If you’re looking to boost your website’s visibility and attract more visitors, organic backlinks could be the key. Organic backlinks build trust in your website – both with search engines like Google and with users who find you from other trusted sources. It’s a simple way to build your user base, show off your expertise, and expand your reputation.
Our SEO experts dive into the world of backlinks for small businesses who are just getting started — what they are, why they’re important, and how you can easily create them. Don’t worry, we keep it simple; anyone can get started with organic backlinks with just a little guidance.
Who are we?
We are Bimeo Digital, a digital marketing company based in Baltimore, and we’re here to help businesses grow. If you’re interested in more SEO tips, sign up for our free audit to get a personalized tip on what your website needs to engage its user base. A little advice can go a long way.
First Things First, What Are Backlinks
A backlink is a “vote of confidence” from one website to another. When another website links to your website, it shows that they find your information valuable and helpful to its user base, and they are referring users to you.
Backlinks are most commonly found in news articles and blogs but can be linked from any web page for any reason.
Why Backlinks Are Important
Search engines like Google use backlinks to help figure out which websites are trustworthy and full of helpful information. Websites are likely linking to your website because it’s a trusted place to visit and it has relevant, helpful info that users will want to read and explore.
The more backlinks your website has from other trusted sites, the more likely you are to show up higher in search results. And guess what? Higher search results mean more visitors to your site.
How Do You Create Organic Backlinks
You don’t need to be a tech wizard to get backlinks. You just need to know where to look and how to ask nicely. The idea is to create crafted, helpful content that other websites will want to link to. You can partner with websites before writing your content or talk with other companies once your content is published. We cover the step-by-step guide to getting backlinks below.
Step 1. Create Great Content
This is the first and most important step! Think about the kind of content you want your business to be known for. Your main goal should be either helpful, entertaining, or new and trending information.
Consider your audience and who the primary demographic is that will benefit from what you’re creating. Other websites will want to link to your content if it’s valuable to their audience. Write blog posts, create videos, or design infographics that people will love to share and make it easy to consume.
Step 2. Reach Out to Other Websites
Once you have your content, it’s time to share it. Reach out to websites, bloggers, or businesses in your industry. Send them an email that is friendly, short, and to the point. You want them to know what your information is, who you are, and why it is valuable.
It can be helpful to read through their blogs and resources to provide suggestions on how your content can help fill a gap in what they’re providing. You want them to feel excited and make it easy.
Step 3. Write Guest Posts
Another great way to build backlinks is by writing guest posts for other websites. Ask websites what information they want to share and offer to write an article for them. Remember, duplicate content is never good for Google, so don’t share the same content across multiple sites.
Instead, make unique content specifically for the blog or website. In return, you get to share your knowledge with a new audience, and you link back to your own website.
Step 4. Share on Social Media
Even though social media links aren’t the same as backlinks, sharing your content on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram can get more eyes on it. The more people see your content, the higher the chances that someone with a website will link to it.
Promote yourself, share tidbits, and make the info easy to find. Encourage your followers to share it, link to it, and show it to friends and family so you can further your reach organically.
Step 5. List Your Website in Directories
Some websites act like big directories or phone books. They list businesses by category, and if you add your website to these directories, you might get a valuable backlink. Look for directories that are specific to your industry, and make sure they’re reputable.
Digital marketing companies can help resource local directories or small business websites that are helpful for linking to companies in your industry. This can take a bit more legwork but is worth it for the SEO benefits it provides.
Getting Backlinks for Small Businesses
You might be thinking, “This all sounds great, but I’m just a small business. Is this really for me?” Absolutely!
Small businesses can benefit greatly from backlinks, even more than big companies in some cases. Why? Because backlinks can help you build a strong online presence without spending a ton of money on ads. And the best part is that anyone, no matter how small their business, can start creating backlinks right away.
Start by connecting with other local businesses or industry partners. For example, if you own a local bakery, you could team up with a coffee shop to write a blog post about the best places to enjoy breakfast in your town. They link to you, you link to them—it’s a backlinking win for both sides!
Backlink Tip: Be Consistent and Patient
Just like growing your business, creating backlinks takes time. You might not see results overnight, but with consistent effort, your website will start to rise in the search rankings. Every backlink you earn is like watering your website’s SEO garden.
Remember, it’s all about building real relationships with other websites and creating content that people want to share. Don’t take these connections for granted, invest time in building a network that expands beyond just links on a website.
Still worried? Our free SEO audit can help determine if your backlinks are working for you and see what areas you can improve for faster results.
You Can Get Started with Organic Backlinks Today
Backlinks are one of the best ways to improve your website’s visibility and grow your business. Whether you’re writing guest posts, creating awesome content, or collaborating with other businesses, every backlink helps you get closer to the top of the search results. And when more people find your website, your business can really take off! You are building a business network that will expand beyond links and tap into resources, advice, and more for the life of your company. And that helps your overall community thrive.
Ready to start building your backlinks? Reach out for your free SEO audit today, and let’s get your site climbing the ranks in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many backlinks do I need to rank higher on Google?
There’s no magic number for how many backlinks you want. Focus on getting quality backlinks from trusted sites rather than worrying about quantity. A few great backlinks can be better than hundreds of low-quality ones.
Are all backlinks good?
Not necessarily. You want backlinks from trustworthy, relevant websites. If a shady or spammy site links to you, it could actually hurt your ranking, so never just accept any backlink offer unless it will benefit your site and looks trustworthy.
Can I buy backlinks to speed up the process?
It’s best to avoid buying backlinks. Google frowns on this and may penalize your site. Organic backlinks from genuine relationships are always better! Shortcuts to SEO almost always end in lower rankings. If you need fast results, PPC ads are a better option while you build organic backlinks.
How long does it take to see results from backlinks?
It depends, but you may start seeing changes in your rankings within a few weeks to a few months. Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Never stop investing in the beginning because this will build you a better foundation.
Can social media help with backlinks?
While social media links don’t count as traditional backlinks, sharing your content can help it reach a larger audience, increasing the chances of someone linking to it.
What’s the difference between a “do-follow” and a “no-follow” backlink?
A “do-follow” backlink tells search engines to pass on the SEO benefits to your site. A “no-follow” backlink, on the other hand, doesn’t pass SEO value, but it can still drive traffic to your site. Both have value in different ways.
