Link Building for SEO – Essential Guide

The online landscape thrives on connections – links serve as the lifeblood of the internet. Webpages boasting an abundance of these connections are often hailed as “authoritative” and bask in the glory of top Google rankings. Conversely, those with a scarcity of links languish in obscurity.

This comprehensive guide is your roadmap to acquiring high-quality links that can significantly impact your web presence, all while steering clear of the dreaded Google penalties. Designed with absolute beginners in mind, we’ve crafted it to be a treasure trove of actionable insights that you can readily put into practice.

Link building basics

What is link building?

Link building is a strategic method employed to acquire links from external websites pointing to specific pages on your own website. The primary objective behind this practice is to enhance the perceived “credibility” and “trustworthiness” of your webpages in the eyes of search engines like Google. This, in turn, leads to improved rankings in search results, ultimately driving a greater influx of organic search traffic to your site.

Why is link building important?

According to insights shared by Google’s Andrey Lipattsev, links represent a pivotal component among the trio of primary ranking factors that influence a website’s position in Google’s search results. Therefore, if you aspire for your web pages to secure prominent rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs), it’s highly likely that you’ll need to harness the power of links.

Search engines, including Google, perceive links from external websites as valuable “endorsements” or “votes” for a particular webpage. These endorsements play a critical role in guiding search algorithms towards determining which page, amidst a sea of similar content, deserves to occupy the coveted top positions in search results.

As a fundamental guideline, it’s important to acknowledge that webpages boasting a higher quantity of quality backlinks typically enjoy elevated rankings in search results. This underscores the importance of cultivating a robust link profile to bolster your website’s visibility and authority in the digital landscape.

Links aren’t the answer to everything

The significance of links in achieving high search engine rankings cannot be overstated. It’s a rarity to surpass pages with a substantial number of high-quality backlinks in rankings, unless you can amass an equivalent number. However, it’s important to note that links, while crucial, do not represent the sole criteria Google employs for page rankings.

If you find that despite your efforts to build an abundance of links to your page, it continues to languish in lower rankings, it’s advisable to explore additional ranking factors that may be hindering your success.

How to build links

Conceptually, most link building tactics and strategies fall into one of the following four buckets:

1. Adding links

If you find yourself in a situation where you can personally insert your hyperlink onto a website that isn’t your own, this practice is commonly referred to as “embedding” a link. This encompasses several prevalent strategies falling within this category:

1. Business Directory Submissions: This involves submitting your website to various online business directories.
2. Social Profile Creation: Creating profiles on social media platforms and including links to your website.
3. Blog Engagement: Participating in discussions on blogs and leaving comments that contain links to your website.
4. Forum and Community Participation: Joining online forums, communities, and Q&A platforms to share your website’s link or engage in discussions that allow for link placement.
5. Job Listings: Posting job openings and incorporating links to your website when advertising job opportunities.

It’s worth noting that while these methods may seem straightforward to execute, they tend to yield limited value in Google’s eyes due to their ease of implementation. In some instances, search engines may even flag them as spammy or low-quality backlinks.

While these types of links may not provide a significant competitive edge, they shouldn’t be dismissed outright. When you’re able to manually insert your link on a website, it’s important to note that your competitors can do the same.

Nonetheless, it’s essential not to disregard these link-building strategies entirely. Each of them can offer valuable advantages to your online business beyond just SEO benefits.

Certainly, let me provide you with a unique elaboration using a couple of examples:

• Business Directories: When it comes to enhancing the online visibility of a restaurant website through SEO, it’s essential to consider listing it in several key business directories. These directories, such as Yelp, Tripadvisor, Allmenus, and Grubhub, offer a valuable opportunity to connect with potential customers. While the backlinks generated from these listings may not be exceptionally strong in terms of SEO, they can potentially drive real customers to your restaurant.

• Industry Forums: Engaging with your target audience on active forums or online communities can be a powerful strategy. These platforms are where your potential customers gather to discuss topics related to your industry. Participating in these conversations can not only help you establish a brand presence but also provide an opportunity to share your website link when it genuinely adds value to the discussion.

Both of these strategies can significantly benefit your online presence, but they should be approached with a sense of balance and authenticity. Engaging with business directories and industry forums can be meaningful, but pursuing these tactics at an excessive scale may prove counterproductive and potentially harm your website’s reputation. It’s essential to prioritize quality over quantity in your SEO efforts.

2. Asking for links

In the realm of link building, the art of outreach reigns supreme. It’s the process of connecting with website owners and presenting them with a compelling incentive to link to your content. Now, remember, these website owners aren’t necessarily interested in you or your website, unless you happen to be a notable celebrity. They need a good reason to promote your work. So, before you approach them for a link, ponder this: “What’s in it for THEM?”

Within this sphere of outreach-based link building, there are various tactics and strategies, each hinging on a distinctive “compelling reason.” Here’s a glimpse into these strategies, along with a brief explanation of the motivating factor behind each one:

• Guest Blogging Harmony – Craft valuable content tailor-made for their website.
• Skyscraper Ascent – Showcase a superior resource that outshines their current link.
• Link Inserts – Provide a resource brimming with comprehensive information on a topic they’ve touched upon briefly.
• Ego Nurturing – Shower them with praise and recognition in your content, highlighting their positive contributions.
• Testimonial Showdown – Share glowing feedback about their product or service.
• Link Barter – Suggest a mutual link exchange, where you both benefit from linking to each other.
• Resource Page Enrichment – Introduce them to a valuable resource that complements their existing list.
• Broken Link Rescue – Assist in repairing a “dead” link on their page by offering a suitable replacement.
• Image Credit Quest – Ask for proper credit when your image is used.
• Unlinked Mention Transformation – Request that any mentions of your brand become clickable links.
• Link Relocation Proposal – Seek amendments to an existing link pointing to your website.
• HARO and Journalistic Insights – Offer an expert quote to enhance their articles.
• PR Marvel – Present them with an irresistible story to feature.

In the intricate world of link building, the key to success lies in weaving a narrative that aligns with the interests and goals of the website owners you reach out to. It’s a dance of mutual benefit, where everyone comes out a winner.

Once you embark on the journey of sending your initial email outreach, you’ll inevitably encounter a sobering reality: your “compelling reason” may not be as compelling as you had hoped.

• Your guest post might fall short of expectations.
• Your resource may not warrant a mention.
• Your “skyscraper” content might not stand as tall as you initially thought.

The truth is, convincing random website owners to link to your content is a formidable challenge. To succeed, you either need an exceptional, one-of-a-kind resource that genuinely impresses them, or you must be a recognized authority in your field, prompting them to extend a link as a gesture of goodwill.

If neither of these conditions applies to you, it’s crucial to be resilient in the face of rejection. Brace yourself, because out of every 100 emails you send, you can expect 98 to either go unanswered or result in a polite “no.”

This is precisely why many SEO professionals have been exploring ways to create value for both parties when seeking backlinks. Some of these approaches include:

• Giving a shoutout on social media.
• Featuring them in an email newsletter.
• Providing complimentary access to a premium product or service.
• Offering a reciprocal link.
• Financial compensation.

However, it’s important to note that offering these kinds of “extras” can place you in a gray area, as they may be considered a “link scheme” under Google’s guidelines.

So, here’s the situation: straightforward link requests tend to have a relatively low success rate. Yet, when you attempt to enhance the proposition, you enter the complex terrain of Google’s rules and regulations.

Now, you might think that I’m discouraging you from using the strategies mentioned in this category. I’m not. I’m simply advising that you ensure your content is truly exceptional before reaching out to a multitude of individuals.

3. Buying links

Let’s start by making something clear right away:

We strongly advise against the practice of purchasing links for your website!

If you lack experience in this area, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll end up spending your hard-earned money on links that offer no real benefit to your search engine rankings. In fact, you might even risk penalties for your website.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge the reality that within the SEO industry, some individuals do engage in the purchase of links through various means and somehow manage to avoid consequences.

So, if you’re considering taking the gamble of buying links, please seek guidance on how to do so “safely” from sources other than us. We want to make it clear that here at Ahrefs, we do not endorse or teach such practices.

4. Earning links

Earning links for your website is akin to receiving a vote of confidence from others in the digital realm. These valuable endorsements occur organically when fellow webmasters find something truly remarkable on your site that they genuinely want to share with their audience. However, this linkage magic doesn’t just happen on its own; it requires a bit of nurturing.

You see, the web is vast and teeming with content, making it improbable for people to stumble upon your hidden gems without some guidance. Regardless of how extraordinary your content may be, it remains hidden until you invest in its promotion. The more eyeballs you attract to your content, the greater the likelihood that some generous souls will decide to link to it.

In the upcoming sections of this chapter, I’ll unveil a toolkit of tactics and strategies designed to help you craft content that beckons for links and then steer it into the spotlight, where it can be discovered and appreciated by the right audience. It’s a journey that requires both creativity and outreach, a journey that transforms your content from a hidden treasure into a beacon that beckons others to connect with it.

Bonus: Preserving links

While the concept of “link building” typically doesn’t encompass the task of safeguarding your existing links, it’s essential to recognize the significance of preserving hard-earned backlinks. When you lose a valuable backlink, the vote of confidence it conveyed to Google is forfeited, which can impact your website’s ranking. Therefore, maintaining your established links is crucial.

There are two straightforward approaches to achieve this:

• Rectifying 404 Errors with Quality Backlinks: Begin by addressing 404 error pages that contain high-quality backlinks. These pages might have initially hosted valuable content but have since been removed or altered. Ahrefs’ Site Explorer is a valuable tool in this regard. Utilize the “Best by Links” report to identify 404 pages that were once linked to.
• Monitoring and Reclaiming Lost Backlinks: Keep a vigilant eye on your backlinks and proactively engage with website owners if you notice the disappearance of important links—a process often referred to as “link reclamation.” Ahrefs’ Backlinks report comes in handy with its “Lost” filter, which displays recently lost links.

However, it’s worth noting that you needn’t be overly concerned about every lost link. Focus your efforts on preserving the most critical ones. Now, let’s delve into how to prioritize and protect these vital links.

Remember, preserving your established backlinks is not just about acquiring new ones; it’s about safeguarding the trust and authority you’ve built within your link ecosystem.

What makes a good link?

The precise methodology employed by Google to assess the significance of individual links remains shrouded in mystery, yet the SEO community adheres to certain fundamental principles when appraising link quality:

• Authority
• Relevance
• Anchor Text
• Nofollow vs. Follow
• Placement
• Destination

1. Authority

You’re probably well aware that Google views links as digital endorsements, like votes, indicating a webpage’s worthiness to rank highly. However, does a link from a prestigious site like techcrunch.com carry the same weight as one from your buddy’s personal blog? Well, unless your friend happens to be a digital giant like Tim Ferriss, the answer is likely no.

Google consistently asserts that it doesn’t employ a sitewide website authority metric, despite the concept of “website authority” making intuitive sense to many SEO professionals. But what truly matters is the authority of the specific page linking to you. It’s the difference between being mentioned in a TechCrunch article that fades into obscurity and being featured in one that sends shockwaves through the internet, leading to mentions on numerous major news outlets.

In essence, a page with a robust collection of its own “votes” (links) wields more influence than a page with no endorsements. This fundamental principle lies at the heart of Google’s renowned PageRank algorithm.

In the past, Google even offered a browser toolbar that displayed the PageRank of any webpage you visited. However, this toolbar became obsolete over a decade ago. This void presented an opportunity for SEO tool providers to step in and craft their own metrics for measuring authority.

At Ahrefs, we’ve introduced Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR) to gauge the so-called “link popularity” of websites and individual URLs, respectively. These metrics serve as valuable tools for modern SEO practitioners.

2. Relevance

If I were striving to boost the search engine ranking for my guide on grilling the perfect steak, I would lean toward securing a backlink from Gordon Ramsay rather than Joe Rogan. While Joe Rogan undeniably possesses a massive following and influence, Gordon Ramsay’s culinary expertise and worldwide recognition make him a more valuable link source for this particular topic.

Google’s ranking algorithm often places significant importance on the relevance and authority of the websites that link to a particular page. In this context, Gordon Ramsay, being a world-renowned chef and culinary expert, would be seen as a highly relevant and authoritative source in the realm of cooking and grilling. Therefore, a link from his website or endorsement would likely carry more weight in terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for my steak grilling guide.

Google’s approach to ranking pages indeed takes into account the concept of “authority” within a specific field or topic. When prominent websites in a given subject area link to a page, it signals to Google that the information on that page is likely of high quality and relevant to the topic. In the case of a guide on grilling steak, a link from Gordon Ramsay’s culinary website would align more closely with the subject matter and, consequently, could potentially have a more positive impact on the ranking of my guide in search results.

3. Anchor text

Certainly, let’s rephrase the information about anchor text and its relevance to link building, emphasizing the importance of organic linking:

In case you’re not already familiar with the concept, “anchor text” refers to the clickable text snippet that directs users to another webpage. It often provides a concise description of the linked page’s content.

It’s no surprise that Google places significance on the words within anchor text to gain a better understanding of the subject matter of the linked page and the keywords it should rank for. In fact, Google’s original PageRank patent explicitly mentions the role of anchor text:

Google employs various techniques to enhance search quality, including page rank, anchor text, and proximity information.

So, how can you make the most of anchor text in your link-building strategy?

The key is not to over-manipulate it. The more you attempt to dictate how different pages link to your content and force specific keywords into the anchor text of your backlinks, the higher the risk of Google suspecting manipulation and potentially penalizing your site. Instead, it’s advisable to allow the linking page’s author to decide how they naturally want to reference your page.

By encouraging organic and genuine linking practices, you not only maintain the integrity of your website but also foster a more authentic online ecosystem.

4. Nofollow vs. follow

The “nofollow” attribute is a special attribute used in link tags that signals to Google that the linking page does not want to pass on any endorsement or “vote” to the page it’s linking to.

In the past, Google disregarded any votes or influence from links marked as “nofollow.” However, in 2019, Google shifted its approach to a hint-based model, indicating that certain “nofollowed” links might now have an impact on search rankings.

With this shift, Google also introduced two new link attributes:

• rel=”UGC”: This attribute should be used for user-generated links, such as those found in blog comments or forum posts.
• rel=”sponsored”: This attribute is meant for links associated with advertisements, sponsorships, or other compensation agreements.

As a general guideline, it’s typically preferable to aim for “followed” links, which do not carry any of these additional attributes. These links are considered to have the most significant impact in terms of SEO rankings.

Nevertheless, there are instances where pursuing a “nofollowed” link from a relevant, high-authority page can be beneficial. An excellent example of this is Wikipedia, where all outgoing links are marked as “nofollow.” Gaining a link from Wikipedia can be exceptionally challenging, which has led many SEO experts to believe that such links hold significant value in Google’s eyes.

5. Placement

Google’s concept of the “reasonable surfer” patent revolves around the idea that the likelihood of a link being clicked can impact the authority it bestows. In this context, the placement of a link on a webpage is one of the key factors influencing its Click-Through Rate (CTR).

Imagine a webpage divided into three distinct sections: content, sidebar, and footer. Generally, links embedded within the content block tend to attract more clicks. This is because the content block naturally garners the most attention from visitors, making it a prime real estate for links seeking user engagement.

Furthermore, the positioning of a link on a page can significantly affect its CTR. Readers are more inclined to click on links positioned near the outset of an article compared to those tucked away at the very end. This phenomenon underscores the importance of strategic link placement in optimizing user interaction and authority distribution on the web.

6. Destination

When it comes to building links for your website, you have three main focal points:

1. Your Homepage: This is often the face of your website, and links here can help improve its overall authority and visibility.
2. Your Linkable Assets: These are the valuable, content-rich pages on your website that can attract links naturally due to their high-quality and informative nature.
3. The Specific Pages You Want to Rank Well in Google: Sometimes, these are the less exciting, commercial pages that might not naturally garner as many links because people often prefer to link to informative, free-value pages.

Consequently, a common challenge in the realm of SEO is figuring out how to generate links for these “less exciting” pages. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, experts unanimously recommend harnessing the power of internal linking to bolster the rankings of these pages.

The reason behind this is that internal linking involves strategically connecting your web pages together using hyperlinks. By doing so, you can guide both users and search engines to navigate and discover the content on your website more effectively. This not only enhances user experience but can also improve the search engine ranking of your “boring” pages.

Best link building strategies

In part two, we delved into a plethora of link building tactics and strategies for you to explore. However, when it comes to determining the most potent and efficient approaches, our team at Ahrefs places a strong emphasis on the following four:

1. Competitor Link Acquisition
2. Linkable Asset Creation
3. Content Amplification
4. Guest Posting

1. Pursuing competitors’ links

Conducting competitor link research stands as a cornerstone practice within the realm of link building. Consider this: the highest-ranking page for your desired search query has amassed a collection of backlinks that convinced Google of its preeminence. Consequently, by dissecting these links, you unlock the blueprint for acquiring similar link authority, ultimately surpassing your competitors.

Enter the indispensable role of SEO tools like Ahrefs.

Begin by inputting your target keyword into Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer and navigate to the “SERP Overview.” Here, you’ll gain insights into the number of backlinks and linking websites held by each top-ranking page.

Delve deeper by clicking on these figures, revealing a comprehensive report cataloging all the inbound links.

Now, your strategy unfolds on two fronts:

1. Secure Links from Your Competitors’ Sources: Seek opportunities to acquire links from the very pages that link to your competitors. This aligns your website with authoritative sources and fortifies your link profile.
2. Analyze Acquisition Tactics: Scrutinize the methods employed to attain these valuable links and mirror these tactics to accumulate a greater quantity of links than your competitors. Understand what worked for them and adapt it to your advantage.

In essence, competitor link research, facilitated by SEO tools like Ahrefs, grants you invaluable insights and a tactical edge in the competitive landscape of online visibility and search engine rankings.

2. Creating linkable assets

In the realm of SEO, we frequently employ the terms “linkable asset” or “linkbait” to describe content deliberately crafted to allure valuable links. These linkable assets can take various shapes and sizes, designed to pique the interest of online audiences:

• Online Tools and Calculators: Crafting interactive online tools and calculators that serve a specific purpose can captivate users and encourage them to link back to your website.
• Infographics, GIFographics, and “Map-o-graphics”: Visual content like infographics, dynamic GIFographics, or data-rich map visuals can effectively convey complex information and attract links due to their visual appeal.
• Awards and Rankings: Recognizing excellence within your industry through awards or rankings can entice businesses and individuals to link to your content, especially if they are featured.
• Studies and Research: Conducting in-depth research and studies on relevant industry topics can position your website as an authoritative source, driving link acquisition from those seeking reliable information.
• Industry Surveys: Surveys that provide insights into your industry’s trends, preferences, or challenges can be valuable resources, drawing links from those interested in your findings.
• How-to Guides and Tutorials: Comprehensive guides and tutorials that offer step-by-step instructions or solutions to common problems can attract links from users seeking guidance.
• Definitions and Coined Terms: Introducing and defining new industry terms or providing clear definitions for existing ones can establish your website as a go-to reference.

Even in seemingly less exciting industries, there’s often a creative avenue to explore, producing captivating content that garners links. To kickstart your inspiration, it’s wise to analyze your competitors’ websites. You can achieve this by entering their domain into Ahrefs’ Site Explorer and navigating to the “Best by Links” report. This report will unveil which pages on their site have garnered the most backlinks.

As illustrated in the provided image, a significant portion of the Ahrefs Blog’s top-linked pages (excluding the homepage) comprises data-driven research studies. This insight offers valuable guidance on the type of content that successfully attracts links within our specific industry.

3. Content promotion

Regardless of how inherently shareable your webpages may be, they remain hidden from the digital landscape until they’re uncovered. To put it simply, even the most exceptional pieces of content require active promotion to garner valuable backlinks.

In the grand scheme of content promotion, there exist three primary avenues:

1. Influencers and Communities
2. Advertising
3. Audience Growth

In essence, these three approaches encompass the multifaceted realm of content promotion, each offering distinct advantages in the quest to secure valuable backlinks for your webpages.

1. Influencers and communities

In the words of Rand Fishkin, the key to unlocking the full potential of your content lies in identifying those who will champion it and understanding why they would do so.

The “who” aspect pertains to recognizing individuals of influence and communities closely aligned with your niche. These are the folks who have the power to propel your content into the spotlight, reaching a wide and engaged audience. The “why” element, on the other hand, delves into the intrinsic value of your content. It’s about grasping what makes your content exceptional and deserving of promotion in the first place.

2. Advertising

Attracting a substantial audience to your content can be achieved through strategic advertising on various platforms, such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and similar channels. Alternatively, you may opt to collaborate with handpicked influencers and content creators within your niche, compensating them to endorse your content to their dedicated following.

However, for some individuals, the idea of allocating resources to promote their content can be challenging to embrace. This naturally leads to the question: Why did they invest their valuable time and effort in creating it initially?

If you craft your content with a clear focus on your business objectives from the outset, justifying the expenditure required to promote it becomes a more straightforward decision.

3. Growing an audience

Whenever you create and share your content, you have the opportunity to connect with individuals who genuinely appreciate and benefit from it. It would be a missed opportunity to let these valuable connections slip away, right?

That’s why it’s essential to focus on expanding your reach and cultivating your audience. There are several effective approaches to achieve this:

• Encourage them to subscribe to your newsletter or mailing list.
• Invite them to join your social media journey by following you on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok.
• Extend an invitation to become part of your exclusive community on platforms like Slack, Discord, or Facebook.
• Reconnect with them through targeted advertising on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google.

With each new and exciting piece of content you produce, your audience has the potential to grow significantly. As your dedicated followers increase in number, you’ll find yourself needing to put less manual effort into content promotion.

4. Guest posting

Based on a recent 2022 survey conducted by Aira, it was revealed that guest posting ranks as the third most favored link building strategy among seasoned SEO professionals.

As we’ve previously explored, the traditional approach of requesting backlinks without offering any substantial value has become increasingly ineffective in today’s digital landscape. Guest posting, however, stands apart from this ineffective tactic. It involves presenting a high-quality piece of content in exchange for the opportunity to include a link to your website within it. This equitable exchange of value is at the core of its effectiveness.

Over here at the Ahrefs Blog, we maintain an open invitation through our “write for us” page, welcoming our readers to contribute guest articles. However, it’s worth noting that we exercise stringent criteria when it comes to accepting such submissions. Our standards for guest contributions are exceptionally high, ensuring that only the most exceptional content makes its way onto our platform.

So here are two simple tips that will help you get published in the top blogs of your industry:

1. Start small and work your way up

Gaining the attention of top-tier blogs within your niche becomes significantly more manageable when you’ve built a robust portfolio of published content on slightly smaller platforms.

To effectively pitch a guest article to the owner of a blog with a Domain Rating (DR) of 80 or higher, it’s essential to have a published piece with a DR of 70 or more in your repertoire to showcase your expertise. And before reaching out to that DR70+ blog, it’s prudent to follow a similar approach.

Leveraging Content Explorer can be a game-changer in your quest for relevant and authoritative blogs. Start by conducting a search using keywords or phrases related to your niche in page titles. Then, utilize the “Domain Rating (DR)” filter to refine your results and pinpoint the blogs that align with your goals. This step-by-step strategy ensures a more seamless and strategic approach to reaching the pinnacle of guest blogging success.

2. Make an irresistible offer

Understanding the desires of blog owners is crucial – they are seeking avenues to boost traffic to their blogs. Convincing them that your guest post can attain a high Google ranking for its targeted keyword and deliver steady search traffic is the key to winning them over.

This is where the previous tip becomes an invaluable asset. Demonstrating concrete examples of your prior guest posts that have achieved impressive rankings will likely seal the deal effortlessly.

Additionally, there exists a slightly lesser-known guest posting strategy: identifying an underperforming article on their blog in terms of search traffic and proposing a comprehensive revamp aimed at enhancing its Google rankings. In many instances, bloggers will eagerly accept such an offer.

Link building tools

While it’s entirely possible to establish backlinks through manual effort and a Gmail account, there’s a wealth of link-building tools available that can significantly streamline the process of acquiring valuable links. Here’s a breakdown of some free and premium tools:

Free Link Building Tools:

• Ahrefs Webmaster Tools: This resource empowers you by displaying all the inbound links directed to your own website, offering the ability to sort and filter them based on various vital SEO metrics.
• Ahrefs’ Free Backlink Checker: This tool reveals the top 100 backlinks pointing to any website or URL, making it a valuable asset for competitor analysis or link prospecting.
• Google Alerts: This service provides real-time notifications whenever a particular word or phrase is mentioned on a newly published webpage, making it an excellent method for identifying high-quality link prospects.

Premium Link Building Tools:

• Ahrefs’ Site Explorer: This comprehensive tool offers an exhaustive view of all links associated with a website or URL, allowing users to sort and filter them based on critical SEO metrics.
• Ahrefs’ Content Explorer: A unique link prospecting tool that assists in discovering thousands of relevant websites for link acquisition and guest posting. It also facilitates research on linkable assets across the web.
• Ahrefs Alerts: Designed specifically for SEO professionals, Ahrefs Alerts is akin to Google Alerts but tailored to the needs of SEO practitioners.
• Pitchbox/BuzzStream/GMass: These are email outreach tools that enable users to send personalized emails at scale. Among SEO professionals, they are some of the most popular options for managing outreach campaigns.
• Hunter.io/Voila Norbert: Often referred to as “email lookup services,” these tools are instrumental in locating contact information for websites on a large scale, simplifying the process of reaching out for link-building purposes.