Easy link building techniques are what separate websites that rank from those that don’t. Look, I get it. You’re sitting there wondering how the hell other websites are ranking higher than yours.
You’ve got great content, your site looks decent, but you’re still stuck on page 47 of Google.
The answer? These easy link building techniques that don’t require a PhD in digital marketing. I’ve been in the trenches building links for years, and I’m about to share everything that actually moves the needle. No fluff. No outdated tactics.
What Is Link Building (And Why You Can’t Ignore It)
Link building is getting other websites to link back to your site. Think of it like recommendations in real life. When someone vouches for you, people trust you more. Google works the same way.
The more quality websites that link to you, the more Google thinks you’re worth ranking. But here’s the thing most people get wrong – quality beats quantity every single time. One link from a respected industry site is worth more than 100 links from random blogs.
Types of Backlinks You Need to Know
- Dofollow Links: These pass ranking power to your site. They’re the gold standard.
- Nofollow Links: They don’t pass ranking juice, but they still drive traffic and build brand awareness.
- Sponsored Links: These are paid links that need to be marked as sponsored.
- UGC Links: User-generated content links from forums, comments, etc. Focus on getting links from sites in your industry, high-authority domains, sites with real traffic, and sites that look professional.
Core Easy Link Building Methods That Work
Add Value to Other Sites’ Articles
This is my favourite easy link building technique. Find articles in your niche that could use more information. Reach out to the author with genuinely helpful additions like “Hey, I noticed your article on X. I’ve got some updated data that might be useful for your readers.”
Most writers appreciate helpful additions because it makes their content better. This approach works because you’re solving a problem for them, not just asking for a favour.
Find and Fix Broken Backlinks
Broken link building is like finding money on the street. Use tools like Ahrefs or even free browser extensions to find broken links on relevant sites. Email them:
“Hey, I noticed you’ve got a broken link to [dead page]. I’ve got a similar resource that might work as a replacement.”
Easy win for both parties. They get a working link, you get a backlink. The success rate on this technique is higher than most outreach methods because you’re genuinely helping fix their website.
Ask for Links from Unlinked Brand Mentions
Someone mentioned your brand but didn’t link to you? That’s a missed opportunity. Set up Google Alerts for your brand name. When you find unlinked mentions, politely ask for a link.
“Thanks for mentioning us! Would you mind adding a link so readers can check us out?”
Most people will add the link if you ask nicely. They already mentioned you, so they clearly don’t mind promoting your brand.
Collaborate with Partners for Links
Your business partners, suppliers, and clients are link goldmines. They already know and trust you. Ask if they can mention your partnership on their website with a link.
This feels natural because the relationship already exists. It’s not cold outreach – it’s leveraging existing business relationships for mutual benefit.
Content-Driven Link Building Strategies
Publish Complete Guides
Comprehensive guides attract links naturally. People link to resources that help their audience. Make your guides the go-to resource in your niche with titles like “The Ultimate Guide to…” or “Everything You Need to Know About…”
The more complete and helpful your guide, the more likely it is to become the standard resource people link to. This is a long-term strategy that builds authority over time.
Design Shareable Visuals
Visual content gets shared more than text. Create infographics that summarise complex information. Make them easy to embed with provided HTML code. People love sharing visual content that makes them look smart.
Infographics work because they simplify complex topics into digestible, shareable formats. They’re perfect for social media and blog posts, giving you multiple opportunities for links and shares.
Outreach-Based Easy Link Building Techniques
Guest Blogging Done Right
Find sites in your niche that accept guest posts. Write genuinely helpful content for their audience. Include a natural link back to your site in your author bio or within the content. The key is providing real value, not just getting a link.
Most sites want quality content for their readers. If you can deliver that, they’ll happily give you a link in return. Focus on sites where your target audience actually hangs out.
Use Digital PR
Create newsworthy content that journalists want to cover. Think industry surveys, trend predictions, or controversial takes. Use tools like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) to respond to journalist queries with expert insights.
Journalists need expert sources for their stories. Sign up for HARO, SourceBottle, and similar services. Respond quickly with helpful quotes and insights. You’ll get mentioned (and linked) as an expert source.
Leverage Podcasts
Appear on podcasts in your niche. Most podcast show notes include links to guests’ websites. It’s an easy way to get relevant, high-quality links. Plus, you build relationships with other industry players.
Podcasting is exploding, and hosts are always looking for interesting guests. It’s easier to get on podcasts than you think, especially smaller industry-specific ones.
Smart Competitive Tactics
Reverse Engineer Competitors
See where your competitors get their links. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyse their backlink profiles. Reach out to the same sites with better content or a fresh angle.
If a site links to your competitor, they might link to you too. The key is offering something better while avoiding common link building mistakes that could hurt your strategy.
Monitor Industry Mentions
Set up alerts for industry keywords and competitor names. When you find relevant conversations, join them with helpful insights. Include links to your content when it genuinely adds value.
Find forums and communities where your audience hangs out. Become a helpful member first. Share your expertise and link to your content when it’s relevant. Reddit, industry forums, and Facebook groups are goldmines.
Quick-Win Link Building Strategies
Start with Easy Wins
- Local and industry directories: Post in relevant, high-quality directories.
- Business partnerships: Ask partners to link to you.
- Broken link building: Fix others’ broken links with your content.
- Unlinked mentions: Turn brand mentions into links.
These strategies work because they’re based on existing relationships or mutual benefit. Start here before moving to more advanced techniques.
Focus on Relevance
A relevant link from a smaller site beats an irrelevant link from a huge site. Google cares about context and relevance. Don’t just build links to your homepage – link to specific product pages, blog posts, and service pages.
Use a mix of branded anchors, generic phrases, and exact-match keywords. Don’t stuff keywords into every anchor text because Google spots unnatural link patterns.
Stay Consistent
Consistency beats intensity. Spend 30 minutes daily on link building rather than 5 hours once a month. Keep a regular link building checklist and schedule rather than sporadic bursts of activity. Small, consistent efforts compound over time. Monitor your backlink growth using tools like Google Search Console.
Track which strategies work best for your industry and double down on what works. Link building is a marathon, not a sprint.
The Bottom Line
Link building isn’t rocket science. It’s about building relationships and providing value. The websites that rank highest aren’t necessarily the ones with the most links – they’re the ones with the most relevant, high-quality links.
Focus on creating content worth linking to, building genuine relationships, helping others before asking for help, and staying consistent with your efforts.
Remember, this is a long-term game. You won’t see results overnight, but stick with it and you’ll see your rankings climb.
The key is staying ethical, relevant, and focused on providing real value. That’s how you build links that last and rankings that stick with these easy link building techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the easiest ways to get backlinks?
The easiest backlinks come from relationships you already have. Ask business partners, suppliers, and clients to link to you. Claim your profiles on industry directories. Fix broken links on relevant sites and suggest your content as a replacement.
2. Are paid links safe?
Paid links violate Google’s guidelines and could result in penalties. If you must buy links, make sure they’re from relevant, high-quality sites and look natural. Focus on earning links through valuable content instead.
3. How many links do I need to rank?
There’s no magic number. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity. Focus on getting 5-10 high-quality, relevant links per month rather than chasing arbitrary numbers.
4. How long does it take to see results?
Expect to wait 3-6 months to see significant ranking improvements. Google needs time to crawl and index new links. Keep building links regularly rather than expecting instant results.