Most search engine optimizers know the proper way to link build, and they know which strategies to avoid. Request links from relevant sites. Do not purchase links. Avoid spammy websites. The list goes on and on for proper white hat techniques.
While experienced SEOs know the big link building mistakes, there are plenty of smaller, even silly mistakes you could be making without realizing it. And these mistakes could cost you.
Before you send out your next link request, make sure you aren’t making any easy-to-avoid mistakes you’ll regret later.
You Didn’t Check Spelling and Grammar
We know, this one seems like a no-brainer. Of course you should re-read your inquiries before sending them out, but tired eyes can be fooled, and if you’ve spent the day staring at a computer screen, you could miss important errors. Do not rely solely on automatic spell check because it misses plenty, as well. For example, Hairy Potter is spelled correctly, but to a Hogwarts webmaster, a mistake like that means you won’t be getting a link. Grammar and spelling mistakes look unprofessional and spammy.
We recommend sending out emails in the morning while you’re still fresh. You’re more likely to catch any spelling or grammar errors. If you can, have someone else proofread your inquiries.
You’re Not Contacting the Correct Person
Hunting down contact information can be time-consuming, but it’s worth the effort. General email address or form submissions won’t always send to someone who has an impact on the site’s content. If you’re lucky, they’ll forward it on, but more likely they will delete it or simply forget about it under the swarm of other weekly emails. Using a webmaster’s email ensures your message will be read by someone who can add a link. Good webmasters are invested in their sites and care about including relevant, great content, which is what you should have if you’re emailing them.
Try using tools like Who.Is and search modifiers like “inurl:contact” to correctly identify the recipient of your email. Use their name if given, and don’t be afraid to do a little digging.
You Didn’t Look at the Last Date of Publication
You should read posts on a website before requesting a link to determine applicability and quality. However, did you check the publishing date? It’s easy to overlook such a little detail, but the last date of publication lets you know if a webmaster is still active. It is a waste of time to request a link from a site that hasn’t published any new content in years. Abandoned sites don’t give out links. It’s a simple task that you may not always think of.
You Haven’t Followed Up
Hundreds of emails pass in and out of a professional’s inbox every week. Yours may have g one to spam or the recipient set it aside for later. If you spend your valuable time finding the perfect website for a piece for your content, digging for a contact name and perfecting your email, why not spend another two minutes following up? If you go a few days without hearing back, shoot over another email or give the owner a phone call. You’ll probably get a response the second time around.
You’re in a Hurry to Link Build
In a world of texting, video-on-demand and thirty minute pizza deliveries, we’re used to instant gratification. For novice SEOs, a project like link building is a true try of patience. Sending out requests, hearing back from webmasters and finally seeing the link posted is a long process, and then to really impact your site’s authority, this needs to happen over and over and over. Take your time. Many of the issues discussed above can be resolved by approaching link building with patience. At the risk of sounding cliché, the link building tortoise wins the race. Link building is an on-going process, and you should not feel dismayed at the lack of immediate results.
As you begin your next link building campaign, hopefully you’ll catch these silly mistakes and your link building will run smoothly and efficiently. We hope you gain some new links, as well!
