2023 latest statistics - Why is link building important for SEO?
Let’s imagine SEO as an enormous, bustling party.
Your website is like a guest at this party. You’re there, but you’re not quite a VIP yet. You’re in the crowd, trying to make your voice heard above the noise.
To become a VIP, you need other guests to mention your name, your stories, your ideas. The more people talk about you, the more important you appear to the host, the Google algorithm, who decides who gets to be in the VIP lounge, which in this case is the first page of search results.
Now, each of these mentions is like a ‘link’. It’s another guest pointing at you and saying, “Hey, this person is interesting, you should listen to what they have to say.”
This is why links are so important in SEO. They’re like personal recommendations, boosting your credibility and helping to raise your profile at the party.
2023 latest statistics that highlight the significance of link building for SEO
When a website has a significant number of high-quality inbound links, search engines view it as a valuable resource worth highlighting.
This can boost the website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). Each link serves as a vote of confidence from one site to another, and higher-quality votes (links from reputable, high-authority sites) can significantly impact your site’s visibility and ranking.
Wow, isn’t this exciting?!
Who knew that the world of link building held so many opportunities and challenges?
Research shows that links are one of the top two criteria considered in Google’s page ranking algorithm. This means that having a solid link-building strategy can be the key to reaching those coveted top search results! 🎉
According to a report by Aira, 92% of marketers think that links will remain an important factor in Google’s algorithms for at least the next five years. So, the effort you put in today will continue to pay off in the future.
Yes, you heard it right!
The almighty Google loves links. And not just any links, but quality ones.
A whopping 93.8% of link builders believe that link quality trumps link quantity. So, focus on getting those high-quality, authoritative links to boost your rankings even more! 🚀
But, let’s not forget, link building is no walk in the park. In fact, 41% of SEO experts consider link building to be the hardest part of SEO. And yet, they persist, because they know the payoff is huge.
The number of backlinks a web page has is directly correlated with the amount of organic traffic it receives.
So, more quality links equal more organic traffic!
And here’s the kicker: only 2.2% of content gets links from more than one site (Backlinko). That’s a tiny sliver of the whole content pie. So, if you can get into that 2.2%, you’re already ahead of nearly 98% of the content out there. How amazing is that?
Now, you might be wondering how long it takes to see the fruits of your link-building labor. Well, 51% of marketers say it takes one to three months to see the impact of link-building efforts (Aira)
So, you see, it’s like planting a seed and nurturing it. You have to be patient, but when it finally grows and bears fruit, it’s all worth it.
5 reasons why link building is worth it
Increases Website Traffic
Links from other websites can generate referral traffic, which can be a valuable source of visitors who are interested in your content or services. If a popular blog links to your site, you may see a significant increase in traffic. This traffic is often highly targeted, leading to improved conversion rates.
Enhances Brand Visibility and Authority
When other websites, especially those with high authority, link to your site, it helps establish your brand’s visibility and credibility. It signals that your website is a reputable source of information, thereby enhancing your brand’s online presence. Over time, you’ll be perceived as an authority in your industry, further improving your online reputation.
Builds Relationships
Link building often involves outreach to other relevant blogs and websites in your industry. This outreach frequently relates to the promotion of something that you’ve recently created, such as a piece of content or an infographic. This can help you build long-term relationships with key influencers in your industry, which can be highly beneficial for your brand.
Promotes Faster Indexing
Search engine bots discover new webpages by following backlinks from existing webpages. Only when they’ve discovered your page can they crawl your site effectively. Therefore, especially for a new website, it becomes essential to get backlinks as they help in the faster discovery and indexing of your site.
Improves Navigation Within The Site
Apart from backlinks, link building can also include internal linking, which improves navigation within the site. This provides a better user experience, leading to higher user engagement and lower bounce rates. Well-structured internal linking can also distribute page authority throughout your site, improving the ranking potential of every page.
What’s Next
The complex world of SEO can be likened to an ever-evolving party where your website’s prominence and visibility are determined by how much it is talked about – the number and quality of links it has. As we’ve discovered, links are not just important, but pivotal in SEO.
As in the next steps, I recommend conducting a comprehensive audit of your current link profile to understand where you stand.
Following that, devise a link-building strategy that aligns with your brand’s goals and objectives. This strategy should aim to secure high-quality, authoritative links over time, rather than seeking quick and possibly low-quality links.
Furthermore, consider partnering with a reputable SEO agency or hiring an in-house expert if you haven’t already. This will ensure that your link-building efforts are guided by professionals who understand the intricacies of SEO, and can help navigate the landscape effectively.
Finally, never lose sight of the fact that link building, at its core, is about creating valuable and shareable content. Therefore, ensure you invest in content creation as much as you do in link building. After all, the best way to get people to talk about you at the party is to have interesting stories to share.
