Why is link building important?

In the world of SEO, link building remains one of the most influential strategies for improving a website’s online visibility. Although SEO has evolved over the years, obtaining high-quality backlinks remains an important factor in improving a website’s ranking in search engines such as Google. But why is link building so important? In this article, we will discuss the main reasons why link building plays a crucial role in a successful SEO strategy.

Strengthens domain and page authority

One of the main reasons why link building is essential is that it helps build a website’s domain and page authority. Search engines like Google use algorithms to determine how trustworthy and authoritative a website is.

Websites that receive many quality and relevant backlinks from other authoritative websites are considered more trustworthy by search engines. This often leads to higher rankings in search results. In fact, backlinks act as voices of confidence that indicate to search engines that a website offers valuable and relevant content.

Improved position in Google

A website’s position in search results is an important factor in attracting organic traffic. The higher a Web site ranks on search terms relevant to the business, the more likely potential customers will visit the Web site. Link building helps improve these rankings.

When a website receives backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites, search engines see this as a sign that the website provides valuable content. This can help get a website on the first page of search results, which is crucial since the majority of users do not look beyond the first page of Google.

More organic traffic

Higher search engine rankings lead directly to more organic traffic to your website. Backlinks contribute to better visibility in search results, which means potential customers can find your website faster.

This organic traffic is often high-quality because users are actively searching for information or services you offer. The more quality backlinks a website has, the more likely it is to rank better for relevant search terms and thus attract more organic traffic.

Link building builds trust and reputation

Getting backlinks from authoritative websites helps build trust with both search engines and users. When a reputable website links to your content, search engines see this as a positive sign that your website is trustworthy.

This can help improve your reputation in your industry or niche. Moreover, users are more likely to trust information from a website that is backed by other reliable sources.

Increases visibility and brand awareness

Link building can also help increase the visibility of your brand. By getting links on popular and relevant websites, more people can get in touch with your brand and content.

This contributes to broader brand awareness, even if visitors do not click directly through to your website. The more websites talk about your brand or company, the more likely your target audience will recognize your name and consider becoming a customer.

Natural link building is a sustainable strategy

One of the great benefits of a good link-building strategy is that it is a sustainable way to strengthen your online presence. While paid advertising can generate temporary traffic, link building ensures more organic growth.

Links often last for years and continue to provide value, which means that you also benefit in the long run from backlinks you obtain today. Natural, relevant links retain their value and can become even stronger as the linked pages also build more authority.

Supports other SEO strategies

Link building often works in tandem with other SEO strategies, such as content creation and technical optimizations. This is because good content is more likely to attract natural backlinks. When you regularly produce valuable, informative and shareable content, you increase the likelihood that other websites will want to link to your content.

In addition, link building supports your internal link structure, allowing you to better guide users through your website and help search engines index your content.

Competitive Advantage

In many industries, link building can give you a competitive advantage. If your website receives links from quality, relevant sources and those of your competitors do not, you will likely rank higher in search results.

This means that potential customers will find your website faster than the competition’s, which can have a direct impact on your sales. A strong link building strategy can make the difference between a number one position or not being found at all.

Conclusion

Link building is no longer an optional addition to your SEO strategy, but a crucial element you can’t ignore. It strengthens your domain and page authority, improves your search engine rankings and attracts more organic traffic.

Moreover, it builds trust and reputation, increases the visibility of your brand and gives you a competitive advantage. By following a thoughtful, ethical and quality link building strategy, you can significantly improve your company’s online presence and achieve sustainable growth.

Senior SEO-specialist

Ralf van Veen

Senior SEO-specialist
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I have been working for 10 years as an independent SEO specialist for companies (in the Netherlands and abroad) that want to rank higher in Google in a sustainable manner. During this period I have consulted A-brands, set up large-scale international SEO campaigns and coached global development teams in the field of search engine optimization.

With this broad experience within SEO, I have developed the SEO course and helped hundreds of companies with improved findability in Google in a sustainable and transparent way. For this you can consult my portfolio, references and collaborations.

This article was originally published on 4 September 2024. The last update of this article was on 11 September 2024. The content of this page was written and approved by Ralf van Veen. Learn more about the creation of my articles in my editorial guidelines.