pointing to a site.
Here is an example of a good comment
I also have an Amazon niche blog. Here are a few things I've noticed over time.
Top 10 articles, comparisons and best product articles are the most visited.
When we write about top 10 articles, it is advisable to include a table in the article so that our list can be displayed in Google Featured Snippets. We may also use subtitles or numbers to appear in excerpts.
Backlinks are important in the initial phase, but more important is the quality of content and the time users spend on our site.
The comments are very helpful. Comments posted by users also contain search keywords that can drive traffic to the site. So, I still prefer WordPress's default commenting system.
Also, in recent days I installed Https and AMP on my blog. Since posts with lots of content and images will have a page size of around 1,5 MB. The AMP feature will be very useful in such cases and the post will load much faster on mobiles.
I respond to comments on my niche blog regularly and interacting with users is the important thing that generates some sales.
So should we be worried about the ratio?
No! If you get good, legitimate links to your blogs, you don't need to worry about the ratio.
Good blog comments will bring targeted traffic to your blog.
More comments = more traffic
This helps to connect with influencers in your niche.
So how do you comment on a blog the right way?
Here are some quick tips:
- Be sure to comment on niche-relevant blogs . Relevant links will always have greater value than irrelevant links.
- Avoid blogs with too many comments . The more links there are on the page, the less valuable the links are.
- Be sure to comment on a blog that has approved comments. This way you are sure that your comment will be approved .
- Try not to leave small comments. Also make sure to read the article before leaving a comment .
- Try to respond if you get any answers.
- Also try to avoid commenting spammy websites .
- Try to prioritize the quality rather than focusing on quantity.
I hope all these points above will help you.
Pro tip: How to find relevant sites for blog comments?
You can find these sites using a simple Google search. Just search for “intitle:[subject]” 2..20 comments.
Example: If your topic is about dog food, you can search for “intitle:[dog food] '2..20 comments'
Note : Do not include citations in your search
Opt for Selected Web Directories
Web directories are still very useful for get authority links at first. While most good web directories charge money to create a site, there are also a few free ones.
It depends on your budget. If you have the budget, these links are a must buy.
The biggest problem with free directories is that they take too long for a submission to be processed . In the end, you will hardly earn any links.
Some useful tips:
- Always find a niche relevant directory to submit your links. Also make sure you submit your blog in the correct category.
- Try to opt for web directories with high DA, especially if you pay for them.
- Try to avoid Fiverr and Seoclerk services as most of them are shit .
Pro Tip: Finding web directories is as easy as a Google search. You can also use DropMyLink.
Search – intitle: [subject] “directory”
You can find many here – Top 21 Blog Submission Sites with 25+ Domain Authority
Use Popular Social Bookmarking Websites
Le Social Bookmarking is a very underrated method for getting links.
No! This isn't bullshit.
Unless you plan to classify your website only using only social bookmarks : p.
These links are very useful for diversifying your link profile. Buy a few and you'll be safe.
Although most of them have thedofollow attribute , some sites also return a nofollow link.
So how do I get a link from these sites?
It's quite simple. All you have to do is share your article on these sites.
Example of some popular social bookmarking sites:
- ScoopIt
- Digg
- Delicious
- Tumblr
A few tips -
- Make sure your content is engaging before sharing it.
- Also make sure to avoid low DA websites to be safer.
Guide to Building Links to Niche Sites: Month 2
So we are in the second month now.
Make sure you have at least four to five blog posts. Because you can also benefit from referral traffic .
Get links from the best discussion forums
You must have used them for one purpose or another. These are also very useful for getting links.
I know it can be quite boring, but it's worth it. I've seen blogs rank in the top five from just a few forum links.
The big advantage of forums is that there are tons of them for every possible niche. So you can't complain there.
Forums are also useful for getting targeted traffic as well as for get post ideas .
Some useful tips:
- Make sure to use relevant niche forums . There are hundreds of them, a simple Google search is enough to find a few. Relevance is very important when it comes to building links.
- Make sure you create an active profile before spamming links. The main reason most link building efforts fail when it comes to forums is spam. Most of the time you will be banned for spam . This means you also lose the links. Also make sure your message is relevant to the conversation in a discussion thread.
- Most forums allow you to add a link to the profile as well as towards the signature. Make sure to add them here.
Don't spam. Keep quality your priority.
Link Building for Niche Sites: Month 3
The methods mentioned below can also be used for subsequent months.
Use resource pages
These pages are gold mines.
There are 3 main reasons:
- These pages already contain hundreds of links pointing to them .
- People love linking to resources. Make sure each of your items you write is a resource to be early and also get free links.
- You also get targeted traffic because these pages will appear often in search engines. Links in content have their own advantages.
The only problem is that securing these links is not not as simple as commenting on a blog or creating social bookmarks .
So how do you secure these links?
First of all, you need to make sure that your article on the resources page is also detailed and practical. It should look like a resources page to stand among other resources. It's true .
Also make sure your site looks professional.
Second, you need to find a relevant resource page . You can find them easily with a simple Google search or by using a service like DropMyLink.
You must then contact the owner to secure the link. This is the most important part.
Few should follow the advice:
- Make sure you keep your short and concise email . No need to beg.
- Try to convince him why the message should appear among the resources . If you can convince him, you can easily get your link there.
- Also try tracking the email if you do not receive a response . In most cases, people neglect emails. It's normal, me too. All you have to do is give them a recall .
Bonus template: you can use it to contact resource owners
Hi [Name],
I was searching for [topic] before landing on your blog. I couldn't help but notice the epic message on “[Title of the article]”. You did a great job with the post. It was very useful.
Recently, I published an article on “[Article Title]”. I think this will be a great fit to the page.
Anyway, if you're interested, ping me, I'll be more than happy to send you the link.
Keep up the good work. Have a good week-end.
Thank you
[Name]
Note : Don't use the exact email template. This is just an example, so you will understand how to do it.
Make guest posts
Guest Posting is undoubtedly the easiest way to get links . With millions of blogs on the web, it's a breeze to find a blog that accepts guest posts.
Everyone wants their readers to engage by posting new and fresh content. The easiest way might be to post a guest post. But not everything is easy if you target higher DA sites .
Steps to Follow for Guest Posting:
1. First of all, you need to find a blog that accepts guest posts . A simple email can help you determine whether or not a particular blog accepts guest posting. It doesn’t matter if the author has a “write for us” page. Also make sure the blog has a DA of at least 20+ .
Want to save time? Well, you can hand over this blog research task to guest posting services and make your life easier.
2. The second step is to find a good guest post idea . You can browse their published blog posts to learn more. Make sure the message is engaging and detailed . Don't think you'll waste time if you offer a free in-depth article. It's worth the hard work.
3. The next step is to send the message to be published. Make sure to check the requirements before sending the final project. Also, don’t forget to add an author bio and links within the content, whatever the requirements.
4. Share the post with your readers. You can also mention it on your About page . This will help increase your credibility.
Difficult with guest posting:
- Most high DA sites will not accept guest posts for free . You have to pay a significant amount of money to get your article published, regardless of its quality. This makes it impossible for someone on a small budget to get a link from these sites.
- Even if a guest post is published, the site owner does not follow all links , sometimes also the biography of the author.
- A requirement like – A minimum of three thousand words is horrible. Requirements are sometimes impossible to meet.
Four Easy Ways to Find Blogs That Accept Guest Posts
Google search:
You can easily find guest posting opportunities by searching for specific keywords. I've listed a few below.
Your keyword “guest article”
Your keyword “write for us”.
Your keyword “guest article”
Your keyword “guest posting opportunities”.
Your keyword “contribute to our site”.
Your keyword “submit your content”.
For example: if my niche is treadmills, I would search for: Treadmills “write for us”.
If you don't get any results, try searching for a broader keyword. In this case, it would be fitness.
2. Reverse Image Search:
This method is quite interesting. First, you need to find an influencer in your niche who posts fairly often. Guest articles. Obtain the photo of its author and search for it on Google.
You will thus find easily potential targets.
3.Twitter:
Twitter is also another great place to find influencers. Just search for specific keywords like “contribution” and your niche etc. to find guest posts written by people.
4. DropMyLink:
Bonus email template to send to blog owner:
Hi [name],
I am a long-time reader of [Blog Name]. You may have noticed my comment on your post on X (great article by the way).
I am writing to you because I wish publish an article guest on Example.com.
I've been brainstorming a few article ideas that I think your readers would get a lot of value from:
-Publish idea #1
-Publish idea #2
-Publish idea #3
I will make sure that the article is full of information that cannot be found anywhere else.
To give you an idea of the quality I will bring to your site, here is a link to a guest post I recently published on Example.com.
If you have a post idea in mind, don't hesitate to share it.
Cheers,
[Name]
Brian Dean from Backlinko says:
1. You get backlinks from authority sites .
2. People view you as an expert.
3. The traffic of SEO targeted flocks to your site.
Using Guestographics
Guestographics is the hottest method in town. In this method, you basically use an infographic as a guest post to get links.
The term was coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko .
Let's start with the basics.
What is an infographic?
A graphics (like the one above) is a popular form of Content marketing which can help you simplify a complex topic or turn an otherwise boring subject into a captivating experience.
So, now that you know about infographics, let's learn how to get links of authority using this method.
Steps to follow:
Step 1: The first step is to find a infographic idea . This is the most important step. You don't want to invest in an infographic that won't convert well. Make sure it is relevant to your niche .
The solution is to find an infographic idea that has already worked well. No, I'm not saying copy an infographic.
Pinterest is a great place to search amazing infographics .
Just the idea! I hope you get it.
Step 2: After finding a great infographic idea , the next step is to create it. You can either create it yourself or outsource it.
Although I don't recommend creating your own infographic unless you have design knowledge. You can't expect links from a low-quality infographic. You can use templates on sites like Piktochart to facilitate your work.
If you're considering outsourcing, you can find designers on sites like Upwork . Make sure to tell them the exact requirements and check their grades as well.
Step 3: The next step is to find potential targets . This can be done in several ways. Make sure you stay organized by using Google Sheets .
Ahrefs:
Just find a related infographic. Retrieve the message and enter the link on Ahrefs. Check the backlinks.
You will find blogs related to infographics. Make sure you choose a popular one.
Reverse Google Image:
It's also a great way to find targets. Simply search for the infographic and Google will display websites that have integrated the infographic.
Step 4: Now you need to mail potential targets. Also, make sure you offer them unique content. Infographics pair pretty well with a small piece of content. This way, they will be more than happy to publish your infographic.
Make sure the email is short and sweet. Also include a link in the content.
Some quick tips on infographics:
- You can make an infographic for $5 on Fiverr and $500 on UpWork. It doesn't matter, quality matters. Make sure it's above par.
- Infographics receive also many shares . Make sure the infographic contains lots of data. This way you will get more shares.
- It's possible that someone used your infographic without add a link to your blog . Be sure to check using Google and send them a friendly email.
- Similar to web directories, there are few infographic submission sites where you can submit your infographic. You can also use them.
Spy on your competitors (cannot be considered a link building method but useful)
Let's be realistic :
There are times when you are unable to outperform your competitor even though you have tried everything. Whether it's Guest Posts or Guestographics, you have no other option left to help you surpass them.
I don't know about you, but I usually insert the URL of my competitors in Ahrefs to check the quality of the links. We PBNs are generally found there . Nonetheless, you get to know the exact approach he took to reach the top.
Don't get me wrong, I don't recommend that you copy your links or adopt the same strategy. I'm just telling you to learn from his connections, what kind of connections you need to make to surpass him.
Sometimes people have no idea about the quality of links created for a particular niche, this helps here. The links may not be only ranking factors , there are many more factors like the age of the site and the on-page SEO , but they are nevertheless very important.
We are now in 2024, things are only getting tougher, especially for new projects. Sometimes this method is very useful. You can easily reproduce some links.
This is a great method to build a stronger link profile and also get a leg up on your competitors.
PBN and Web 2.0 link building
Okay, here's the truth!
Most of the niches I came across in the top spots were using PBNs . Although PBNs cannot be considered white hat SEO, people are making millions of dollars from their niche sites without any problem.
What is a PBN?
Un private blog network (PBN) is a network of authoritative websites used to link to your money making websites in an effort to rank higher in Google search. A money website is a website that you intend to rank, that is, one that actually makes money. This can also refer to a client website.
Advantages of PBNs
- Get quickly authoritative links . This leads to faster ranking.
- Set your own anchors.
- Have full control over your links.
PBNs may seem like the simplest solution, but they will nevertheless against Google guidelines .
If you are considering using PBNs, there are two possible ways you can choose. You can either buy PBN links from the market such as SeoClerk or Source Wave, or create your own PBNs.
Building PBNs is not easy and expensive .
I will mention some guides below to help you understand better.
Read - PBN: Everything You Always Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask
Private blog networks (PBN): the myths and risks
What happens if you try to flip a niche site using PBN?
Empire Flippers is a name you will hear when it comes to return niche sites . You can get the best price here.
Yes, you can flip sites using PBNs, and they sell too. But we must maintain these links. You can also charge a nominal amount to the buyer for the maintenance part .
I can't say if PBNs are the way to go. But it seems very lucrative. It depends on your choice.
Web 2.0 link building
Web 2.0 link building is almost dead. People don't prefer that.
But look what Marketever's Al-Amin Kabir has to say:
So far in several of my experiments, Web 2.0 backlinks have worked (and very recently, it is working) very well for me. I even built a $2+ creative site relying primarily on Web 000 links. (Yes, you heard right, $2.0+ site with Web 2 links, no PBN, no thousand dollar AWARENESS/guest post).
I used them, it's great for improve rankings but don't expect much.
Although building these links may be free, it is not as simple as building links using forums.
Let's move on to the benefits of Web 2.0
1. Free: most sites are free . No need to worry about accommodation etc. You can create as many as you want.
2. Control: The choice full link control . You can play with anchor text.
3. High Domain Authority: Most sites have a high authority .
Some useful tips for Web 2.0 link building:
- Don't use spun content: Google is against plagiarism. So it is better to use original content.
- Make it look like a real blog. Make sure to add the required pages like About Us etc.
- Create links to authority sites. Don't just link to your money pages.
These can be as effective as PBNs if done correctly.
Problems with Web 2.0 link building
- Most links are not indexed . You won't find them in Google Search Console.
- This unfortunatly not worth it , unless you plan to outsource them.
- We rarely see such a significant difference in rankings .
How to raise awareness about link building?
Most of the time we get confused when it comes to Link Building. Should I first publish an article guest or use geography.
It is important to plan for link building if you are serious enough.
Are you tracking your outreach emails? Do you follow your links?
No! Don't worry.
Here are some tips to get ahead:
- First, make sure you create a Google Sheet . I love Google Docs, you should use it too. You can easily share items and everything is accessible regardless of device.
- Make a plan. Prioritize things first, like which method you're going to use first.
- Calculate your potential targets . For example, in case of guest posting, the author information will be provided.
- Be sure to follow their responses. If they don't respond, contact them again with another letter.
- Track your backlinks using Ahrefs or any other alternative .
- You can also use services like Linklicious to index links faster.
- Make also track your ranking .
More link building resources for 2024:
- Link Building Awareness: A Simple Beginner’s Guide to 2024
- Link recovery: What is it? How to Recover Lost Backlinks in 2024
- Buying Backlinks: Everything You Need to Know About Paid Links in 2024
- 8 Best Link Building Tools to Find Link Opportunities in 2024
- 7 Best Affiliate Link Hiding Plugins For WordPress
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed the post. You can't go wrong with the strategies mentioned above. This will surely help you take link building for niche sites to the next level.
Please post your questions below. I would like to answer it.
