In the world of search engine optimization (SEO), few strategies are as fundamental as link building. Despite the rise of various SEO tactics, building high-quality backlinks remains at the forefront of any effective SEO campaign. According to a study by Authority Hacker, the average website owner builds around nine links per month. While this might not seem like a significant number, when done consistently and with a focus on quality, it can have a profound impact on a site’s SEO performance.
In this article, we’ll explore why consistent link building is essential, the challenges website owners face in scaling their efforts, and how to turn a modest link-building strategy into an SEO powerhouse.
Why Link Building Matters in SEO
Backlinks, or links from other websites pointing to your content, have long been a ranking signal for search engines. Google’s algorithm places a strong emphasis on backlinks, considering them a vote of confidence from other sites. The more high-quality backlinks you accumulate, the more authority your website gains in the eyes of search engines, which can lead to higher rankings and increased organic traffic.
However, the key lies not just in the number of links but also in their quality. Building a few high-authority backlinks can often be more beneficial than creating a large volume of low-quality ones. In fact, the right links can help a website gain visibility, improve its domain authority, and outperform competitors.
But, achieving this requires consistency and a well-planned strategy.
Consistency is Key: Small Steps with Big Results
Building an average of nine links per month might not seem groundbreaking, but when done consistently, it can lead to significant long-term results. The process of earning links is similar to planting seeds. Each backlink contributes to the growth of your site’s authority, and over time, this authority accumulates and compounds.
For many website owners, the slow and steady approach of building links month after month can feel tedious. But those who understand the power of consistency know that this approach allows for sustainable growth. Regular link-building efforts help maintain and increase a site’s visibility in search results, as search engines see continual signals of authority.
Let’s break down how a consistent link-building effort over time translates into SEO success:
Gradual Domain Authority Growth
Search engines favor websites that consistently receive backlinks from reputable sources. Rather than a one-time spike, gradual and consistent growth signals trustworthiness.
Higher Keyword Rankings
As you accumulate more backlinks, your site’s authority grows, leading to better rankings for your targeted keywords. This improves both your ranking position and overall organic traffic.
Improved Referral Traffic
Backlinks not only boost SEO but also serve as direct paths for new visitors. Each link opens a potential channel for referral traffic from readers interested in your niche.
The Challenges of Scaling Link Building Efforts
While consistency is essential, many website owners face significant challenges in scaling their link-building efforts. Authority Hacker’s study highlights that the average website owner builds fewer than ten links per month, and for many, this number represents the ceiling of their capacity.
Some of the most common challenges include:
Limited Time and Resources
Link building requires significant time and effort, from researching opportunities to creating content that other sites want to link to.
Outreach Fatigue
Getting backlinks often requires consistent outreach to other site owners, bloggers, or influencers. This can be a time-consuming process, and for small business owners or those without a dedicated SEO team, it can be difficult to maintain.
Content Quality
Not all content is link-worthy. Producing content that other websites find valuable enough to link to is a challenge in itself. Without engaging, high-quality content, even the most diligent outreach efforts may fall short.
How to Elevate Your Link Building Game
If building nine links a month feels like an uphill battle, here are some strategies to help elevate your efforts:
Create Link-Worthy Content
The foundation of any good link-building strategy is high-quality content. Content that provides unique insights, solves problems, or offers valuable data will naturally attract more links. Consider creating evergreen resources, original research, or comprehensive guides that others will want to reference.
Leverage Relationships
Networking with other site owners, influencers, and bloggers in your industry can help open doors for natural link-building opportunities. Guest posting, interviews, and collaborations can lead to valuable backlinks.
Use Broken Link Building
This technique involves finding broken links on other websites and suggesting your content as a replacement. It’s a win-win situation where you help the site owner fix a problem while earning a link in return.
Be Consistent with Outreach
A successful link-building campaign relies on steady outreach efforts. Make link building part of your weekly routine to ensure you’re always working toward building your backlink profile.
Adverlink’s Role in Simplifying the Process
For those struggling to scale their link-building efforts, tools like Adverlink can be a game changer. Adverlink is a marketplace that connects website owners (publishers) and advertisers looking to acquire high-quality backlinks. By facilitating the connection between these two groups, Adverlink makes the process of building links easier and more efficient.
With Adverlink, you can:
- Access a network of quality publishers ready to link to your content.
- Simplify the outreach process by letting the platform handle much of the work.
- Ensure the links you build are from reputable sources, improving your domain authority and SEO rankings.
By leveraging Adverlink, even smaller website owners can scale their link-building efforts beyond the average nine links per month, moving toward a more impactful, high-quality strategy.
Steady Progress Leads to Big Gains
Consistent link building, even at modest levels, has the power to elevate your SEO performance over time. The average website owner might only build nine links a month, but when those links are high-quality and earned consistently, the results can be impressive. By focusing on content creation, networking, and leveraging platforms like Adverlink, you can move from good to great in your SEO journey, making every link count.
