Whether you’re new to the link building industry or have been growing your site’s backlink profile for years, this curated list of scalable link building resources has been hand-selected to support link building campaigns of various levels. The compiled toolkit of resources will provide further insight into industry leaders, tools, tactics, best practices and case studies.
*NOTE: We’ve listed the following resources in alphabetical order to avoid bias.
SEO Link Building Resources
Industry Blogs
- Ahrefs – An SEO and marketing blog that includes tutorials, case studies and industry knowledge
- BuzzStream – A resource for best practices in link building and website promotion
- Backlinko – A selection of articles and guides on SEO and link building strategies
- Backlinks.com.au – A source for link building case studies, tips, tactics and best practices
- Google Webmaster Blog – A blog dedicated to current news on Google crawling, indexing and search
- Kaiserthesage – A personal journal of Jason Acidre, focused on technical SEO, link building and content marketing
- Moz – A link building blog that regularly publishes on the current trends in the industry
- Point Blank SEO – A publication dedicated to link building strategy, tips and tactics
- Search Engine Journal – A collection of current search news and guides for the SEO and marketing community
- Search Engine Land – A resource for current news on Search, SEO & SEM
- Search Engine People – A source for articles and news stories on the latest in digital marketing
- Search Engine Roundtable – A resource for search engine news and SEO strategy with a focus on link building
- Search Engine Watch – A digital marketing blog that provides news, guides and reviews about SEO, PPC, social media, and analytics
- Seer Interactive – A collection of tools and techniques for SEO, paid search marketing, data analysis and digital marketing
- SEMrush – A resource for innovative ideas in content strategy, content marketing, SEO, SEM, PPC, social media, and digital marketing
- Vertical Measures – A digital marketing blog that covers current news and industry-leading tips in SEO, paid media, content marketing and link building
- YouMoz – An SEO and online marketing user-generated search industry blog
Industry Experts
- Aaron Wall – Founder of SEObook
- Arnie Kuenn – Founder and CEO of Vertical Measures
- Chris Cemper – Founder of Link Research Tools
- Dan Petrovic – Managing director of DEJAN
- Debra Mastaler – Features Editor and Columnist at Search Engine Land, OMCP Certified Link Building Trainer and the President at Alliance-Link.com
- Don Rhoades – Digital marketing consultant and founder of Gonzo SEO
- Eric Enge – Founder and CEO of Stone Temple Consulting
- James Agate – Founder of Skyrocket SEO
- Jason Acidre – Author of Kaiserthesage and co-founder of Avaris
- Jim Boykin – Founder and CEO of Internet Marketing Ninjas
- John Doherty – Founder of Credo and freelance digital marketing consultant
- Julie Joyce – Owner of and Director of Operations for Link Fish Media, Inc. and co-founder of SEO Chicks
- Justin Briggs – CEO of Briggsby
- Paddy Moogan – Co-founder of Aira and the author of The Link Building Book
- Rand Fishkin – Co-founder and former CEO of Moz and founder of Sparktoro
- Ross Hudgens – Founder and CEO of Siege Media
- Wil Reynolds – Founder and CEO of SEER Interactive
Link Building 101
If you’re considered a novice link builder and looking to get a kickstart on your first link building campaign – look no further. Below you’ll find a list of beginners’ resources that will provide you with the information you need to start building high-quality links:
- 6 Types of Webmaster Replies to Link Building Requests
- 6 Quality Indicators for Link Development
- The Advanced Guide to Link Building
- The Beginner’s Guide to Link-Building
- Link Building: Expectations vs. Reality
- Link Building 101 – The Almost Complete Guide (Updated for Post-Penguin)
- Link Building Guide for 2018 and Beyond
- Link Building for SEO: The Definitive Guide
- The Beginner’s Guide to SEO
- The Noob Friendly Guide to Link Building
Link Building Tools
There’s an overwhelming amount of link building tools on the Internet and finding the right ones to use for your link building efforts can be daunting. These tools help streamline link building efforts throughout each stage of the process and provide you with the assistance needed to build links and boost your search rankings:
Analysis
Link Prospecting
- Ahrefs
- BuzzStream Query Generator
- BuzzSumo
- Link Prospector
- Majestic
- Moz Link Explorer
- Monitor Backlinks
- Ontolo
- Screaming Frog
Outreach Tools
- BuzzStream
- Google Sheets
- Hunter.io
- Link Assistant
- Ninja Outreach
- Outreachr
- Pitchbox
- Raven Tools
- Yesware
Browser Extensions
Link Building Case Studies
Learning about the success of other companies’ link building campaigns can provide invaluable knowledge for you and your team. Not only can case studies provide a real-world example with processes, data and results, they also guide inspire future strategies. Below you’ll find case studies related to the link building industry:
- A link-building case study: Using brand mentions and competitive linking tactics
- Link Building Case Study: How I Increased My Search Traffic by 110% in 14 Days
- Case Study: How we Created Controversial Content that Earned Hundreds of Links
- Link Building Case Study: How Many Backlinks Does it Take to Rank a New Website
- How to Build Links to Your Blog – A Case Study
- Case Study: $5 Link Building
- A Case Study: Using Contests To Build Links
- How to Create Content that Earns Links & Increases Your Traffic
- Case Study: Building Links in the Travel Industry
Link Building Best Practices
The link building industry is overflowing with methods, strategies, and best practices. With recent algorithm updates and changes in ranking factors, Google is getting quick at identifying questionable link building practices. Below you’ll find information on evergreen link building strategies, best practices, and common mistakes:
- How to Leverage Influencer Outreach to Build a Better Blog Post
- 5 Less Common Link Building Mistakes You Might Be Making
- Top 5 Link Building Methods for 2018 According to Advanced SEOs
- 5 Strategies for Better ‘Link Building’ and Improving Your SEO
- The 8 Best Link-Building Tactics to Boost Off-Page SEO
- 9 Evergreen Link Tactics That Will Never Go Out of Style
- 10 Incredible Link Building Strategies for 2018
- 18 Powerful Link Building Strategies in 2018
- 20 SEO Link BUilding Tactics that Work
- Link Building Best Practices and Strategies
- Link building best practices: Advice from four experts
- Link Earning: 10 Best Practices for E-mail Outreach
- How to Write Effective Link Building Outreach
- Why a Link Building Strategy is Crucial Before You Start Link Development
Link Building Tactics
The foundation of any successful link building campaign is the tactics used to build links. While there are numerous link building techniques you can implement, the tactics used depends on the available time and resources and the industry of the client. We’ve narrowed down the list to provide resources that are focused on tactics that can be used for all types of websites and verticals:
Competitor Link Building
- 7 Actionable Ways to Loot Your Competitors’ Backlinks
- A Guide to Competitive Backlink Analysis
- Competitive Link Analysis: How to Audit Your Competitors’ Link Presence
- From 400+ to 1k+ Links; The Ultimate Competitor Link Building Guide
- How to Build Backlinks Using Your Competitors’ Broken Pages
- How to Spy Out Your Competitor’s Backlink Profile and Gain 20% More Links to Your Site
- Link Building 101: Competitor Analysis
Unlinked Mention Link Building
- 10 Steps to Turn Brand Mentions into Links
- A Simple Guide to Turning (Unlinked) Brand Mentions into Links
- Getting Backlinks Through Unlinked Branded References
- Guide to Using Unlinked Brand Mentions for Link Acquisition
- How to Discover and Claim Unlinked Brand Mentions
- Link Building Magic: How to Turn Citations into Links
- Why linkless mentions are the future of link building
Broken Link Building
- How to Find Broken Links for Your Outreach Campaigns
- 4 Prospecting Approaches for Broken Link Builders
- 7 Reasons Why Your Broken Link Building Campaign Isn’t Working
- A Simple (But Complete) Guide to Broke Link Building
- A Step by Step Guide to Modern Broken Link Building
- Broken Link Building Bible
- Broken Link Building Feast On Your Competitors This Thanksgiving
- Broken Link Building: How to Find Thousands of Broken Link Opportunities at a Time
- How to Use the Broken Link Building Strategy to Get Links
Local Link Building
- 7 Ways to Build Your Local Link Development Portfolio
- 10 Local Link Building Strategy for Small Business
- 11 Ways for Local Businesses to Get Links
- An Easy Quarterly Plan for Local Link Building
- The Complete Guide to Link Building with Local Events
- The Guide to Local Link Building Campaigns
- Local Link Building: 6 Simple Tactics to Start Driving Leads and Sales
- How to Find Opportunities for Local Link Building
- The Ultimate List of Local Link Building Ideas
- What is a Local Backlink and How to Find Them
Content-Based Link Building
- 4 Strategies to Earn Natural, High- Quality Links for Your Content
- 4 Tips to Add Value to Content with Link Building
- 6 Linkable Asset Types (And EXACTLY How to Earn Links With Them)
- 10 Tips in Link Building and Content Marketing
- Content Marketing and SEO: How to Build Links in 2018
- Deconstructing Linkbait: How to Create Content that Attracts Backlinks
- How to Build Quality Backlinks with Infographics
- How to Create Content That Keeps Earning Links (Even After You Stop Promoting It)
- How to Leverage a Linkable Asset
- Link Building Does Not Equal Content Marketing – But Here’s How They Fit Together
- Link Building with Content
- Link Development and Content Marketing
- What is a Linkable Asset & Why Does It Attract Links
- Your Recipe for Creating Linkable Content Assets
Videos and Podcasts
The SERPs are always switching gears and the SEO industry is ever-changing. Staying informed on the freshest SEO news, tools and trends can be challenging. Listen to these SEO podcasts and videos during your commute, at the gym, or while you complete your next backlink audit.
- Authority Hacker
- Cemper’s Link Building & SEO Podcast
- Google Webmasters
- MozPod
- Powerful and Effective Link Strategies with Advanced Search Commands
- Search Engine Nerds
- Whiteboard Friday – YouMoz
Industry Events
One of the best ways to stay up to date with the latest in the community and gain expert knowledge from other digital marketing professionals is attending conferences. If you’re new to the industry or a polished CEO, there are numerous conferences that cater to all levels of digital marketing experience. Below is a list of a few top conferences worth a visit:
SEO Communities
Have an SEO or link building question and not sure who to turn to? SEO forums and communities are common channels that provide professionals the opportunity to ask questions and offer advice and insights. These groups allow you to connect with peers in your field and gain knowledge from other experts:
- BlackHatWorld
- Google My Business Community
- Link Building and SEO LinkedIn Group
- Link Builders Google +
- Link Development on Digital Point
- Link Development on Webmaster World
- Local SEO News Google +
- Moz Q & A Forum
- Reddit Link Building
- SEO Chat
- Small Business Brief
- Technical SEO Google +
Link Building Comedy
Building links to your website is difficult, and the practice can be discouraging. Here’s a laugh to take the edge off.
Need More Help Starting Your Link Building Strategy?
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