Backlinks
Backlinks, also known as backlinks, are hyperlinks leading from one website to another. They are one of the key elements of SEO, as they affect a site's position in search results.
Depending on how strong and popular the referring site is, a backlink can help build our site's authority in the eyes of a search engine.
Backlinks can come in various forms:
Text links - the most common form of link, placed in text.
Image links - clicking on an image takes the user to another page.
External links - leading to pages outside the current domain.
Internal links - leading to other pages within the same domain.
Link structure
Each link consists of three main elements:
Attribute href - contains the URL of the linked page.
Anchor text - text displayed to the user that informs about the content of the linked page.
Closing tag - ends the link code.
Example of HTML code of a link:
<a href=“https://www.przyklad.com”>Click here</a>.
In this example, “Click here” is the anchor text, and the address, “https://www.przyklad.com,” is where the user will be redirected to after clicking.
Types of backlinks
Backlinks are divided into:
Follow links - the default type of link that conveys “power”.
Nofollow links - links that do not convey power, and their purpose is to tell search engines not to follow the link.
Division of backlinks by the way they are placed:
Internal links - leading to other pages within the same domain. They are important for optimizing the site structure.
External links - directing to pages outside the current domain. Important for SEO because they help search engines determine the authority of your site.
Link attributes
Link attributes determine their SEO impact and how they will be interpreted by search engine robots:
Nofollow - this attribute tells search engines that the link should not should convey “power” (PageRank).
Sponsored - refers to paid links, derived, for example, from articles sponsored.
UGC (User Generated Content) - used for links added by users, such as in comments on forums.
Target="_blank” - attribute that opens the link in a new tab browsers.
Anchor text
Anchor text, or anchor text, is the visible text that a user clicks to go to the linked page. Anchor text tells both users and search engine robots what is on the linked page, so it is an important SEO factor.
Types of anchor texts:
Exact match - anchor text contains the keyword that is the target of the positioning.
Branded - anchor containing the brand name (e.g. “Google”).
Generic - e.g. “click here”.
URL - instead of text, the full address of the site is shown (e.g. “www.przykład.com”).
How to analyze backlinks?
Analyzing backlinks is key to understanding where the links leading to your site are coming from, what attributes they have, and what anchor text is being used.
Factors to analyze:
Number of follow and nofollow links - assessing the balance between the two types of links.
Quality of links - one link from an authoritative site can be more valuable than many links from insignificant sites.
Naturalness of the link profile - it is important that link growth is gradual, varied and from a variety of sources.
Where to acquire backlinks from?
Acquiring backlinks is one of the key SEO strategies. Here are some popular ways to acquire backlinks:
Sponsored articles - publishing content on other sites with a link to your site.
Backlink sites - blogs and sites created specifically for linking.
Business partnerships - exchanging links between cooperating companies.
Topic forums - although less popular than they once were, they can still provide valuable links.
Site directories - submitting your site to industry-specific site directories.
Link profile vs. SEO
Regular analysis of your link profile allows you to understand how your site is viewed by search engines.
A good link profile is characterized by:
Diversity of anchors - they should not always be the same.
A balance between follow and nofollow links.
Links from a variety of authoritative sources.
What are the most valuable links?
Naturally sourced - those that were created without your interference, such as by sharing valuable content.
From large, reputable sites - links from high authority sites are more valuable.
Topically related to your site - links from sites with similar themes have more SEO value.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can a domain exist without backlinks?
Domains without backlinks usually have very low visibility in search engines. Without external links, it is difficult to rank high in search results.
Are backlinks from social media valuable?
Links from Facebook, Twitter or other social media do not directly affect SEO, as they are often marked with the “nofollow” attribute. However, they can indirectly affect website traffic and branding
Now you know all about backlinks 😄 In this article you will learn how to use Link Analytics in Senuto.