Backlinking

What is a Backlink?

A backlink is simply when one website links to another. For example, if you have your business listed on Yelp.com, there's usually a link to your website. That's a backlink!

However, it's important to know that there are different types of backlinks. Some are going to significantly improve where you appear in Google, while others will do almost nothing for you.

Types of Backlinks

Generally speaking, all backlinks will fall under two categories:

• "NoFollow" links.
• "DoFollow"  (or "Follow") links.

Taking the example from earlier, (a backlink from Yelp) that would be a "NoFollow" link. The reason that it's called this is because the code on Yelp's website specifically says "nofollow". And what this means is that they want Google and other search engines to know that they don't want to pass along any power to your website. In other words, the link pointing to your website won't help you.

However, let's say you have a friend who has a website (another landscaper who works in a different market than you). He refers business to you frequently and decides that he wants to make it known on his website.

So, your friend writes on his website "If you're in the XYZ area, be sure to contact bobjakelandscapingco.com."

As long as he didn't add "NoFollow" to the code, this would be considered a "DoFollow" link.

That said, there are several different ways that people obtain backlinks. We focus on the most effective links that move your company up in the search results.

Where to Get Backlinks

There are many different places you can go to for backlinks. However, it's important to know a little more about some of the most common places, and their weight when it comes to SEO.

Online Directories: These are places like yp.com, Yelp, Angie's List, etc. Most of these places will give you a nofollow link, which means that the link itself won't provide much value to you.

Press Releases: These have been used and abused for SEO in the past. We don't recommend using a press release as a means to build backlinks. They're helpful for SEO, but if done incorrectly, they can have devastating consequences to your SEO.

Comments & Forums: Have you ever seen a blog that allows you to add a comment? Or a forum where you can add a link to your website? Well, people have used and abused this over the years as well, and now they're hardly effective at all. We don't recommend trying to manipulate search results by spamming comments on blogs or in forums.

Guest Posts: These are websites that allow you to start an account and post articles. Again, this has been abused over the years, so Google specifically cautions against using them.

Private Blog Networks: These are extremely powerful but fairly risky. Essentially, the idea is to purchase a website that already has authority, then use it to provide a link to your company. We don't advise that you try this, as it could result in getting your website penalized.

Manual Outreach: This is probably the most effective, "white-hat" way to get links built to your website. Essentially, it involves having something of value on your website that is worth linking to and making it known to other websites.

Working With Us on Backlinking

When you're working with Landscape Marketing & SEO, we work to get you highly relevant, authoritative backlinks that really move the needle when it comes to your SEO. It's a process of ensuring that your site offers something valuable on the internet, then promoting it so that you can get great links to your site, great traffic and plenty of customers!