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7 Free Link Building Strategies That Actually Work (No Tricks or Hacks)

  • Ryan B 

Here’s a little something I’d like to share with you… the art of link building – without spending a dime! That’s right; you don’t need a massive budget to build high-quality backlinks. With these 7 free link building strategies, you’ll be well on your way to improving your website’s authority and ranking higher in search engines.

Read ’till the end for a bonus strategy!

Strategy #1: Resource Pages

Resource pages are a goldmine for link building because they’re curated lists of high-quality websites, tools, and resources. When you get featured on a resource page, you’re essentially getting a vote of confidence from the website owner, saying “Hey, this is a valuable resource worth sharing.” These links are valuable because they’re often:

  • Relevant: Resource pages are niche-specific, making the links highly relevant to your website.
  • Authoritative: Resource pages are often created by authoritative websites, passing on their trust and authority to your website.
  • Durable: Resource pages are less likely to be removed or updated, making the links more stable.
  • Find resource pages in your niche using search operators like “keyword + resources” or “keyword + links.”
  • Create a valuable resource on your website that’s worth linking to (e.g., an in-depth guide, a tool, or a webinar).
  • Reach out to the owners of those resource pages and suggest your resource as a worthy addition.

How to implement a Resource Pages link building strategy:

  1. Create Linkable Assets:
    • Develop high-quality content or tools that provide value to your audience.
    • Examples: comprehensive guides, interactive tools, original research, or infographics.
    • Ensure these assets are well-designed, informative, and unique.
  2. Find Relevant Resource Pages:
    • Use search operators in Google:
      • “keyword + resources”
      • “keyword + useful links”
      • “keyword + recommended sites”
      • “keyword + links”
    • Replace “keyword” with terms related to your niche.
    • Explore the first 5-10 pages of search results for each query.
  3. Evaluate Potential Resource Pages:
    • Check the page’s relevance to your niche.
    • Assess the website’s authority (use tools like Moz Domain Authority or Ahrefs Domain Rating).
    • Verify that the resource page is regularly updated.
    • Ensure the page allows external links.
  4. Create a Prospect List:
    • Compile a spreadsheet with:
      • Website URL
      • Resource page URL
      • Website owner or editor’s name
      • Contact email or contact form URL
      • Notes on the website’s focus or requirements
  5. Personalize Your Outreach:
    • Research each website to understand its audience and content focus.
    • Find commonalities between your resource and their existing content.
  6. Craft Your Outreach Email:
    • Keep it concise and personalized.
    • Introduce yourself and your website.
    • Compliment their resource page.
    • Briefly explain your resource and its value to their audience.
    • Suggest adding your resource to their page.
    • Offer something in return (e.g., sharing their page on social media).
  7. Send Outreach Emails:
    • Use a professional email address.
    • Follow up once after 1-2 weeks if you don’t receive a response.
  8. Track Your Progress:
    • Note responses and outcomes in your spreadsheet.
    • Monitor which resource pages add your link.
  9. Nurture Relationships:
    • Thank website owners who add your link.
    • Share their resource page on your social media.
    • Consider future collaboration opportunities.

The key to success with this strategy is creating truly valuable resources and building authentic relationships with website owners. Quality always trumps quantity in link building.

Strategy #2: Broken Link Building

Broken link building is effective because it’s a win-win for both parties. You get a high-quality backlink, and the website owner gets to replace a dead link with a working one. These links are valuable because they’re:

  • Relevant: The content you create to replace the broken link is highly relevant to the original content.
  • Authoritative: You’re getting a link from a website that’s already authoritative in your niche.
  • Easy to get: Website owners are often happy to replace broken links, making it an easier link to acquire.
  • Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to find broken links on other websites.
  • Create a replacement piece of content that’s even better than the original.
  • Reach out to the website owner and suggest your content as a replacement for the broken link.

How to implement a Broken Link building strategy:

  1. Choose Your Tools:
    • Select a broken link checker tool (e.g., Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, Check My Links).
    • Choose an SEO tool for competitor analysis (e.g., Moz, SEMrush, Ahrefs).
  2. Identify Potential Target Websites:
    • List authoritative websites in your niche.
    • Include competitors’ websites for analysis.
  3. Find Broken Links:
    • Use your chosen tool to scan target websites for broken links.
    • Focus on resource pages, blog posts, and other content-rich areas.
    • Create a list of broken links relevant to your niche.
  4. Analyze Broken Link Destinations:
    • Use the Wayback Machine (archive.org) to view the original content of broken links.
    • Determine the topic and purpose of the original content.
  5. Create Replacement Content:
    • Develop high-quality content that matches or improves upon the original.
    • Ensure your content is comprehensive, up-to-date, and valuable to the target audience.
    • Optimize your content for search engines.
  6. Compile Outreach List:
    • Create a spreadsheet with:
      • Website URL
      • Page URL containing the broken link
      • Broken link URL
      • Website owner or editor’s name
      • Contact email or contact form URL
      • Notes on the content topic and your replacement piece
  7. Craft Personalized Outreach Emails:
    • Introduce yourself briefly.
    • Inform them about the broken link on their specific page.
    • Suggest your content as a suitable replacement.
    • Highlight how your content adds value to their readers.
    • Keep the email concise and friendly.
  8. Send Outreach Emails:
    • Use a professional email address.
    • Personalize each email based on your research.
    • Follow up once after 1-2 weeks if you don’t receive a response.
  9. Track Responses and Results:
    • Note responses and outcomes in your spreadsheet.
    • Monitor which websites replace the broken link with yours.
  10. Follow Up and Build Relationships:
    • Thank website owners who use your link.
    • Offer additional value (e.g., suggesting other broken links you’ve found on their site).

Successful broken link building is about creating high-quality, relevant content that genuinely replaces or improves upon the original broken link. It’s about providing value to both the website owner and their audience while building relationships in your industry.

Strategy #3: Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a classic link building strategy because it allows you to tap into an existing audience and build relationships with other website owners. These links are valuable because they’re:

  • Relevant: You’re writing for a website in your niche, making the link highly relevant.
  • Authoritative: You’re getting a link from a website that’s already authoritative in your niche.
  • Contextual: The link is surrounded by content you’ve written, making it more contextual and valuable.
  • Find relevant blogs in your niche that accept guest posts.
  • Write a high-quality, engaging post that includes a link back to your website.
  • Build a relationship with the blog owner and become a regular contributor.

How to implement a Guest Blogging link building strategy:

  1. Define Your Goals:
    • Set specific objectives (e.g., number of backlinks, referral traffic, brand awareness).
  2. Research Potential Host Blogs:
    • Use search operators like “keyword + write for us” or “keyword + guest post”.
    • Explore industry blogs and websites in your niche.
    • Check competitors’ backlink profiles for guest post opportunities.
  3. Create a Prospect List:
    • Compile a spreadsheet with:
      • Blog name and URL
      • Domain authority or similar metric
      • Target audience and content focus
      • Guest posting guidelines URL
      • Editor’s name and contact information
  4. Qualify Prospects:
    • Ensure the blog is relevant to your niche.
    • Check the blog’s engagement (comments, social shares).
    • Verify the blog allows dofollow links in guest posts.
    • Assess the quality and frequency of their content.
  5. Develop Content Ideas:
    • Read the blog’s existing content to avoid duplication.
    • Identify gaps in their content that you can fill.
    • Brainstorm unique angles or insights you can provide.
  6. Craft Your Pitch:
    • Personalize each pitch to the specific blog.
    • Introduce yourself and your expertise.
    • Propose 2-3 topic ideas with brief outlines.
    • Explain how your content will benefit their audience.
    • Mention any previous guest posting experience.
  7. Send Outreach Emails:
    • Use a professional email address.
    • Follow the blog’s guest posting guidelines precisely.
    • Keep your email concise and to the point.
  8. Follow Up:
    • If you don’t receive a response, follow up once after 1-2 weeks.
    • Be polite and understanding if your pitch is rejected.
  9. Write High-Quality Content:
    • Once your pitch is accepted, create exceptional content.
    • Follow the blog’s style guide and formatting requirements.
    • Include relevant internal links to the host blog’s content.
    • Naturally incorporate 1-2 links to your own website where appropriate.
  10. Submit and Revise:
    • Submit your post on time.
    • Be open to feedback and willing to make revisions.
    • Ensure your author bio is compelling and includes a link to your website.
  11. Promote Your Guest Post:
    • Share the published post on your social media channels.
    • Respond to comments on the post.
    • Consider sending the post to your email list if relevant.

Successful guest blogging requires building relationships and providing value to the host blog’s audience. Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that naturally incorporates links, rather than forcing links into subpar content. This approach will yield better long-term results and help establish your authority in your niche.

Strategy #4: Skyscraper Technique

The Skyscraper Technique is effective because it’s a form of content marketing that earns links naturally. By creating something better than what’s already out there, you’re making it easy for people to link to you. These links are valuable because they’re:

  • Relevant: You’re creating content that’s highly relevant to your niche.
  • Authoritative: You’re earning links from authoritative websites that want to reference your content.
  • Natural: The links are earned naturally, making them more valuable in the eyes of search engines.
  • Find popular content in your niche using tools like BuzzSumo.
  • Create an even better version of that content on your website.
  • Reach out to the people who linked to the original content and suggest your improved version.

Important Note: Prior to the AI content boom, the skyscrapper technique was a top strategy for building high authority backlinks and content that google loved to rank. These days, this style of very long form content doesn’t perform as well. It still can, but just be sure to research the other top content for the keywords you’re targeting, and make sure there are some other long form content pages already ranking.

How to implement a Skyscraper link building strategy

  1. Choose Your Topic:
    • Identify key topics in your niche that align with your expertise.
    • Ensure the topic has link-earning potential and relevance to your audience.
  2. Find Popular Existing Content:
    • Use tools like BuzzSumo, Ahrefs Content Explorer, or SEMrush to find highly-linked content in your chosen topic.
    • Look for content with a high number of backlinks and social shares.
  3. Analyze the Top-Performing Content:
    • Study the structure, format, and depth of the popular content.
    • Identify gaps, outdated information, or areas for improvement.
  4. Create Superior Content:
    • Develop content that surpasses the original in:
      • Depth of information
      • Visual appeal (images, infographics, videos)
      • User experience and readability
      • Data accuracy and recency
      • Practical value to the reader
    • Ensure your content is substantially better, not just slightly improved.
  5. Optimize Your Content:
    • Use SEO best practices for on-page optimization.
    • Include relevant keywords naturally throughout the content.
    • Optimize meta tags, headers, and URL structure.
  6. Publish and Promote:
    • Publish your content on your website.
    • Share it across your social media channels.
    • Consider paid promotion to increase initial visibility.
  7. Identify Link Prospects:
    • Use backlink analysis tools (e.g., Ahrefs, Moz, SEMrush) to find websites linking to the original content.
    • Create a list of these websites, including:
      • Website URL
      • Page linking to the original content
      • Website owner or editor’s name
      • Contact information
  8. Qualify Your Prospects:
    • Prioritize websites with high domain authority.
    • Ensure the websites are relevant to your niche.
    • Check if the websites are still actively updated.
  9. Craft Your Outreach Email:
    • Personalize each email to the recipient.
    • Briefly introduce yourself and your content.
    • Explain how you found their link to the original content.
    • Highlight how your content improves upon the original.
    • Suggest they might want to link to your superior version.
    • Keep the email concise and respectful.
  10. Send Outreach Emails:
    • Use a professional email address.
    • Send emails in batches to manage responses effectively.
    • Follow up once after 1-2 weeks if you don’t receive a response.
  11. Track Your Outreach:
    • Use a spreadsheet or CRM to monitor:
      • Sent emails
      • Responses
      • Link placements
      • Follow-ups needed
  12. Engage with Responses:
    • Promptly reply to all responses, even if negative.
    • Be prepared to explain the value of your content further.
    • Thank those who decide to link to your content.
  13. Monitor New Backlinks:
    • Use backlink monitoring tools to track new links to your content.
    • Set up Google Alerts for your content’s title to catch unlinked mentions.
  14. Iterate and Improve:
    • Continuously update and improve your skyscraper content.
    • Add new information, examples, or data as they become available.

The key to success with the Skyscraper Technique is genuinely creating content that provides significantly more value than existing resources. Focus on quality, depth, and user experience rather than just trying to be “bigger.” This approach not only earns links but also establishes your authority in your niche and provides real value to your audience.

Strategy #5: Expert Interviews

Expert interviews are a great way to build relationships and earn links from authoritative sources. By positioning yourself as an expert in your niche, you’re making it easy for others to reference your work. These links are valuable because they’re:

  • Authoritative: You’re getting links from authoritative sources like news outlets and industry leaders.
  • Relevant: The links are highly relevant to your niche and expertise.
  • Contextual: The links are surrounded by content that showcases your expertise.
  • Reach out to influencers in your niche and offer to interview them.
  • Publish the interview on your website and ask the influencer to share it with their audience.
  • Get featured on other websites and podcasts to build relationships and earn links.

How to implement an “expert interviews” link building strategy:

  1. Identify Potential Experts:
    • Research influential figures in your industry.
    • Look for experts with strong online presence and engaged audiences.
    • Consider both well-known figures and rising stars in your field.
  2. Create an Expert List:
    • Compile a spreadsheet with:
      • Expert’s name
      • Area of expertise
      • Website URL
      • Social media profiles
      • Contact information
      • Relevant recent work or publications
  3. Craft Your Outreach Message:
    • Personalize each message to the expert.
    • Briefly introduce yourself and your platform.
    • Explain why you’re interested in interviewing them specifically.
    • Outline the potential benefits for them (exposure, backlink, etc.).
    • Propose a few potential topics or questions.
  4. Initiate Contact:
    • Use the most appropriate channel (email, LinkedIn, etc.).
    • Keep your message concise and professional.
    • Be flexible with your request and respect their time.
  5. Prepare for the Interview:
    • Research the expert thoroughly.
    • Develop thought-provoking questions that showcase their expertise.
    • Prepare your recording equipment or interview platform.
  6. Conduct the Interview:
    • Be punctual and professional.
    • Ask open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses.
    • Allow for natural conversation flow while guiding the discussion.
  7. Post-Interview Process:
    • Thank the expert for their time.
    • Transcribe the interview if it was audio or video.
    • Edit the content for clarity and conciseness, maintaining the expert’s voice.
  8. Publish the Interview:
    • Format the interview attractively on your website.
    • Include a brief introduction about the expert.
    • Optimize the post with relevant keywords and meta tags.
    • Include a backlink to the expert’s website or relevant work.
  9. Promote the Interview:
    • Share the interview on your social media channels.
    • Tag the expert in your social media posts.
    • Email the expert with the published link, encouraging them to share it.
  10. Follow Up with the Expert:
    • Thank them again for their participation.
    • Provide them with social media snippets or quotes for easy sharing.
    • Suggest potential future collaborations.

Success with expert interviews hinges on providing value to both your audience and the experts you interview. Focus on creating genuine, insightful conversations that benefit all parties involved. This approach not only helps build links but also establishes you as a respected figure in your industry, opening doors for further opportunities and collaborations.

Strategy #6: Featured.com

Featured.com is effective for link building because it allows you to tap into the world of journalism and get featured in major publications. These links are valuable because they’re:

  • Authoritative: You’re getting links from authoritative sources like news outlets and industry leaders.
  • Relevant: The links are highly relevant to your niche and expertise.
  • Natural: The links are earned naturally, making them more valuable in the eyes of search engines

How to implement a Featured.com link building strategy:

  1. Sign Up for Featured.com:
    • Create an account on Featured.com as a source.
    • Choose your areas of expertise carefully.
  2. Define Your Expertise:
    • Identify your key areas of knowledge and experience.
    • Prepare a short bio highlighting your credentials.
  3. Set Up Email Notifications:
    • Configure your account to receive relevant query emails.
    • Consider setting up email filters to organize incoming requests.
  4. Monitor Incoming Queries:
    • Review Featured.com emails regularly
    • Quickly identify queries relevant to your expertise.
  5. Prepare Your Response:
    • Read the query thoroughly and understand the requirements.
    • Craft a concise, informative response that directly answers the journalist’s question.
    • Include a brief bio and your credentials at the end of your response.
    • Proofread your response for clarity and errors.
  6. Submit Your Response Promptly:
    • Respond as quickly as possible, as journalists often work on tight deadlines.
    • Ensure you’re within the specified deadline for the query.
  7. Follow Up (if appropriate):
    • If your response was particularly relevant or unique, consider a polite follow-up after a few days.
    • Offer additional information or clarification if needed.
  8. Track Your Submissions (helpful when your submitting lots of responses):
    • Keep a spreadsheet of your responses, including:
      • Date of submission
      • Publication name
      • Query topic
      • Your response summary
  9. Monitor for Publications:
    • Set up Google Alerts for your name and company.
    • Regularly check the publications you’ve submitted to.
  10. Engage with Published Content:
    • If your response is published, share the article on your social media.
    • Thank the journalist for including your insights.
  11. Leverage Your Features:
    • Add “As featured in…” to your website and marketing materials.
    • Create a press page on your website showcasing your media mentions.

The key to success with Featured.com is providing timely, valuable, and unique insights to journalists. Focus on quality over quantity in your responses. This strategy not only helps in building high-quality backlinks but also establishes you as a go-to expert in your field, potentially leading to more media opportunities beyond Featured.com. Always prioritize building genuine relationships with journalists and providing value to their audience over solely seeking backlinks.

Strategy #7: Content Collaboration

Content collaboration is effective because it allows you to tap into the audience and expertise of other content creators. By co-creating content, you’re making it easy for others to link to you and share your work. These links are valuable because they’re:

  • Relevant: The content you’re creating is highly relevant to your niche.
  • Authoritative: You’re earning links from authoritative websites that want to reference your content.
  • Natural: The links are earned naturally, making them more valuable in the eyes of search engines.

How to implement a Content Collaboration link building strategy

  1. Define Your Content:
    • Determine the types of content you want to collaborate on (e.g., blog posts, videos, podcasts, infographics).
  2. Identify Potential Collaborators:
    • Research complementary businesses or content creators in your niche.
    • Look for influencers, thought leaders, and brands with similar target audiences.
    • Consider both established names and up-and-coming creators.
  3. Create a Collaboration Prospect List:
    • Compile a spreadsheet with:
      • Name of individual or company
      • Website URL
      • Social media profiles
      • Contact information
      • Notes on their content style and audience
  4. Analyze Potential Partners:
    • Evaluate their content quality and consistency.
    • Check their domain authority and social media engagement.
    • Ensure their values and brand image align with yours.
  5. Develop Collaboration Ideas:
    • Brainstorm content concepts that leverage both parties’ strengths.
    • Consider formats like co-authored articles, joint webinars, or podcast crossovers.
    • Think about how you can provide unique value to their audience.
  6. Craft Your Outreach Message:
    • Personalize each message to the potential collaborator.
    • Briefly introduce yourself and your brand.
    • Explain why you’re interested in collaborating with them specifically.
    • Propose a few potential collaboration ideas.
    • Highlight mutual benefits of the collaboration.
  7. Initiate Contact:
    • Use the most appropriate channel (email, LinkedIn, etc.).
    • Keep your message concise and professional.
    • Be open to their ideas and suggestions.
  8. Plan the Collaboration:
    • Once a partner agrees, schedule a planning meeting.
    • Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and timelines.
    • Agree on the content format, topic, and key points.
    • Discuss how the content will be promoted by both parties.
  9. Create the Content:
    • Work closely with your collaborator to develop high-quality content.
    • Ensure the content provides value to both audiences.
    • Incorporate both parties’ expertise and insights.
  10. Optimize the Content:
    • Use SEO best practices for on-page optimization.
    • Include relevant keywords naturally throughout the content.
    • Ensure proper linking between both parties’ websites.
  11. Prepare for Publication:
    • Decide where the content will be published (one or both websites, third-party platform).
    • Agree on the publication date and promotion schedule.
    • Prepare any necessary graphics or promotional materials.
  12. Publish and Promote:
    • Publish the content as agreed.
    • Share across both parties’ social media channels.
    • Consider paid promotion to increase visibility.

Successful link building with content collaboration involves creating genuine value for both parties’ audiences. Focus on developing high-quality, innovative content that leverages each collaborator’s unique strengths and expertise. This approach not only helps in building high-quality backlinks but also expands your reach, enhances your authority in your niche, and opens doors for ongoing partnerships and opportunities.

Bonus Tip: Leverage User-Generated Content

User-generated content is a powerful way to earn links naturally. By encouraging your audience to create content around your brand, you’re making it easy for them to link back to you. These links are valuable because they’re:

  • Relevant: The content is highly relevant to your brand and niche.
  • Natural: The links are earned naturally, making them more valuable in the eyes of search engines.
  • Diverse: You’re getting links from a diverse range of websites and authors.
  • Encourage your audience to create content around your brand (e.g., reviews, testimonials, tutorials).
  • Showcase user-generated content on your website and social media channels.
  • Earn links naturally from user-generated content.

How to implement a UGC link building strategy

  1. Define Your UGC Strategy:
    • Identify types of content you want users to create (reviews, testimonials, tutorials, etc.).
    • Set clear goals for your UGC campaign (e.g., number of submissions, backlinks, social shares).
  2. Create Incentives:
    • Develop rewards or recognition programs for contributors (e.g., feature on your site, prizes, discounts).
    • Ensure incentives comply with search engine guidelines and disclosure requirements.
  3. Set Up UGC Platforms:
    • Prepare dedicated spaces on your website for UGC (e.g., review sections, community forums).
    • Optimize these areas for search engines and easy user submission.
  4. Launch Your UGC Campaign:
    • Announce the campaign across all your channels (website, email, social media).
    • Clearly communicate guidelines, incentives, and how to participate.
  5. Engage and Moderate:
    • Actively engage with contributors, responding to submissions promptly.
    • Implement a moderation process to ensure quality and relevance of submissions.
  6. Showcase and Promote UGC:
    • Feature top submissions on your website and social media.
    • Create roundup posts or galleries highlighting the best UGC.
  7. Encourage Sharing and Linking:
    • Provide easy sharing tools for contributors to spread their content.
    • Reach out to contributors whose content you’ve featured, encouraging them to link back to your site.
  8. Leverage UGC for SEO:
    • Optimize UGC pages with relevant keywords and meta tags.
    • Use schema markup to help search engines understand and display UGC appropriately.
  9. Analyze and Refine:
    • Track metrics like engagement, backlinks generated, and traffic from UGC.
    • Use insights to refine your UGC strategy and improve future campaigns.

UGC link building success comes from creating genuine enthusiasm among your audience to share their experiences with your brand. Focus on fostering a community and providing value to contributors, rather than just acquiring links. This approach will lead to more authentic, diverse, and valuable backlinks while also building brand loyalty and engagement.

There you have it – 7 free link building strategies to supercharge your SEO efforts + a bonus strategy! Link building is about building relationships and providing value, not just manipulating search engines. Focus on quality, relevance, and helpfulness, and you’ll be on your way to a stronger online presence.

Happy link building!