7 Ways To Build Links for Search Engine Optimization- SEO

Google's latest round of algorithm changes and announcements have fueled a flurry of panicked threads on SEO forums everywhere. Titles like "If I don't move my sites to dedicated servers, will I lose my SERP rank?" and "Do I need to dramatically increase the length of my content to rank?" are popping up hourly. While it's always a good idea to to stack as many factors as possible in your favor, for search engine ranking, the biggest factor has always been and always will be links. With that in mind, let's look at 7 tips on how to build those crucial links.

1. Syndication to Build BackLinks

This is probably the most time honored method of actively getting incoming links. Submitting quality articles to article directories, issuing press releases, even offering free content to other webmasters in return for a link have been successful for webmasters since the dawn of the internet. The easiest of these methods is submitting articles to directories. As a repository for free content webmasters can use, each article has the potential to become many links to your site.

2. Social Bookmarking

The simplest of all link building techniques. You simply open an account at any of the hundreds of social networks around and bookmark your site. In addition to giving you a link, this also gives you the opportunity to attract direct traffic from other members of that network as they browse.

3. Run a Survey

Let's face it, people like to be involved. They love to have their opinions counted. Use these tendencies to garner backlinks by running a survey within your niche. Contact other webmasters and blog owners within your niche. Ask them if they would post a link to your survey. All that's required on your part is to choose an extremely popular or controversial issue to base your survey on and there will be a deluge of participants.

4. Link Exchanges

"SEO experts" go back and forth constantly on the value of reciprocal links. While it is probably true that a one way link is better, a link exchange is better than nothing. Think of it this way, every time someone visits another site that contains a link to yours (one way or otherwise) there is a chance that person will follow the link.

5. Give Something Away

People love free stuff. Lots of websites love linking to places people can get free stuff. Give away free stuff. We're not talking about spending money to buy door prizes, we're talking about creating or finding information or a useful free program and hosting it on your site. This is a great way to get a tremendous number of links.

6. Blog Commenting

Being a part of a community is the best way to build a reputation within your niche. Participating in blog discussions is a terrific way to do this and build links at the same time. Each time you comment and leave your link, there is a chance someone will want to hear more of what you have to say. 2 birds with one stone – backlinks plus direct traffic – can't be beat.

7. Forum Signatures

Continuing with the "community" theme. Forum signatures are one of the misused backlinking strategies around. For a relatively narrow niche, they can also be amazing traffic generating devices. Participate in discussions. Become "one of the guys", and people will trust your link. Just be sure your link is interesting and on topic. While it does build links, having a signature link that simply says "coach handbags" in the signature of your account at a deep sea fishing forum is unlikely to garner much interest and may be considered spam. On the other hand, "Ultimate guide to unknown, low cost deep sea fishing locations" is likely to draw a curiosity click from every member of that forum who notices it.

Building links is simple. It does require a little thought and effort to do it properly. Anyone willing to put in that thought and effort is likely to find him or herself richly rewarded by the search engines.

This guest column was written by Eric Siu, who is a specialist in ppc management at Wpromote, an online advertising agency.

If you found this article useful, please use the sharing buttons below. Thanks!