To ensure effective link building, it is crucial to follow a checklist for acquiring backlinks.
Checklist for Pre-approved links
✅ Website Presence on LinkedIn
Aim for a website that has a LinkedIn presence with over 10 employees. This indicates that the website is actively engaged in professional networking and can potentially provide valuable backlinks.
✅ Listing on G2 or Clutch or HubSpot
Look for websites listed on Clutch or G2, or HubSpot directory. These platforms showcase client feedback and reviews for service-based businesses, indicating credibility and recognition within their respective industries.
✅Reviews on G2 or Clutch or HubSpot
Prioritize websites that have received over 10 reviews on G2 or over 10 reviews on Clutch or on HubSpot directory. Positive reviews on these platforms indicate that the website offers quality products or services and has gained recognition among its customers.
✅ Pricing < $50
Consider websites that offer pricing below $50 for a permanent link pre-approved.
✅ Service-Based Websites
Focus on service-based websites that align with your industry or niche. These websites are more likely to have relevant content and provide valuable backlink opportunities.
✅ Domain Authority (DA) > 35
Check the website's Domain Authority, a metric that indicates the overall strength and credibility of a website. Aim for websites with a DA above 35 to ensure quality backlinks.
✅ Spam Score < 5
Verify that the website has a spam score below 5. A low spam score indicates that the website has a low risk of being flagged as spam by search engines, ensuring that the acquired backlinks are valuable and reliable.
✅ Monthly Organic Traffic >2000
Consider websites with organic traffic above 2,000. This demonstrates that the website attracts a significant number of visitors and can potentially drive relevant traffic to your own site through backlinks.
✅ Well-Designed Website
Opt for websites with a well-designed and user-friendly interface. A visually appealing and intuitive website enhances user experience and credibility.
✅Assess Value of Content
Go through the articles once to see if they are adding any value or not. Prioritize websites with high-quality, informative content relevant to your niche. This ensures your backlink comes from a credible source and attracts a relevant audience. They should be informational and not appear AI-generated.
Websites to avoid at all costs
❌ Avoid Multi-Niche Websites
Avoid pursuing backlinks from websites that cover multiple niches. These websites may not provide relevant backlinks or cater to your target audience effectively.
❌ Avoid Blog Websites
Avoid blog websites when acquiring backlinks. Blog platforms typically focus on publishing articles and may not provide suitable opportunities for acquiring valuable backlinks.
❌ Avoid Blogs with Excessive Backlinks
Don't go for blogs with a lot of backlinks. Too many backlinks can indicate spammy practices and may not provide valuable link juice.
❌ Avoid Blogs with Previous Backlinks on Same Keyword
Avoid blogs that have already given backlinks to other websites targeting the same keyword. This can dilute the effectiveness of your backlink.
Note for Backlink Placement
Always try to get backlinks within 200-300 words from the top of the article. This ensures visibility and prominence of your link within the content.
Bottom Line
By adhering to this checklist, you can streamline your link-building efforts and focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks that will positively impact your website's SEO performance.