Where Do Backlinks Come From?

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You have likely been told, “You need more backlinks.”

After being told that, your next thought(s) might have been:

  • What are backlinks?
  • Where do you get them from?
  • How do you choose a site for a backlink?

These questions are totally normal, and you’re not alone in asking them. To help make things ‘clear as mud’ for you, we are going to answer each of those questions below.

First up –

What are backlinks?

Backlinks are links from any other website, directory, or listing that directs traffic to your website. Links can be thought of as mini votes that search engines use to establish relevance and authority. Links are basically a popularity contest. The more links you have pointing to your website the more popular you are in the eyes of major search engines.

Backlinks are links from any other website, directory, or listing that directs traffic to your website.

Are all backlinks good?

Another great question and the simple answer is no. When it comes to links, quality is more important than quantity. You might be thinking to yourself, “Wait a minute, didn’t he just say more links means more popularity?” To an extent that is true, but think of it this way: If you have a business, what is more valuable to you? 100 people with little to no influence liking your business, or 1-2 major influencers backing you up?

Links are much the same, a few high-quality backlinks are far more valuable than multiple low-quality ones.

Next up –

Where do you get links from?

Links can be obtained from many places. They could be mentions online from friends or other local businesses, they could be references to existing content or videos that live on your website, or they could be testimonials, quotes, or sponsored posts.

Many times, writers who are researching a niche or topic need references. These writers will often link to content that supports their topic(s).

There are a few instances where links can be obtained by sponsoring events as well, although that has become a grey area for Google because those types of links can easily be bought and are not a true vote of confidence.

And finally –

How do you choose a site for a backlink?

There are a couple of factors that come into play when we are looking for backlinks for our clients. One is domain authority; we always try to obtain a link from a site that has the highest possible domain authority. The higher their DA is, the better the quality of link it becomes. Remember the influencer analogy from above?

Another factor is traffic: How much traffic the site receives, and in turn, how much traffic could the site refer to our client’s website. High traffic websites have a much higher potential to send potential patients to our client’s practices.

A third factor is niche or vertical. We always look for websites that are in similar niches or at least cater to our client’s ideal patient. For example, a link for a family dentist would make sense on a site that caters to families, or health, whereas a site that sells automotive parts would not.

Can I tell if the links I have are good or relevant?

The easiest way to see if you have good links is to audit your backlink profile.

Think of your backlink profile like an investment portfolio. You may have different types of investments from different companies, but they should all be providing you with a return on investment. If they are super risky, or you continue to lose money with them you would likely get rid of them to protect your investment.

It’s the same with links. If you have low-quality links or spammy (risky) ones, you would want to get rid of them ASAP to protect your other high-quality links and your main investment, your website.

To request a free backlink audit today, simply visit our dental SEO page and fill out the marketing info form and find out the health of your backlinks and your marketing efforts in general.

Curious about our other dental marketing services? We invite you to gain a competitive edge with a marketing plan customized to your needs, goals, and budget!

Have more questions? Schedule a complimentary callOpens in a new tab to an online scheduler with our Director of Client Services, Angela, and pick her brain.

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