Essential Backlink Building Tools to Boost Your SEO Strategy

Backlinks are still a critical factor in boosting your search engine optimization (SEO). They help your website build authority, improve rankings in results and drive traffic to your website. But earning a high-quality link doesn’t just happen by chance, it requires strategy, consistency and using the right backlink building tools. 

What Are Backlinks?

Backlinks are created when another website uses a hyperlink that points back to your website. Think of a backlink as an endorsement from that website. Each link is a signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy and valuable. Some backlinks are low-quality and won’t give as much authority to your website. Search engines, like Google and Bing, prefer a link from a reputable, relevant source, which is why understanding and leveraging a backlink building tool is an essential part of your backlink strategy. 

How to Get Backlinks Using Backlink Building Tools

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel here, there are several proven strategies for getting backlinks. Each can be further strengthened with the right tools. 

Press Releases  

One effective method is through press releases. By using a reputable PR distribution service like PR Newswire, you’ll ensure your content reaches authoritative media outlets. This outreach increases your chances of earning backlinks. 

You can use a tool like Cision to streamline the process while offering things like keyword optimization and anchor text placement for SEO. The key to this is always strategic execution: Use the keyword optimized text, publish on high-authority platforms and share the release through multiple channels. 

You should also extend the life of the press release by repurposing it into social media, email newsletters or even guest posts. 

Content Creation Platforms

Platforms like Substack and Medium have a high domain authority and allow you to post your own original content, making them powerful backlink building tools. You can embed your own backlinks into your website. 

There’s a caveat to Medium, you’ll only get a backlink if you have a high-performing article. Instead, they’ll give you a “nofollow” link and just as it sounds, it tells search engine crawlers not to follow that link. 

Substack uses “dofollow” for every link, which provides you with real SEO value. An added Substack benefit is you can get paid to post your content instead of paying for the backlink. 

Find Backlinks With Online Platforms

Here’s where you can get a little creative: using content-sharing sites like SlideShare and PowerShow. You can upload slide decks or e-books and include a link to your website. Readers can follow the trail back to your domain. 

If you prefer community engagement and don’t mind putting in a lot of effort, you can leverage Reddit. To leverage Reddit, you need to participate in niche subreddits, contribute helpful insights and share links sparingly. Over time, authentic engagement can generate backlinks and boost visibility. Our best tip is to read and follow the rules of each and every subreddit and genuinely help (read: don’t link or self promote) more than you try to nab a backlink. A Redditor, the bots and admins can spot an ingenious response or thread quicker than you can say backlink. 

Backlinking Through Citations and Directories

Citations and directories are the old reliable of backlink building tools. These are business listings across various directories that include contact information like your business name, address, phone (NAP) and website. It’s vital to maintain consistent NAP information across platforms to boost your credibility.  

Tools like BrightLocal are effective at building backlinks, because they submit your business to dozens of directories at once. A manual submission can ensure accuracy and relevance. To discover industry-specific directories, we highly suggest searching phrases like “best [your industry] directories” or “top [your industry] companies.” As an example, see how BigOrange Marketing pops up on DesignRush.  

Choose the Right Backlink Building Tools for Long-Term Success

Building a strong backlink profile takes time and the right approach, but by using reliable backlink building tools, you can streamline the process and focus on quality over quantity. You can and should use multiple of these tools in your approach. However, start with one and track your results before adding a new one in. Or even better, you can enlist the help of the SEO experts here at BigOrange Marketing. Get started by booking a meeting today!