![\"Links](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/links-800x420px.jpg\")
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The more things change, the more things stay the same. Even though the Google ranking algorithm has significantly progressed over the years, links still matter for a website to rank.<\/p>\n
But the way Google looks at links has changed. And the way businesses should approach link building must also change. We are in the era of link earning, not link building.<\/p>\n
To protect your website from links that could harm your ability to rank and go after the links that matter, you need to know how to earn them. We go in-depth on this topic in our newly released guide, \u201cThe New Link Building Manifesto: How To Earn Links That Count,\u201d which you can download instantly here<\/a>.<\/p>\n In this article:<\/p>\n Link popularity is not a numbers game anymore. More important than the quantity of your backlinks are the quality and relevance of the links and the sites where those links are coming from.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s John Mueller confirmed<\/a> this:<\/p>\n We try to understand what is relevant for a website, how much should we weigh these individual links, and the total number of links doesn\u2019t matter at all. Because you could go off and create millions of links across millions of websites if you wanted to, and we could just ignore them all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n If relevant, quality sites with favorable comments link to you; then your site becomes a more trusted authority by association. So you want the best sites, not the most, linking back to you.<\/p>\n Before you engage in any link-building program, be sure you know what types of links to look for and which to avoid:<\/p>\n As the CMO, you probably get tons of emails offering you links for a price. Steer clear of those! Unnatural linking schemes can only hurt your brand and your website rankings. So avoid the following tactics for obtaining backlinks:<\/p>\n Note: Paid links identified clearly as ads and nofollowed are fine. They don\u2019t pass link value, but advertising and promotions have value for other reasons.<\/p>\n Today, the right way to obtain backlinks is by earning them naturally. Here are three steps to get started with a link earning<\/a> program:<\/p>\n Begin with a benchmark of how your website is currently doing. I suggest you use two or more tools to gather your backlink data into a spreadsheet you can then look at. You can use tools like Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, Majestic Site Explorer, Moz\u2019s Link Explorer, Ahrefs and\/or SEOToolSet<\/a>. You\u2019ll know what you are currently dealing with and if you need to prune any links (see Step 3).<\/p>\n A link-earning strategy should involve several tasks. At a high level, these include:<\/p>\n Creating quality content is arguably the most important step in this process, followed by getting that content in front of the right audience. This is something we go into more detail on in the e-book linked above and below.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve started earning links, you\u2019ll want to maintain your link profile. The general process for this includes:<\/p>\n As a rule, you want to create quality, valuable content for users. This type of link-worthy content fuels your link-earning program.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are three principles upon which quality content is created, according to Google.<\/p>\n E-E-A-T is important for most websites, but for \u201cYour Money or Your Life\u201d topics (those that Google says \u201ccould potentially impact a person\u2019s future happiness, health, financial stability, or safety\u201d), it is critical. You can learn more about that here: Complete Guide to the Fundamentals of Google\u2019s E-E-A-T<\/a><\/p>\n When you have great content people want to share, earning links comes more easily. Of course, there are a lot of ways you can get that content in front of the right audience. And we have 50 ideas for you in the e-book that you can download above or below. Modern SEO ditches the old link-building tactics that merely collect a mass of irrelevant links.<\/p>\n Today, we must focus on quality over quantity. So center your link-earning program on great content and creative marketing.<\/p>\n For more on linking, get our comprehensive guide: The New Link Building Manifesto: How To Earn Links That Count<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The significance of backlinks in determining website credibility cannot be overstated. However, the approach to acquiring these links has evolved drastically over the years. Transitioning from traditional link-building to a more effective link-earning approach requires a strategic and holistic understanding of cultivating meaningful relationships within your niche.<\/p>\n One key shift is focusing on high-quality, relevant content creation. Crafting content that addresses your target audience’s pain points, questions, and interests positions you as an authority and attracts organic links. Search engines prioritize content that adds value, making it essential to produce informative articles, insightful infographics, and engaging videos that resonate with your audience.<\/p>\n Collaboration emerges as another pivotal strategy in this transition. Identify authoritative figures and thought leaders in your industry instead of contacting numerous websites with generic link requests. Building relationships through genuine engagement, such as co-creating content, participating in webinars, or interviewing experts, can lead to natural link-earning opportunities. These links are more likely to be long-lasting and impactful.<\/p>\n While traditional link-building might have focused on quantity, the link-earning approach emphasizes the importance of relevance. Conduct thorough research to identify websites and platforms that align with your niche and values. Tailor your outreach efforts to demonstrate how your content adds value to their audience, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship that goes beyond link placement.<\/p>\n Moreover, embracing social proof can significantly enhance your link-earning strategy. Positive reviews, testimonials, and case studies inspire trust and attract attention from other websites seeking credible sources to reference. When your content is recognized as a reliable source of information, the chances of earning organic backlinks increase substantially.<\/p>\n Transitioning from traditional link-building to effective link-earning requires patience and a willingness to invest in relationship-building. It’s a shift from transactional interactions to genuine engagement, emphasizing fostering connections that yield long-term benefits for all parties involved. By understanding the needs of your target audience and aligning your content with those needs, you can navigate this transition successfully and establish a solid foundation for sustainable SEO growth.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure: Transitioning from Traditional Link-Building to Effective Link-Earning<\/strong><\/p>\n By following these detailed steps, you can successfully transition from traditional link-building to a more effective link-earning approach, enhancing your website’s credibility, authority, and online visibility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To protect your website from links that could harm rankings and get backlinks that matter, you need to know how to earn them. Find out how.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":95787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1753,1105,1754,1752,1232,1110,1755],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/a>Links: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Backlink Strategies to Avoid<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>How to Start a Link-Earning Program<\/h2>\n
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1. Benchmark the Link Profile<\/h3>\n
2. Build the Link Earning Program<\/h3>\n
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3. Monitor Backlinks and Prune as Needed<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>How to Create Content That Gets Relevant Links<\/h2>\n
\n![\"E-book](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Link-Building-Manifesto-ebook-by-Bruce-Clay-Inc-300px.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Moving from Link Building to Link Earning<\/h2>\n
<\/a>FAQ: How can I transition from traditional link-building to a more effective link-earning approach?<\/h3>\n
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