Creating free quality backlinks for your site requires strategic effort. While it takes time and consistency, there are several proven methods you can use to get high-quality backlinks without paying for them.
Paying for backlinks can get very expensive, very fast.
You can easily pay $100 to $500 per backlink if you outsource link building to an SEO agency or freelancer.
That may be a good approach if you have a large budget to leverage, but what if you don’t have that luxury?
You’re in luck, in this article we will share ways to get free backlinks. You just need creativity, the right tools and the drive to apply yourself.
Ways to Get Free Quality Backlinks for Your Site
1) Guest Posting
Write high-quality articles for other blogs in your niche and include a link to your site in the author bio or content.
How to do it:
Research blogs in your niche that accept guest posts.
Reach out to them with unique and relevant topics that fit their audience.
Ensure the blogs have a good Domain Authority (DA) and traffic.
2) Broken Link Building
Find broken links on other websites (often outdated or non-functional) and suggest your content as a replacement.
How to do it:
Use tools like Check My Links or Ahrefs Broken Link Checker to find broken links on high-authority sites.
Reach out to the site owner, politely point out the broken link, and offer your relevant content as a replacement.
3) Skyscraper Technique
Create content that is significantly better than what’s already ranking for a particular topic, then reach out to sites that are linking to the older content.
How to do it:
Research top-ranking content in your niche using tools like Ahrefs or BuzzSumo.
Create an even more detailed, up-to-date, and useful version of that content.
Reach out to websites linking to the original content and ask them to consider linking to your improved article.
4) Participate in Niche Forums and Communities
Engage in online communities and forums relevant to your industry (like Reddit, Quora, or specialized forums). Answer questions and provide valuable insights with a link back to your website when applicable.
How to do it:
Find active communities in your niche.
Participate regularly by contributing meaningful comments and including your link naturally, where it adds value.
5) Submit to Online Directories
There are many reputable directories where you can submit your blog or website to get backlinks. Ensure the directory is reputable and not spammy.
How to do it:
Submit your site to high-quality directories like DMOZ, Alltop, or niche-specific directories.
6) Write Testimonials or Reviews
Many businesses feature customer testimonials on their websites, often linking to the customer’s site. Reach out to companies you have used and offer a testimonial.
How to do it:
Reach out to companies whose products or services you use and offer a genuine review or testimonial.
Most companies will be happy to feature your testimonial, often including a backlink.
7) Create Shareable Infographics
Visual content like infographics tends to be shared more often, which can lead to backlinks.
How to do it:
Create an infographic related to your niche using tools like Canva or Piktochart.
Share it on social media, and Pinterest, and submit it to infographic directories like Visual.ly.
Reach out to bloggers and ask them to embed the infographic, offering your original post as the source link.
8) HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
HARO is a platform that connects journalists with expert sources. By providing expert opinions, you can get featured in high-authority publications with a backlink.
How to do it:
Sign up for HARO (Help A Reporter Out) and respond to relevant queries from journalists.
If they use your response, they’ll often include a link back to your site.
9) Leverage Social Media
Though social media links are often “no-follow,” they still help drive traffic and increase visibility, which can indirectly lead to natural backlinks.
How to do it:
Share your blog posts across social media platforms.
Engage with influencers, participate in relevant discussions, and create content that encourages social sharing.
10) Create Link-Worthy Resources
Develop content that others naturally want to link to, like ultimate guides, tutorials, tools, or lists.
How to do it:
Conduct in-depth research or develop useful resources, templates, or tools that others in your niche will find valuable.
Promote these resources on social media, relevant blogs, and through outreach.
11) Blog Commenting (Ethically)
Leaving thoughtful and helpful comments on high-authority blogs can help you build relationships and get backlinks.
How to do it:
Find reputable blogs in your niche.
Leave meaningful comments that contribute to the discussion and include your website URL when appropriate. Avoid spammy or generic comments.
12) Use Q&A Platforms
Answer questions on platforms like Quora or Stack Exchange and include a link to your website where it makes sense.
How to do it:
Find relevant questions related to your niche.
Write detailed, helpful answers and include a backlink to your site only if it truly adds value.
13) Create and Share Free Tools or Templates
Offering free tools, templates, or resources can generate backlinks as people share and refer to your creations.
How to do it:
Develop a free tool or template that solves a problem for your audience.
Share it with relevant communities, blogs, or platforms, encouraging users to link back when they use or share it.
Conclusion
Outsourcing link-building can be a valuable strategy for improving your website’s search engine rankings, increasing organic traffic, and expanding your online presence.
However, it is essential to approach link-building outsourcing cautiously and follow a structured process to ensure that you are working with a reputable and experienced provider.
By defining your goals, researching providers, discussing your strategy, monitoring the results, and continuously evaluating and refining your approach, you can achieve long-term success by outsourcing your link-building activities.
Remember to watch out for potential risks and issues, such as black hat techniques, irrelevant or low-quality links, lack of transparency, over-optimization, and unrealistic promises.
