the importance of building backlinks

This time last year I wrote a post about building backlinks that was very well received. This is an ever relevant topic that anyone who publishes online should review on a regular basis, so I'm revisiting it today.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time giving details about SEO. There is a wealth of information about this topic already. I'm focusing specifically on the idea of backlinks here. One of the best methods for generating web traffic (blog posts, articles, online listings, etc.) is building backlinks online. I have been working on backlinks for my Etsy shop for over five years, but I stepped up my game when I joined HubPages two years ago. This meant that I added a number of new sites to my regular backlinks rotation. Creating these links is now part of my weekly online routine for my Etsy shop, this blog, and HubPages.

Like many endeavors, building backlinks does not produce instant traffic spikes. It takes time and patience to see results, but the effort is worth it. It is also important not to get overwhelmed. I've included a lot of suggestions here. I did not take all of this on overnight. Pick one or two new things to do and build from there.

• Facebook and Twitter. Even though other networking sites such as Pinterest have become quite popular, Facebook and Twitter remain two of the big players. If you do not have a Facebook fan page and a Twitter account, I high recommend that you sign up for both and start using them on a daily basis. I use Hootsuite to schedule almost all of my posts for both of these sites at least 24 hours in advance, which is great for my time management. It also allows me to target peak traffic times (which you can track through Google Analytics). I have my two accounts synched so the live posts that I make from Facebook automatically post to Twitter. Additionally, I use Networked blogs to post my blog posts to Facebook automatically (which means that they go right to Twitter as well).
• Pinterest. Pinterest has been one of my top five traffic sources on HubPages for over a year now. For some articles, it's the number one traffic source. Pinterest is not for all types of content, but if you write about fashion, crafts/DIY, cooking, parenting, holidays, and/or education, it can be an amazing traffic source.
• Google+. Google+ has become popular for niche communities who make use of certain communities and tag features. It's considerably less cluttered than Facebook or Twitter. I don't get a ton of traffic from Google+, but I get regular shares and clicks there,
• RedGage. I've been sharing long enough on RedGage to conclude that I'm not likely to make a lot of money there. However, the views that I get through my RedGage shares do allow me to generate income elsewhere, especially on HubPages.
• Stumbleupon. Stumbleupon has a toolbar share button like Pinterest, which makes it very easy to link content. I get significantly more traffic there than any other bookmarking site, and it's by far the easiest one to use, so it's the one that I use pretty much exclusively these days.

• Forums. I get a lot of traffic from Etsy forums (i.e. team threads) and HubPages Facebook groups. It's important to find relevant forums where you plan to participate regularly and to avoid spamming with excessive posting.
• Advertisements and button swaps. Do you have buttons on other blogs either through paid ad spots or button swaps?  Hopefully people are clicking on them!
• Internal links. It is important to link within your own content to keep people revisiting older material. If you refer back to an old post, include a link for it.  Some people use the Linked Within tool that creates the "You may also like..." section at the bottom of blog posts.
• Comments. One of many reasons why it's important to leave comments on blog posts and articles is that it creates backlinks for you.
• Blog rolls. Personally I read all of the blogs that I like to follow through my blog roll within my own blog (see the right sidebar) instead a link tool.  These blog rolls create links for other bloggers.  If you have great content that people want to read every day, they'll include you in their own rolls.
• Blog memes. Popular link ups such as Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Delicately Constructed Friday, and Alphabe Thursdays are a great way to build blog traffic and can be a lot of fun.

Am I missing something important?  Share your other sites and strategies for creating backlinks!

A Different Kind of Link List: Where I Link Up Every Day (and You Should, Too)

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/how-to-use-memes-to-build-easy-backlinks-traffic

Jamie at For Love of Cupcakes put together a post about her Link Empire last month.  I'm shamelessly stealing her idea because it's such a good one.  Thanks Jamie!  I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about the basics of SEO here.  There are tons of articles out there about this topic already.  What I'm focusing on here is the notion of backlinks.  One of the best ways to get traffic for any kind of web page (online listing, blog post, article, etc.) is to build your backlinks online.  I have been doing this for my Etsy listings for quite a while, but I completely stepped up my game when I joined HubPages.  As a result, I have added lots of new sites to my regular rotation.  Creating backlinks is now a part of my daily online routine for Etsy, this blog, and HubPages.

Like many things online, don't expect to see instant changes.  It takes time and patience to see results, but the effort is well worth it.  Also, don't get overwhelmed.  I have included a lot of suggestions here.  I did not start all of this overnight.  Take on one or two new things every week, and you'll slowly build your linking base.

Where I Link Every Day

• Facebook and Twitter: Even with the rise of other networking sites such as Pinterest and Google +, these are still two of the most popular social networking sites right now.  If you do not have a Facebook fan page and a Twitter account, I highly urge you to get both and start using them daily.  Now that I have Hootsuite, I schedule almost everything for these two sites at least 24 hours in advance, which is a huge time saver.  It also allows me to target peak traffic times (which you can monitor through Google Analytics).  My two accounts are synched up so the live posts that I make from Facebook automatically post to Twitter.
• Pinterest: Even half a year ago, I would have been shocked to learn that I'd be discussing Pinterest right under Facebook and Google.  I have had some huge traffic numbers on HubPages from articles that took off with re-pinning.  It has been one of my top 10 traffic sources for Etsy and HubPages for the first three months of 2012.  Please take the time to make sure that you are re-pinning legit links and that you aren't just promoting your own work.
• Google +: Google + is still too new for me to discuss at much length.  I'm there because it's the new place to be, but I'm honestly not sure how much traffic I'm getting.  As more sites are adopting the +1 button, it's really easy to share content there without adding much extra time to your routine, which is largely why I do share there regularly.
• Social Monkee: I started using this site for HubPages and will share blog posts when I don't have new HubPages content to add (the free version lets you upload one link per day).  The numbers aren't significant, but I do get increased traffic from using the site.
• Red Gage: This is the newest site I've joined.  Less than two weeks into it, I've already been impressed with the traffic.  The earnings aren't huge, but every little bit counts.  The community there is very friendly.  Typically when I link new content, I upload to Social Monkee and Red Gage at the same time so I can copy and paste the same descriptions and keywords one right after the other.
• Stumbleupon: Like Pinterest, Stumbleupon has a toolbar option, making it very easy to share new content.  There are many similar social bookmarking sites out there, but I get by far the most traffic from Stumble and it's the easiest to use so it's the one that I use the most.
• Etsy Teams: Most Etsy teams use their discussion section regularly and/or use another forum.  Check in regularly and share your new listings, blog posts, and other resources.

Other Considerations

• Advertisements and Button Swaps: Do you have buttons on other blogs either through paid ad spots or button swaps?  Hopefully people are clicking on them!
• Internal Links: Do you link within your content?  If you refer back to an old post, include a link for it.  Some people use the Linked Within tool that creates the "You may also like..." section at the bottom of blog posts.
• Comments: One of many reasons why it's important to leave comments on blog posts and articles is that it creates backlinks for you.
• Blog Rolls: Personally I read all of the blogs that I like to follow through the blog roll within my own blog instead of using GFC or another link tool.  These blog rolls create links for other bloggers.  If you have great content that people want to read every day, they'll include you in their own rolls.
• Blog Memes: Popular link ups such as Scavenger Hunt Sunday and Alphabe Thursdays are a great way to build blog traffic.  (They can also be a lot of fun.)

Am I missing something important?  Share your other sites and strategies for creating backlinks!

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I included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 4/6/2012 and Erika's It's a Wrap Link Party - 4/9/2012.