10 Link Building Strategies That Still Work in 2024
Why Links Still Matter
Despite years of predictions about their demise, backlinks remain one of Google's strongest ranking signals. However, the quality bar has risen significantly. Here are 10 strategies that still work.
1. Original Research and Data
Create original studies, surveys, or data analyses that journalists and bloggers want to reference. Original data is link bait at its finest.
2. Digital PR
Pitch newsworthy stories to journalists. Tools like HARO (Help A Reporter Out) connect you with journalists seeking expert sources.
3. Resource Page Link Building
Find resource pages in your niche and pitch your best content for inclusion. These pages exist specifically to link to useful resources.
4. Broken Link Building
Find broken links on relevant websites, create replacement content, and reach out to the site owner suggesting your resource as a replacement.
5. The Skyscraper Technique
Find popular content in your niche, create something significantly better, and reach out to sites linking to the original.
6. Expert Roundups
Compile insights from industry experts on a trending topic. Contributors often link back to and share the finished piece.
7. Infographics and Visual Assets
Create shareable infographics with an embed code that includes a link back to your site.
8. Podcast Guesting
Appear on relevant podcasts. Most shows link to guests in their show notes.
9. Strategic Partnerships
Partner with complementary businesses for co-created content, webinars, or tools that naturally earn links from both audiences.
10. Unlinked Brand Mentions
Use tools like Zyptr to find mentions of your brand that don't include a link, then reach out to request link addition.
Measuring Link Building Success
Track these metrics:
- New referring domains per month
- Domain authority growth
- Organic traffic from linked pages
- Referral traffic from backlinks
Conclusion
Effective link building in 2024 is about creating genuine value and building real relationships. Focus on quality over quantity, and use tools to identify opportunities efficiently.