Staying Ahead In SEO: 3 Emerging Trends In Link Building

The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Along with that, ranking websites higher is seeing developments as well. One of the ways digital marketing grows is through link building. It has become significant in the past years in influencing the overall quality of websites being seen in search engines.

Statistics say that websites that have more than 200 referring domains rank 4/5 of the time. This relevant information attests to link building’s crucial part in conquering search engine results pages (SERPs). At the same time, search engine algorithms become advanced as days go by. That’s why keeping tabs on link-building strategies is important for organic growth.

This article will discuss the emerging trends when it comes to link building. Continue reading to learn more.

The rise of E-E-A-T

The concept of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) is critical in building an authoritative and trustworthy online presence. Introduced by Google in 2014 and updated in 2022, E-E-A-T is a threshold that sites must attain so they can be prominently shown in search results.

With that in mind, link building through guest posting has taken on a new importance with a focus on E-E-A-T. Now, it’s not just about getting a link back to your site but sharing what you know on websites that matter, showing you’re a reliable and credible voice in your field.

This approach helps you stand out to search engines and to real people too. Take it as getting your best ideas into the places where they’ll make the biggest impact and building your reputation in the process. If you’re feeling a bit stuck on how to achieve this, visit this recommended site for E-E-A-T focused guest posting services.

Here’s a look at what this acronym means in detail and why it matters in link building:

Experience: This looks at whether the content shows first-hand experience of the subject being discussed. It looks at whether the influencers really tried the food they’re reviewing or have been to the places they’re advertising.

Expertise: It pertains to how knowledgeable or qualified an author is in a specific niche. Have they attained sufficient credentials to provide reliable details? For instance, a doctor is qualified to provide information when it comes to medicine. Meanwhile, a lawyer can be a go-to regarding legal counsel. Search quality raters check this aspect of expertise in the specific topic.

Authoritativeness: Refers to the influence one has over others and your reputation in the industry. This is apparent in someone’s position or title. People acknowledge your authoritativeness if they link to you because you provide value. Search quality raters review the authoritativeness of the writer, website, and content.

Trustworthiness: This is the belief that you’re reliable, honest, and responsible. It’s earned through consistent behavior and can be damaged if seen to be suspicious. For example, if a prospect trusts a business, they may likely transact with it.

Linkless mentions and brand building

Search engine optimization (SEO) in the past relied on backlinks, hyperlinks referring to a site from another one, to improve rankings. But the algorithm changes paved the way for linkless mentions. This is a reference to a brand or website without needing a hyperlink. While these don’t serve the same benefits as traditional backlinks, they still significantly affect on rankings. An example of this is when a blogger mentions your product in one of their blogs but doesn’t include a link to your site.

People surfing the Internet have become ambassadors who usually talk about brands and products with the rise of different social media platforms. They’re doing this on their own will, without needing a hyperlink. This adds authenticity and could drive more organic traffic to the website mentioned. By scrutinizing the mentions, search engines can get a grasp of the website’s popularity and relevance.

Content collaboration and co-citation

Content collaboration means working with fellow digital creators to publish relevant content for your target market. This can increase your reach, given that collaboration boosts your SEO performance. The sky’s the limit when it comes to this—writing a blog, doing a podcast, designing an infographic, etc. The important consideration is following the practices for writing SEO content like using keywords, images, headings, and meta tags, among others.

On the other hand, co-citation happens when a site is referred to by two varying sources that aren’t necessarily linked. For instance, if a brand is mentioned on many websites, search engines will detect it and be tagged as co-citation. This could happen unintentionally or by chance, which adds to its authenticity. More than climbing the ranks, the concept here is you want to be seen as more than keywords and gain traction for relevancy.

Conclusion

Strategies and innovations in link building are continuously being updated as the digital marketing landscape evolves. While it’s important to be aware of these trends and apply them as needed, the foundation of cultivating quality relationships with your audience, content marketing that provides solutions to problems, and maintaining diversity in what you produce and publish remain a timeless principle in attaining growth through link building. Complement these with the emerging trends and strike the balance between human knowledge and technology. With these, you’ll stay ahead in SEO. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you plan and prepare.