Top 5 link-building mistakes

Publication Date
19.06.23
Category
Link building
Reading Time
4 Min
Author Name
Svitlana Velychko
Like 72

A poorly chosen approach to attracting backlinks can do significant damage to your site, lowering its ranking  and leading to pessimization by search engines. 

In this article, we'll look at the top 5 most common link building mistakes you should avoid to keep your site in position.

Mistake 1: Inadequate selection of competitive queries, and as a consequence, strategy and budget

Improper query selection can result in you competing with overly strong competitors, or alternatively, selecting low-competitive queries that won't bring in significant traffic. As a result, your link building strategy could be ineffective and your budget wasted.

Our experiment confirmed the importance of a proper selection of competitive requests in link building strategy - the number of external links from other domains was growing, but it did not lead to an increase in traffic or improve positioning.

the number of external links from other domains was growing

The number of domains is growing

The number of domains is growing

But traffic and keys are not (TOP 3-10)

Mistake 2: Disturbing the dynamics (too much, too little, breaks)

One of the common flaws in link building is breaking the momentum of link building. This means that you may gather a lot of links in a short period and then not be active for a long time. This misallocation can make Google suspicious and cause positions to deteriorate. 

We did an experiment in which we put a large number of "easy" links for a short period of time. As a result, we found that this approach had no effect on traffic.

A large number of lightweight links are placed

A large number of lightweight links are placed

The impact on rankings is 0

The impact on rankings is 0. Traffic is growing by branded queries

Mistake 3: Improper selection of link types (most nofollow/dofollow, light/heavy links)

Selecting the right type of links is an important part of a successful link building strategy. For example, too many nofollow links can kill the positive effect of quality links. It's important to strike a reasonable balance between dofollow- and nofollow-links, and to choose quality links that maintain the site's authority.

Mistake 4: Spamming the anchor list

An anchor is the text part that is clicked on to follow a link. Using the same-type, spammy anchors is grounds for Google sanctions. We recommend putting natural anchors that match the context.

We've posted a lot of guest posts with the same anchor links, and as a result we got sanctions because of spam.

We've posted a lot of guest posts with the same anchor links

Aggressive linking strategy with a large number of anchor posts

Aggressive linking strategy with a large number of anchor posts

As expected, host sanctions for spam

Mistake 5: Getting links from low-quality sites

Instead of hunting for a large number of links, it's better to focus on quality. Focus your efforts on getting links from reputable, well-known and related to your topic. 

Carefully check the sites you are getting links from and make sure they are of quality. To check the quality of the sites you get links from, pay attention to the following two aspects:

  1. The authority of the site.
The authority of the site

Check the Domain Rating with Ahrefs. The higher the rating, the better.


      2. Content Quality

Content Quality

Make sure the site has high-quality and relevant content related to your topic. It should be informative, relevant, and useful to users.

Avoiding basic mistakes will help you build an effective link building strategy that will have a positive impact on your site's position in Google. Remember that the quality, relevance and naturalness of your links are the key factors for successful link building.

The material is taken from Svetlana Velichko speech at the Webpromoexperts conference, which you can view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqzaLMWeolE

Our experience in words

Features of guest posting in the USA
Did you know that properly organized link building in the US can completely transform your business? By incorporating guest posting as part of your SEO strategy, you can significantly improve your website’s rankings in Google search results. However, it’s important to understand that outreach in the Ukrainian and American markets, while sharing some similarities, requires […]
Daria Pugach
12 min to read
Explosive Link Building for an Online Casino Review Site
Over two years ago, a client approached us with a request for comprehensive link-building for a casino review site. The project goal was to secure top positions across the English-speaking internet, including the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK.  The site was newly launched, with no backlinks, keywords, or traffic – you can see this […]
Daria Pugach
4 min to read
Top-1 real estate sales in Dubai in less than a year
Around nine months ago, a client came to us with the goal of ranking Top-1 for the keyword “real estate” in the UAE. It’s worth mentioning a bit about the real estate niche in the UAE – right now, it’s one of the most expensive and rapidly developing markets in the world. Its investment appeal […]
Daria Pugach
3 min to read
Skyscraper method techniques to boost your SEO results
This guide illustrates how to proficiently employ the skyscraper technique, which entails creating web content that surpasses all others in quality. By achieving this standard, you can draw a greater number of backlinks and enhance your search engine optimization (SEO) standings. What is the skyscraper method? The Skyscraper Technique revolves around crafting content that eclipses […]
Daria Pugach
10 min to read
Backlink Exchange Guide: essential tactics, benefits, and risks
This article delves into the practice of backlink exchange, where websites consent to mutually link to one another in an effort to enhance their SEO. This strategy can elevate your website’s ranking and increase its traffic. It also comes with certain risks. The benefits are outlined here, along with the operation of such exchanges and […]
Daria Pugach
12 min to read
Reciprocal links: essential strategies and common pitfalls
This article examines how reciprocal links, which occur when two websites link to one another, can improve your SEO and increase website traffic. It discusses the functioning of these links, their advantages as well as possible hazards associated with them. What are reciprocal links? At their essence, reciprocal links represent a bilateral arrangement in which […]
Daria Pugach
11 min to read
Link equity explained: best practices for SEO success
This article delves into the significance of link equity, which is the value that hyperlinks impart to web pages, a critical factor in SEO as it affects page rankings within search engines. We discuss the essence of link equity, its importance for SEO purposes, and strategies for enhancing it to achieve improved SEO outcomes. What […]
Daria Pugach
10 min to read
Tiered link building: benefits, risks and best practices
Tiered link building is an SEO strategy that strengthens your site’s authority and improves search rankings by creating multiple layers of backlinks. In this guide, you’ll learn the benefits, risks, and how to effectively use tiered link building to stay ahead in 2024. Link building with a tiered structure is fundamental for SEO effectiveness as […]
Daria Pugach
10 min to read
Sitewide links: benefits, risks, and best practices for SEO
Links that are displayed on every page of a website, commonly found in the sidebar or footer, are known as sitewide links. These can have significant implications for your SEO, potentially yielding both beneficial and detrimental effects. This article will provide insights into what sitewide links entail, their influence on your SEO, and strategies to […]
Daria Pugach
8 min to read
Top 11 strategies to earn free backlinks easily
Are you looking to boost your website’s SEO without spending a dime? This article presents the top 10 strategies for earning free backlinks easily. From analyzing competitor backlinks to leveraging social media, read on to discover practical and actionable methods to enhance your online presence without breaking the bank. Turn brand mentions into backlinks Starting […]
Daria Pugach
15 min to read
Links-Stream Digest: join our newsletter
Every week we send an email with news from the world of SEO and linkbuilding.
We are read by 1314 people.
Exclusive content
Useful collections
Tips and tricks
Google updates
SEO-hacks
Linkbuilding digest
SEO-influencers