Blog backlinks are vital for your search success.
A backlink is your website’s address on someone else’s website. These links (Universal Resource Links or URLs) are the framework of the internet. Think of them as the internet’s “card catalog”, the system used to find information in a library. These links comprise the structure of the information on the web.
As you will see, there are important reasons why your site needs these references from other websites. One of the primary functions of blog backlinks is that they help deliver visitor traffic to your blog.Your blog backlinks on other people’s sites act as votes.
Blog Backlinks and Internet Votes
A voting system similar to elections is the foundation of Google’s search algorithm. The logic behind it goes like this: if other webmasters added a link to your web site on their web site, your site most likely contained content similar to their own. When the search engines see that these other sites are linking to yours, they conclude that your site is similar and has value.
The greater the importance and ranking of the site that your link is on, the greater the influence it passes on to your site and pages. The links on other sites pointing back to your site are counted as “votes of confidence” for your website. This is because webmasters tend to add links to their pages from other sites they feel will enhace their readers’ experience at their site.
However, unlike election votes, these “link votes” are not equal in the eyes of the search engines. The greater the importance and the ranking of the linking site, the more important the vote. A lesser number of high quality blog backlinks are more valuable than hundreds of lesser quality, non relevant links.
Blog backlinks serve a two-fold purpose with regards to generating visitor traffic to your website or web page:
- They generate visitors from the link itself when it appears on other websites whose readers are also interested in your site.
- They elevate your website’s search engine rankings, generating visits from people searching online for your products and services. These higher search engine rankings come primarily from the number and quality of blog backlinks pointing to your site or pages. Your link should include one of your Low Competition Keywords as anchor text.
To sum, your website link on another site is the best way to show Google that your site has authority. The more higher ranking, relevant sites linking to your site – the higher your search engine rankings.
Nothing will help your website’s ranking in the search engines more than blog backlinks.
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Twitter: kezanari
says:
hi there Michael, great blog. You are so right about your comments and how they can help your site rank better in the search engines and increase your authority.
If you use guest blogging strategy it takes the whole authority Of your website to a new level because you get links within the content itself and Google loves this.
I have guest blogged on many High PR sites like comluv.com and the results have been amazing because with a guest blog you can siphon traffic away from the site to your site and you also get some good link juice back to yours website.
Robert recently posted..Backlink Resources
@Robert – Thank you for visiting my blog – I’ve read your work and I’m honored you took the time to comment. I have just started guest blogging and I’m looking forward to the results!
Well written Michael. Backlinks from few reputed and trusted high PR sites worth many times more than just getting backlinks from some related new sites.
But despite of this proven fact, I often get surprised to see how people trust and purchase services of getting huge number of backlinks to their site.
I wish, if getting quality backlink would have been that much easy as claimed by some backlink traders…
@Christina I totally agree – Google values quality over quantity in backlinks. Thanks for the comment.
Christina, though I agree with you and Michael (author) that it is worth to gain backlinks from quality and high PR sites, but don’t you think that if it is not possible to get backlinks from those highly trusted sites then it makes sense to get them from lots of low ranked or related new sites.
Even if you ignore the voting or link juice factor, but you can’t ignore the potential of traffic conversion.
@Monte Yes and no. I agree that related links can be lower authority. However, non relevant spammy links can actually hurt your site’s link profile post-Panda. Look for more quality penalties with each Panda update. Thanks for stopping by!
In my opinion, backlink is an important tool to make you presence on the top page of search engines. If you can’t afford time to generate backlinks or don’t know well about how to start then instead of purchasing the service from untrusted sources here and there on the FORUMS at cheap rate, it is a wise to hire trusted SEO services for getting quality back link.
Thanks Reba. You’re right – with all the recent Google analytic updates, relevance is more important than quantity in regard to backlinks. Bottom line – Either create quality backlinks for yourself or hire a reputable company to do it for you.
Twitter: overthedune
says:
So theoretically I’ll be able to track a few visitors from this comment?
Cheers for the insights, really enjoyable. As you’ll know with SEO it’s test test test!
..clever addition for dofollow!!.. fair play..
Surfing Blog recently posted..Bobby Martinez
Yes, theoretically that’s the case. Thanks for noticing my creativity in the DoFollow requirements – I kept them as easy as possible.
A well written article, probably the best explanation of what a back link is I’ve read of late.
I do all my own back linking and have managed to get my niche site to Google’s front page. I prefer to do it myself so I have complete control.
Thank you Sire. Your praise is greatly appreciated.
No worries Michael. I only give it when it is deserved and this post fit the bill.
Twitter: larryrivera
says:
Hi Michael, this is a great article explaining the importance of blog backlinks. It is a practice I plan on being more proactive with.
Thanks for reminding how important they are..
Larry Rivear recently posted..Creating Momentum In Your Life And Business With Qi ?
Hi Larry – Thanks for commenting. The importance by type of backlink has shifted over time. Social links and blog commenting links are currently the best. Please visit again.
Aloha man! I completely agree with your opinion. I really like what you’re writing here.
@Napoleon Thanks for visiting and commenting.
The hardest part about online marketing is that there are so many facets to it – and so many different ways to make money. I’ve been involved with it for over 5 years now, had some great highs and terrible lows. I’ve tried wearing all the different colored “hats”, been slammed and pampered by Google and customers alike, and through it all I learned some very interesting things. 1) Make the focus of your projects something that your are truly interested and you will find your time spent working on them more rewarding – financially and personally. 2) Stay away from the “hyped” crowd. Marketing techniques that draw attention fade out just as fast as they come. Stick to what works, good content, connections with people/groups and smart marketing. 3) Never be afraid to get into a niche just because it seems “saturated”. In an online world where 1 article written can funnel you tens of thousands of visitors, there’s no need to worry about overall competition levels. 4) Finally, and building on #3, try and stay ahead of the curve with your content. Be the first to write about something that is upcoming and you’ll likely remain at the top of the search results with the oldest links, most links and most social interaction.
Doc recently posted..Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe
@Doc – Staying ahead of the curve in online marketing is the best advice for anyone. Being first and original with your content is the way to attract the attention of the Google bots. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
I suggest adding a facebook like button for the blog!
@Sue Thanks for the suggestion. I’m on it!
One more point to add is that backlincks shall be not only from high PR sites but also it is much better to have backlinks from similar niche sites – it adds more weight to them.
@Vlad I totally agree. I have been experiencing excellent SERP movement from relevant backlinks. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for this post. I definitely agree with it.
I suggest adding a facebook like button and Goggle button for the blog.
Every blog owner who is interested in better rankngs should take 1 hour a day to build blog backlinks, it will pay off. Can I suggest also adding Google Plus button to blog, more Google Plus votes will increase website´s SE ranking, I have experienced it myslf.
@Laur – I completely agree. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for putting up.
Great post! I really agree on this, for me this is one of the techniques that we can use to optimize your site on search engines. Please try to give time and visit mu site as well, http://www.allweekwalls.com thank you!
Hi There – Thanks for the comment. I checked out your site – very nice! All the best to you!
Michael
Whatever we seem to keep reading about any type of SEO help, Back links always seem to come out top of the list !
Your views and blog are totally true and it is great to see someone feeling free to tell others of the benefits of back linking and very helpful for those not up to speed on it.
I am looking for a free tool to assist with scraping if you can help me on that one please ?
All the best..Dr Ed
Hi Dr Ed – Thanks for the visit and the comment. I am not aware of any free scraping tools. I use Scrapebox ($67.00) mainly to weed duplicates out of my commenting lists and to trim url’s to their root directory. I am working on a new list of CommentLuv blogs; I have around 600 unique domains so far. Email me if you’d like a free copy.
Hi there Michael I really enjoyed your great blog post on How Blog Backlinks Drive Traffic to Your Site. i am really amazed with how much expertise you’ve got in this matter
Donella recently posted..Social Phobia Treatment
Hi Donella – Once you start thinking of the web in terms of interrelated links, everything starts to make more sense. Thanks for the comment!
Twitter: _theatrebreaks_
says:
I like backlinks from blogs because they feel like part of a conversation which just keeps on getting updated – with comments for example. This gives a link a permanent yet fresh place in time: a bit of an odd concept I know and probably one that goes over Google’s head but hopefully not the blog’s visitors! Does that sort of make sense?
Simon
- if all the world’s a stage, make life a theatre break!
simon harding recently posted..London Breaks
Hi Simon – Your example makes perfect sense. I get a ton of valuable information from the Comments sections of popular blogs.
Twitter: _theatrebreaks_
says:
yes although it can be a chore separating the wheat from the chaff: although the better the article, the more plentiful the wheat
simon harding recently posted..London Breaks
Nice Blog on back links
Thanks for Sharing!!
Web Design recently posted..Sacha Cosmetics
Great post! I agree. I have found this post very interesting about backlinks strategy.
Thanks for the visit and the comment!
Informative Blog !!
Thanks for nice Share of Information
Thank you for the comment!
Good info, thanks. But I’m unclear about controlling which of my blogs my comment will backlink to. How does that work? I put in the address to my ecommerce website as part of registering to make this comment. That’s not a blog, but is that the site that would be back-linked to? I’m just trying to figure out how to have my comments link to my new blogsite once it’s published. Thanks for any insights.
Hi James – Yes, that is exactly how it works. The url you reference in your reply is the address of the backlink.