You have probably heard us say that blogging is number #1 for business. After all, this key piece of online marketing serves a unique purpose. Rather than the “hard sell,” a blog provides an opportunity for the public to get to know you and your brand better, with a personal voice that builds trust and likeability. Establishing your website as a reliable and regular resource for your target audience drives repeat traffic and sets you up as an authority in your industry. It also provides a valuable means to connect and build relationships with others through the use of links. To learn more about the importance of adding links to your blogs, and how to do it right, read on!
Best Practices & Benefits
There are two types of links used in blogs: external and internal. When it comes to SEO best practices, both are a must! Internal links take the reader deeper into your online presence, whether to find a product, further details on services offered, additional tips on your blog page, or simply how to contact you. This encourages readers to explore your website and directs your target audience deeper into your sales funnel.
External links, on the other hand, take your reader to a reputable and credible outside resource. Good external sources are typically:
- Current (within the past two years)
- Factual
- Unbiased
High-quality external links are not only helpful for providing additional information to your readers on a given subject, but they also add a sense of authority and validity to your content. This is absolutely vital when utilizing quotes and statistics to back your claims!
Link Building & SEO Optimization
Of course, once you start linking to quality external content, others may return the favor by linking back to you. Social Media Today notes that, “Backlinks are important to SEO because search engines see all of those votes of confidence as evidence that your content is valuable. If lots of sites link back to yours, search engines are more likely to surface your content in search results, improving your ranking for the topics linked to.” This essential part of SEO is called link building.
What Not to Do
If you are running a business, it’s wise not to link back to a competitor (i.e. another small business selling to the same market). However, connecting with large-scale leaders in your field can certainly be beneficial for forming partnerships, as well as getting your brand noticed and extending your reach through cross-promotion. Just be sure to do your research, and know exactly who and what you are linking to. No matter what, know that broken or toxic backlinks (SPAM) are bad for business and should be avoided!
Whether it’s evergreen content or exciting, timely news to share, not adding links to your blogs is a wasted opportunity that could hurt your brand and the success of your marketing efforts. To discover other big blogging mistakes, including not aligning your blog with your brand identity, not providing value to your customers, and not blogging enough, click here.
Aliya Hammond Consulting provides professional Blog Writing Services across various industries and states throughout the US, utilizing links and other best practices. Rest assured, we will work with you to capture and develop the unique voice of your brand to establish your company as both a thought leader and trusted resource. To get started, contact us today, and be sure to follow our blog for more helpful tips!
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training and Coaching, Blog Writing, Video and Audiogram Production, and Graphic/Web Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
