The 411 on Backlinks: What They Are and Why They Matter for Your Business
When it comes to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), most business owners know that keywords and content are important. But there’s one element of SEO that often gets overlooked: backlinks. So, what are backlinks? Do they really matter for your business? Keep reading to find out!
What are Backlinks?
A backlink is simply a link from one website to another. But not just any old link will do. We need to consider:
- the quality of the linking website
- where the link is placed, and;
- the anchor text (the linked-to text)
All these things play a role in determining how effective a backlink is. Google even looks at things like the overall theme of the linking website and whether or not the site has a high spam score. In short, not all backlinks are created equal!
Why Do Backlinks Matter?
Backlinks play an important role in SEO because they help search engines determine two things: the quality of your website and your website’s authority. Quality links from high-authority websites will give your website a boost in both areas. And that’s important because higher quality and authority often lead to higher search engine rankings—and we all know what that means: more traffic to your website!
Are There Any Risks to Building Backlinks?
If done incorrectly, building backlinks can actually hurt your website’s SEO. That’s because Google punishes sites that engage in what’s called “link schemes,” which are basically any attempts to artificially boost your website’s link popularity with low-quality links. So, how can you avoid being penalized? By only building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, and by avoiding anything that even remotely resembles a link scheme. If you want to play it safe, you can always hire an experienced marketing agency like Metric Marketing to handle your link building for you—that way you can be sure that everything is being done correctly and according to Google’s guidelines.
It’s just another piece of the SEO puzzle
There are many benefits to SEO, and how long it will take for SEO to show results can and will vary. But you know what backlinks are and why they matter for your business—but do you know how to get started with building them? If not, don’t worry! Just leave it to the experts at Measurement Marketing. We know all the ins and outs of SEO, and as well as keeping your website maintained, we’ll make sure that your website has the high-quality backlinks it needs to improve its search engine rankings…and drive more traffic (and more business!) your way. Contact us today to get started!
