Backlinks are links from other websites that point to pages on your site. Although it seems simple, the role of backlinks is very important in determining the ranking of web pages in search engines.
In the world of digital marketing, the term “backlink” may have been heard often, especially for those who are struggling in the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). However, for some people this concept still sounds unfamiliar. This article will take an in-depth look at what backlinks are, why they are important, and how to manage them so that they can have a positive impact on your website.
What is Backlink?
Before we go any further, let’s understand the basic concept. A backlink is a link that connects one website to another. In simple language, when a website includes a link to your website, it is called a backlink. Other terms often used for backlinks are “inbound link” or “incoming link.”
Why are backlinks important? Broadly speaking, backlinks act as a “reference” or “sign of trust” from one website to another. Search engines like Google utilize backlinks as one of the key factors in assessing and ranking a website in search results. The more quality backlinks pointing to your site, the more likely your site is to rank higher in search engines.
The Role of Backlinks in SEO
In SEO strategy, backlinks play a very crucial role. Search engines, especially Google, consider backlinks as the main indicator in assessing the relevance and authority of a website. When a website has many backlinks from authoritative and relevant sites, search engines will judge the site as a trusted and quality source of information.
However, not all backlinks are created equal. The quality of backlinks is much more important than their quantity. A Backlink Profile, or backlink profile, refers to the collection of all backlinks pointing to your website. In a backlink profile, there are several things to consider:
Quality of Liaison Sites
Backlinks from sites that have high authority (such as well-known news sites or government sites) will have a greater positive impact than backlinks from sites that are less recognized or even spam.
Content Relevance
Search engines also take into account the relevance between the linking site and the site receiving the backlink. If you have a site about health, backlinks from other health sites will be more valuable than backlinks from unrelated sites.
Anchor Text
Anchor text is a clickable text in a hyperlink. Relevant anchor text that contains the right keywords can increase the relevance of backlinks and provide stronger signals to search engines.
Types of Backlink
In general, backlinks can be categorized into two main types: dofollow backlinks and nofollow backlinks.
Dofollow Backlinks
This is the most valuable type of backlink because it allows search engines to follow the link and associate it with your website. Dofollow backlinks flow “link juice” which contributes to improving your site’s position in search results.
Nofollow Backlink
Dofollow backlinks deliver “link juice” that contributes to improving your site’s position in search results. While they don’t have a direct impact on rankings, nofollow backlinks can still provide benefits, such as increasing traffic to your site or providing wider exposure.
Examples of Effective Backlinks
To give you a clearer picture, here are some examples of backlink that are effective and how they can help improve your website’s SEO:
Backlink from Famous Blogs
Suppose you have a blog that talks about technology or education. If you get backlinks from technology blogs, other college, school sites (.ac.id, .edu.sg, edu.cn, ac.uk) these are well-known that have many visitors and high authority, this can give a significant boost to your site’s ranking.
Backlinks from Educational or Government Sites
Sites with .edu or .gov domains are often considered to have very high authority. Getting backlinks from these kinds of sites can give search engines a strong positive signal about your site’s credibility.
Building Backlinks through Guest Blogging
Submitting guest articles for other websites is an efficient method of gaining backlinks. Make sure the content you create is closely related to the site’s topic and provides meaningful benefits to readers, so the site owner is more likely to link back to your site.
Backlinks from Business Directories
Listing your site in quality online business directories can also be a good source of backlinks, especially if those directories have a good reputation with search engines. Examples are yellowpages.com, yelp.com, angieslist.com, linkedin.com or google.com/business
Backlink Installation Technique
Building backlinks is not an easy task. It requires a well-planned strategy and consistent effort. Here are some steps you can take to build effective backlinks:
Backlink installation technique is a strategy used to get links from other websites pointing to your website. This technique is very important in SEO as it can increase your domain authority and site ranking in search engines. Here are some commonly used types of backlink installation techniques:
Guest Posting
Guest posting is a technique where you write an article or content for another website, and in the article, you include a backlink pointing to your site. This is one of the most popular and effective ways to build backlinks because you can choose sites with high authority and relevant to your niche. Here’s an example of the Guest Posting Technique
https://issuu.com/universitastelkom
https://boosty.to/direktoratputi
https://www.tumblr.com/telkomuniv
https://www.flickr.com/photos/195872852@N05/
Blog Commenting
Blog commenting is a technique where you leave comments on blogs relevant to your niche, including a link to your site. However, this technique should be used with caution, as comments should be relevant and useful, not just spam. Many blogs also apply a “nofollow” attribute to links in comments, which means they don’t provide “link juice” to your site. Here’s an example of finding links for blogwalking
site:.ac.id “leave a reply”
site:.ac.uk “leave a reply”
site:.sg “post a comment”
Try to use TLDs and various country when blogwalking.
Forum Posting
Similar to blog commenting, forum posting involves actively participating in discussion forums relevant to your industry. In forums, you can provide useful answers and include links to your content as references. Be sure to abide by the forum rules to avoid being considered a spammer.
Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking is a technique where you add links to your content on social bookmarking sites like Reddit, StumbleUpon, or Digg. This technique can increase the visibility of your content and generate backlinks, although many social bookmarking sites use the attribute “nofollow.”
Directory Submission
Directory submission involves registering your website in online directories. These directories can be general or industry-specific. Although this technique is not as effective as it used to be, it can still provide backlinks, especially from directories that have high authority. Directory Submission Example
https://id.foursquare.com/v/telkom-university/50626b04e4b0d29ce7e900cb
https://www.brownbook.net/business/52779214/telkom-university/
https://researchid.co/telkomuniversity
Infographic Submission
Infographics are a widely used visual tool to convey information in an engaging and easy-to-understand way. This technique involves creating informative and engaging infographics, then sharing them on sites that allow infographic submissions. You can get a backlink when the site displays your infographic and gives credit in the form of a link to your site.
Press Release
Submitting press releases to news platforms or digital PR sites is an alternative method of gaining backlinks. If your press release is published by media or sites with high authority, you can get strong backlinks. However, the content of the press release must be truly news and not just a simple promotion to be accepted by the site.
Avoiding Adverse Backlinks
While good backlinks can help boost your ranking, bad backlinks can actually hurt your site. Search engines like Google use cutting-edge technology to identify low-quality or spammy backlinks. Backlinks from irrelevant sites, sites with a bad reputation, or those obtained through manipulative methods can cause your site to be penalized.
To avoid this, make sure you avoid unethical tactics, such as buying backlinks or participating in backlink exchange schemes. Focus on building backlinks naturally and through quality content.
Maintain and Monitor Backlink Profile
Over time, it’s important to keep track of your backlink profile. A healthy and balanced backlink profile will give positive signals to search engines. Use tools like Google Search Console or Ahrefs to monitor incoming backlinks and identify potential problems.
If you find backlinks coming from unwanted or low-quality sites, you can use the disavow tool in Google Search Console to inform Google that you don’t want those backlinks to be counted in your site’s ranking assessment.
Conclusion
Backlink is one of the most important elements in a successful SEO strategy. By understanding what backlinks are, how they work, and how to build them properly, you can increase your website’s authority, improve its ranking in search engines, and ultimately, bring in more organic traffic.
However, it’s important to remember that building quality backlinks takes time and consistent effort. Focus on creating valuable and relevant content, and build relationships with authoritative sites in your industry. With the right strategy, backlinks can be a valuable asset that drives your website’s growth and success in the long run.
Always remember to avoid unethical practices and keep your backlink profile healthy and positive. That way, you will see significant results in your SEO efforts and achieve the goals you have set for your website.
Reference
https://moz.com/learn/seo/backlinks
https://ahrefs.com/blog/what-are-backlinks
Penulis : Meilina Eka A
