Backlink Strategies : Choose yours

what is your backlink strategy? Popularizing a website is not always easy, but as long as search engines are using link or backlink based ranking techniques, the popularity and its metric (the backlinks) will remain a determining factor for the visibility of a website.

That's why as seo experts, building backlinks is a major domain to be skilled in the use. Let's have a quick state of the art.

What are the backlink strategies?

We can distinguish 3 different types of strategies:

• Ninja link
• Link baiting
• Social Media Optimization

Ninja Link

Historically, the ninja link is the oldest netlinking strategy. The work of a ninja is long, accurate and laborious. This kind of backlink building consist of self deploy links. To do this, you should know where it is possible to get backlinks, have your own network of sites but also contact other webmasters and negotiate establishment of links.

You may also spend time to promote your website within "user-generated content" spaces like comments, wikis or forums (especially that we definitely know now that "nofollow" instructions are not taken in consideration by google bots any more). But it is an irksome work with no guaranteed result. Because of moderation policy, your links could be deleted. Put your putting your backlink with original and relevant remark increases your chances.

Also be careful not to apply this technique too often, otherwise you could be marked as spam linking by search engines.

Let's see what are the benefits of this strategy:

• You may obtain links to old pages
• These are links to the page of your choice even deep pages
• Possibility to choose the anchor links
• You completely control the selection of sites and pages where the backlinks are set

A ninja is able to act on different criterias affecting the quality of a backlink. These advantages make this backlink strategy the most powerful.

However, the cost may be very important and the deployment is quite long.

Link Baiting

The Link Baiting is the technique recommended by Google for acquiring popularity. Since it is long and difficult to get backlinks, it is better to let others do it for you : bait them ! If you're wondering how, know that it is here the complexity of this technique. In fact, you have to inspire people to talk about your site on their own websites.

The basic principle is to offer original and high quality content.

Here are some ideas for attracting people :

• Establish rankings (this kind of blog posts can generate many links and traffic)
• Write original articles
• Offering a unique and innovative service
• Post a photo or video that you made yourself
• Organize a game or competition
• Write polemics articles
• Write humour articles
• Synthesize a content: lists are often very popular, internet users talk about on their blog and easily bookmark synthesis (think that bookmark tools are more and more often online, so again it creates backlinks)
• Translate reference articles

etc...

Social Media Optimization

Social media are increasingly taking part of our daily lives, how many times you go on Facebook a week ? (before facebook was blocked in china i mean!)

Traffic through a campaign of Social Media Optimization is becoming increasingly significant. In addition, such a campaign can generate traffic as well as backlinks.  The result for such a strategy can be incredible, both in the us and china.

• The first step is to have at least one account on most platforms: social bookmark services, video, photo, powerpoint, resume.
• The second step is to develop your network and make connections. You can count on your "friends" to support your buzz.
• The third step is to share and make noise. Learning to use the various services that can provide visibility ( RSS feeds, social news buttons, blogging, comments, ratings ...)

here we go, with the backlink strategies, now, what is yours?