Spoiler: It’s not just about keywords.
The top pages ranking for “link building strategies” all have one thing in common — they build real relationships (not just links). Let’s break down what they’re doing and how you can do it too.
🔍 1. Ethically "Borrow" Your Competitors' Best Backlinks
Want their rankings? Learn from their backlinks.
How to do it:
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Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to spy on where their backlinks come from.
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Spot mentions of your brand that aren’t linked — reach out and ask for a backlink.
Example message:
“Hey [Name], loved your post on CRMs! I saw you mentioned [Your Brand] — would you consider adding a link?”
Bonus tip: Use Check My Links (a Chrome extension) to find broken links on popular pages — then offer your content as a replacement. Win-win.
📊 2. Create Content People Want to Link To
Content that gets links? It’s data-driven, original, and useful.
What works:
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Industry surveys (“We asked 1,000 marketers about X…”)
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Expert roundups (10+ leaders sharing insights)
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Visual content (infographics, charts, templates)
Real example: A SaaS company boosted traffic 150% with a remote work study that got picked up by Forbes.
🔁 3. Turn Old Posts Into Fresh Link Magnets
Already have good content? Repurpose it.
Ideas:
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Turn blog posts into podcast clips
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Create Twitter/X threads tagging featured people
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Design LinkedIn carousels or Slideshare decks
One business repurposed a “SEO for small businesses” post into a Slideshare deck — and got 50+ backlinks.
🤝 4. Team Up With Micro-Influencers
You don’t need big names. You need niche voices who want to collaborate.
Tactics that work:
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Create joint content (eBooks, webinars)
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Offer affiliate perks in exchange for backlinks
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Use HARO to respond to journalist requests
A food blogger got 12 backlinks just by sending out recipe kits to small influencers for honest reviews.
⚠️ 5. Avoid These Link-Building Mistakes
Before you scale, fix the basics:
🚫 Over-optimized anchor text (don’t force “best SEO agency” into every link)
🚫 Irrelevant links (a fitness blog linking to your crypto site? Nope.)
🚫 No internal linking (linking to your own pages is a must!)
🧩 The Big Takeaway?
It’s about trust, not tricks.
Links = trust in the eyes of Google.
Focus on helpful content and authentic relationships — the rankings will follow.
✅ What You Can Do Today
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🔎 Audit 3 competitor backlinks with a free tool like Ubersuggest
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✉️ Pitch 1 site to add a link to your best article
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🔁 Keep it consistent — small moves win over time
🧠 Quick FAQ
Q: How fast will link building help my SEO?
A: Most sites see results in 3–6 months. Look for early “impression” boosts in Google Search Console.
Q: Are directory links worth it?
A: Only high-quality, niche ones (like local listings). Avoid spammy directories.
Q: Best beginner-friendly tool?
A: Try Ahrefs’ free Backlink Checker or Moz Link Explorer.