The realm of digital marketing and search engine optimisation is a rather dynamic one. Businesses are in a constant quest for innovative strategies to enhance their online visibility.
Everyone aims to elevate their position in search engine rankings.
An increasingly prominent approach to achieve this in recent years is the practice of outsourcing link-building.
Although it may sound like a technical concept, its impact on a website’s SEO performance is nothing short of transformative!
In this blog, we will dive into the universe of outsourced link building, exploring its essence and how it can be used to revolutionise your online presence.
So, if you are eager to demystify the keys to SEO success, join us as we venture into the world of external link building.
What is outsourced link building?
Outsourced link building is a practice in the field of search engine optimisation (SEO), where a company hires an external link provider or agency to create backlinks to their website from other websites.
Backlinks are hyperlinks from one website to another, and they are taken seriously when it comes to search engine ranking algorithms.
The goal of outsourcing link building is to improve a website’s search engine rankings by acquiring high-quality and relevant backlinks from authoritative and reputable sources.
Here is how outsourced link building usually works:
- Outsourcing: A website or business owner decides to outsource their link-building efforts to a third-party provider. This could be an SEO agency, a freelance link builder or a specialised link-building service.
- Link-building strategy: The outsourcing provider will develop a link-building strategy tailored to the client’s goals and industry. This may involve guest posting, content marketing, broken link building, influencer outreach or other tactics.
- Identifying link opportunities: The provider will identify websites and platforms that can create backlinks to the client’s site. These opportunities should be relevant to the client’s niche and have good domain authority.
- Content Creation: In many cases, the provider will create high-quality content, such as blog posts or articles, to include the backlinks naturally within the content.
- Link Placement: The provider will reach out to website owners or administrators to request the placement of backlinks to the client’s website. This can involve negotiations, content approval and ensuring that the links meet the best SEO practices.
- Monitoring and Reporting: The outsourcing provider should track the progress of the link-building campaign, monitor the quality and provide regular reports to the client.
Outsourcing link building can be an effective way to improve a website’s SEO performance, but it is essential to ensure that the service provider follows ethical and white-hat SEO practices.
Unethical or spammy link building can result in penalties from search engines, which can harm a website’s search engine rankings.
It is also essential to choose an experienced and reputable provider to get the best results for your link-building efforts.
Why do businesses outsource link building?
Businesses often choose to outsource link building for several reasons, as it offers a range of benefits and advantages.
Here are some of the primary reasons why businesses choose to outsource this aspect of their digital marketing and SEO efforts:
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Save time and money
Outsourcing link-building can save time and money by leveraging the expertise of professionals who can efficiently identify and secure quality backlinks. Businesses avoid the need to hire and train in-house staff, reducing labour costs and time spent on recruitment.
Service providers also have access to specialised tools and networks, expediting the process. This allows businesses to focus on the core activities and achieve results more quickly, ultimately leading to cost savings and faster return on investment.
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Earn better links faster
When you outsource link building, it can help you gain diverse link sources by tapping into the expertise and networks of professionals or agencies with experience in the field.
They have the knowledge to identify a wide range of reputable websites, platforms and strategies for securing high-quality backlinks.
These experts can employ various techniques such as guest posting, content marketing, influencer outreach and more, resulting in a more diversified and natural link profile.
This diversity can enhance a website’s authority, relevance and overall SEO performance, making it more resilient to search engine algorithm changes and improving its search rankings.
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Ensure consistent link maintenance
Outsourcing link building can ensure consistent link maintenance by entrusting the responsibility to experienced professionals or agencies.
These experts are well-equipped to monitor and manage the links they’ve established regularly. They can identify and rectify broken or irrelevant links, ensuring the website’s link profile remains authoritative and reliable.
By delegating this ongoing task to experts, businesses can maintain the health of their backlinks consistently, which is essential for sustaining and improving SEO performance over time.
Experts can look after the following areas to ensure maintaining a reputable backlink profile.
- Finding and fixing toxic links (spammy links)
- Optimising anchor texts
- Make sure there are different kinds of links
When is the right time to outsource link building?
The right time to consider outsourcing link building can vary depending on a business’s specific circumstances and goals.
Here are some of the situations that may indicate it is the right time to consider outsourcing link building:
- Limited in-house expertise: When a company lacks in-house expertise in SEO and link building, outsourcing can be a valuable solution, as it allows access to experienced professionals.
- Resource Constraints: Small businesses or startups with limited resources and personnel may choose to outsource link building to free up their time and focus on core activities.
- Need for scalability: Businesses that require a rapid expansion of their link-building efforts or campaigns can benefit from the scalability that outsourcing offers.
- Complex SEO goals: If a business has Complex SEO goals or needs to address specific challenges like recovering from a Google penalty, outsourcing can provide specialised solutions.
- Time Sensitivity: Companies looking to achieve quicker SEO results may opt to outsource to professionals who can expedite the link-building process.
- Compliance and risk management: Ensuring ethical and search engine-compliant link building is crucial. Outsourcing to a reputable provider can help manage the risk associated with SEO.
- Competitive Niche: In highly competitive industries, gaining an edge in search rankings is challenging. Outsourcing can help navigate this competitive landscape effortlessly and effectively.
- Strategic Expansion: If a business is expanding its online presence or entering new markets, outsourcing link-building can help align with strategic goals.
It is important to conduct due diligence when considering outsourcing link building. Businesses should thoroughly research and select a reputable and experienced provider, ensuring that their strategies are in line with the company’s objective and ethical SEO practices.
Ultimately, the decision to outsource should align with a business’s goals, resources and commitment to improving its online visibility and search engine rankings.
5 Simple Steps to Outsource Link-building Services
Here are five important steps that you should keep in mind when considering outsourcing:
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Determine Your Readiness
Before considering outsourcing link building, assess your website’s current SEO status. Identify your existing backlink profile, rankings and overall SEO performance. This assessment will help you understand your starting point and what areas need improvement.
Clearly outline your SEO objectives. Are you looking to boost search engine rankings, increase organic traffic or improve the authority of your website? Understanding your goals will guide your link-building strategy and help you communicate your expectations to the outsourcing partner.
Analyse your competitor’s online presence in backlink profiles. This will help you identify link-building, understand the competitive landscape and make informed decisions on outsourcing strategies.
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Learn About the Link-Building Process
This is an important step, especially when considering outsourcing link building.
The first step involves outlining the link-building strategy. This includes defining the target audience, identifying the types of websites or platforms you want backlinks from and setting specific goals for the campaign. This strategy should align with your business’s objectives and industry.
The link-building process is a dynamic and ongoing effort that requires a combination of research, content creation, outreach and strategic thinking. When outsourcing link-building, choosing a reputable partner with a well-defined process can help you achieve your SEO goals while ensuring that your link-building campaign is effective and ethical.
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Determine Your Budget
Begin by evaluating your overall marketing budget and the resources you can allocate to link building specifically. Consider your business’s financial capabilities and goals, ensuring that link-building expenses are feasible within your budget.
Investigate the typical core structures and rates for link-building services in the industry. Prices can vary depending on factors like the type of backlinks, the quality of websites and the level of expertise provided by the outsourcing partner.
Be realistic about what you can achieve with your budget. High-quality link building often requires a substantial investment, but it can yield significant returns in terms of improved SEO and online visibility.
By determining your budget effectively, you can ensure that your outsourcing link-building campaign is financially sustainable and aligned with your business objectives.
This step is crucial for making informed decisions about the level of investment required to achieve your SEO and online marketing goals.
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Choose The Right Type of Service
Begin by assessing your specific link-building needs. Consider your SEO goals, the current state of your website’s link profile, and your target audience. Understanding your needs is essential for selecting the right type of link-building service.
Be clear about what kind of link-building service you need. Some common types include:
- Guest Posting
- Broken Link Building
- Content Marketing
- Resource Link Building
Ensure that the chosen link-building service aligns with ethical SEO guidelines and search engine policies. Avoid practices that could lead to penalties or a negative reputation for your website.
By choosing the right type of link-building service, you can create a tailored strategy that falls in line with your goals, budget and industry best practices.
This step is essential for maximising the effectiveness of your link-building efforts when outsourcing the task.
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Recognising Trustworthy Link-Builders
Identifying reputable and ethical link-building partners is essential for a successful campaign.
Look for link-building professionals or agencies with substantial experience in the field. Experienced providers are more likely to have a proven track record of successful campaigns.
Review their portfolio and ask for case studies of previous projects. This allows you to see the quality of their work and understand how they have helped other clients achieve their SEO goals.
Research the provider’s online reputation. Look for reviews and testimonials from previous clients. Positive reviews and recommendations from other businesses can be a good indicator of their reliability.
Recognising trustworthy link builders is a critical step that can save your business from the potential pitfalls of unethical link-building practices.
Things to consider when outsourcing link-building
Here are some of the things to consider when outsourcing link building:
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Cost
The cost is a significant factor to consider when outsourcing link building.
Before outsourcing link building, it’s crucial to determine the budget you can allocate to this aspect of your SEO strategy. Your budget will influence the type and scale of link-building services you can pursue.
Ensure that the provider’s pricing structure is transparent and that there are no hidden fees or unexpected expenses. A clear breakdown of costs is essential for managing your budget effectively.
Overall, the cost factor is essential when outsourcing link building. Carefully consider your budget, the type of service you need and the potential ROI to make informed decisions that align with your business objectives and financial capabilities.
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Quantity VS Quality
In outsourcing link building, the consensus among SEO experts is that quality should always take precedence over quantity. Search engines, particularly Google, prioritise backlinks from authoritative sources that offer real value to users.
Consequently, low-quality or spammy backlinks obtained through quantity-focused strategies can lead to penalties and harm your website’s reputation.
While quantity-focused strategies may seem tempting for quick results, they often lead to short-term gains and long-term problems.
A well-balanced approach is to focus on acquiring a moderate number of high-quality backlinks that provide real value to your SEO and online presence. This approach ensures your website’s long-term health and credibility in the eyes of both users and search engines.
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Service
Service is a crucial factor when it comes to outsourcing link building. The quality and nature of the services provided by an outsourcing partner play a significant role in the success of your link-building campaign.
Different outsourcing providers may offer various types of link-building services. These services can include guest posting, content marketing, broken link building, influencer outreach and more. Your choice of service should align with your specific goals and industry.
Reputable link-building service providers understand that one size does not fit all. They should be able to customise their services to meet your specific business needs, goals and constraints. A tailored approach ensures that the services are relevant to your objectives.
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Strategy
Strategy is a critical factor when outsourcing link building. Your link-building strategy defines the approach, goals and methods used to acquire backlinks.
When outsourcing link-building, it’s essential to work with a service provider who can develop and execute a well-defined and ethical link-building strategy. The strategy serves as the roadmap for your campaign, ensuring that your link-building efforts are aligned with your objectives and industry best practices.
Red Flags to Watch Out for When Outsourcing Link Building
When outsourcing link building, it is essential to watch out for red flags that can indicate potential issues with the service provider.
Here are some of the red flags to be aware of:
- Promises of guaranteed rankings: If a service provider guarantees specific rankings within a short timeframe, it is a red flag. SEO and link-building results can’t be guaranteed, and such promises often indicate unethical or black-hat tactics.
- Unrealistically low prices: If the pricing seems too good to be true, it probably is. Very low prices may suggest that the provider is cutting corners or using questionable link-building methods that can harm your website’s SEO.
- Lack of transparency: If the provider is unwilling to explain their methods, share their process or provide regular reports on the progress of your campaign, it is a red flag. Transparency is crucial for a successful link-building partnership.
- No references or case studies: Reputable providers should be able to offer references from previous clients and share case studies to showcase their successes. The absence of such references can be concerning.
Identifying and addressing these red flags can help you make an informed decision to protect your website’s SEO and reputation.
Difference between in-house and outsourced link-building
The primary difference between in-house and outsourced link-building lies in who is responsible for planning, executing and managing the link-building efforts.
Here is a breakdown of the distinctions between these two approaches:
- In-house link building
In-house link-building involves creating and maintaining an internal team of employees and specialists dedicated to managing the entire link-building process. This team typically includes SEO experts, content creators, outreach professionals and analysts.
With an in-house team, you have direct control over the strategies, methods and execution of link-building campaigns.
They also have a deep understanding of the company’s products, services, industry and target audience, allowing them to create highly relevant and customised link-building campaigns.
- Outsourced Link Building
Outsourced link building involves partnering with external agencies or freelancers who specialise in link building. These service providers manage the link-building process on your behalf.
Outsourcing provides access to professionals with expertise and experience in the field of link building, which can lead to more effective and efficient campaigns.
Many outsourcing agencies have access to specialised tools, databases and networks that can enhance the efficiency of your link-building efforts.
You can choose service providers with various link-building methods, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your campaign.
The choice between in-house and outsourced link building depends on your business’s specific needs, budget and long-term goals.
Many businesses sometimes opt for combining both strategies, depending on their campaign goals and resources.
Outsourcing Link-Building: Ready to Get Started?
In the ever-competitive realm of online visibility, staying ahead of the curve is the name of the game. As the digital landscape evolves, one thing remains constant: the power of quality backlinks to strengthen your website’s SEO and propel it up the search engine rankings.
But here is the twist- achieving link-building success is not about the quantity of links you acquire; it is about their quality and relevance.
If you have done your research and are ready to embark on a link-building journey, you can get in touch with a link-building agency or provider to outsource the task.
Choose an agency or provider that properly understands your needs and has proof of ethical and successful link-building campaigns.
If you are ready to unlock the full potential of your website’s SEO and gain a competitive edge in the digital landscape, then outsourcing link building should be your next strategic move in that direction.