seo-backlink-strategy skill

---
name: seo-backlink-strategy
description: "Backlink acquisition strategies. Use when: developing link building campaigns, analyzing competitor backlinks. Triggers on: 'backlinks', 'link building', 'domain authority'."
allowed-tools:
  - webfetch
  - Read
---

# SEO Backlink Strategy

Plan and execute effective backlink acquisition strategies to build domain authority.

## Why Backlinks Matter

**Backlinks = Endorsements**. Google views links from other sites as votes of confidence. But not all votes are equal:

- **Domain Authority is logarithmic**: DA 50 = 10x more powerful than DA 40
- **Quality > Quantity**: One CNN link (DA 90) > 100 low-DA links
- **Link juice distribution**: If a page has 100 links, value is split. 2 links = more value each.

**In the AI Era**: LLMs like ChatGPT pull from top-ranked, well-linked sources. Backlinks still determine authority for AI recommendations.

---

## The 10 Backlink Strategies

### Quick Reference

| Strategy | Effort | Cost | DA Potential | Best For |
|----------|--------|------|--------------|----------|
| 1. Build Good Products | High | - | Varies | Foundation |
| 2. Link Stealing | Medium | Low | High | Competitive niches |
| 3. Affiliate Programs | Medium | 30-40% rev | High | SaaS, tools |
| 4. Domain Acquisition | Low | $$$$ | Very High | Fast authority |
| 5. HARO | High | Free | 90+ | Credibility |
| 6. Case Studies | Low | Free | Medium | Tool users |
| 7. Content Rings | Medium | Build cost | Medium | Developers |
| 8. Manual Outreach | High | Free/Low | High | PR wins |
| 9. Audience/Influencers | Medium | $200+ | Varies | Product launches |
| 10. Other Methods | Varies | Varies | Varies | Supplementary |

---

## Strategy 1: Build Good Products

**Foundation of all link building.**

Great products naturally attract links. If your product is mediocre, no amount of outreach will compensate.

**Checklist**:
```
□ Product solves a real problem
□ Better UX than competitors
□ Unique value proposition
□ Shareable/remarkable features
□ Free tier or demo available
```

**Natural link triggers**:
- Unique features worth writing about
- Free tools that provide value
- Impressive results/case studies
- Newsworthy launches

---

## Strategy 2: Link Stealing

**Find where competitors get links → pitch your superior product.**

### Process

1. **Identify competitor**: Search your keyword, find top ranker
2. **Analyze in Ahrefs**: Site Explorer → Backlinks tab
3. **Find opportunities**: Open linking sites, find relevant articles
4. **Get contacts**: Use Hunter.io to find writer/editor emails
5. **Outreach**: Pitch your better alternative

### Email Template

```
Subject: Quick note about your [article title]

Hi [Name],

I noticed your article mentions [Competitor]. We've built [Product]
which [specific improvement over competitor].

Would you consider including us? Happy to provide a free account
to test it out.

[Your name]
```

### Success Tips
- Target articles that aren't too positive about competitor
- Offer something of value (free access, exclusive data)
- Be prepared for low response rate
- Some writers accept compensation

---

## Strategy 3: Affiliate Programs

**Pay affiliates to promote → they add backlinks naturally.**

### Setup
1. Use Rewardful (clean URLs, Stripe integration)
2. Offer competitive commission: 30-40%
3. Outcompete competitors' affiliate programs

### Advanced: Steal Competitor Affiliates

1. Ahrefs → Site Explorer → competitor URL
2. Search backlinks containing "?via=" or "?ref="
3. These are affiliate links → contact those affiliates
4. Offer double their current commission

### Results Example
- HeadshotPro: 601 unique backlinks from affiliates
- High DA sites like Elegant Themes (DA 94)

### Managing Spam
- Affiliate links can attract low-quality sites
- Use Google Search Console → Disavow tool
- Tell Google to ignore spammy links

---

## Strategy 4: Domain Acquisition

**Buy established sites → inherit their backlinks.**

### Process

1. **Find targets**: Old tool sites with good backlink profiles
2. **Mass outreach**: Email asking if they'd sell
3. **Negotiate**: Expect $5K-$20K for good domains
4. **Acquire & redirect**: 301 redirect to your main site

### Example
- Bought ProfilePictureMaker.com for $8,700
- 14-year-old domain with established authority
- 301 redirect → gained 400+ backlinks instantly

### What to Look For
- Domain age (older = better)
- Existing backlink profile (check Ahrefs)
- Relevance to your niche
- Clean history (no spam penalties)

---

## Strategy 5: HARO / Help a B2B Writer Out

**Respond to reporter queries → get featured in articles.**

### Platforms
- **HARO**: helpareporter.com
- **Help a B2B Writer Out**: helpab2bwriter.com (HubSpot, Zendesk writers)

### Process

1. Sign up for daily/weekly emails
2. Monitor for relevant queries
3. Respond with expert insights
4. Include credentials (followers, past features)

### Success Tips
- Low success rate due to AI spam
- Include Loom videos for personal touch
- Position yourself as credible expert
- Outsource drafts to VA, add your authority

### Potential
- DA 90+ backlinks (HubSpot, major publications)
- Worth the effort despite low hit rate
- Competitors also struggle → competitive advantage

---

## Strategy 6: Case Studies for Backlinks

**Write about tools you love → get featured on their site.**

### Process

1. Identify tools you genuinely use and love
2. Reach out offering to write a case study
3. They feature you → backlink included

### Email Template

```
Subject: Love your product - case study offer

Hi [Team],

We've been using [Tool] for [X months] and achieved [specific result].

Would you be interested in featuring our story as a case study?
Happy to provide detailed information for your team.

[Your name]
```

### Tips
- Target newer/smaller tools (not HubSpot-level)
- Look for tools with few existing case studies
- Companies love social proof → win-win
- Provide real metrics and results

---

## Strategy 7: Content Rings

**Build free tools → link them to your main site.**

### Concept
- Create multiple free tools/sites
- Each links back to your main product
- Google crawls these → indexes your new sites faster
- Instant baseline backlinks for new launches

### Implementation

```
Free Tool 1 (DA 30) ──┐
Free Tool 2 (DA 25) ──┼──→ Main Product
Free Tool 3 (DA 35) ──┘
```

### Caution
- Keep it to 3-5 owned sites
- Must be legitimate, useful tools
- Don't create PBN-style spam networks
- Each tool should have real value

---

## Strategy 8: Manual Outreach

**Directly contact writers/publications → pitch your product.**

### High-Value Targets
- Major publications (CNET, TechCrunch)
- Industry bloggers
- Newsletter writers
- Podcast hosts (show notes links)

### Approach

1. **Find relevant content**: Articles about your niche
2. **Add value first**: Offer free access, exclusive data
3. **Don't ask directly**: Let them decide to write
4. **Follow up**: Sometimes takes months

### Example Success
- CNET: Offered free access + new AI model news → full blog post
- A16Z: Asked for backlink in podcast show notes → added

### Key Principles
- Don't spam
- Provide genuine value
- Build relationships over time
- Patience pays off

---

## Strategy 9: Leverage Audience / Influencers

### If You Have an Audience

- Post product updates → followers write about it
- Tech writers following you may feature product
- Even tweets count as backlinks

### If You Don't Have an Audience

**Partner with influencers**:
1. Find relevant influencers (TikTok, YouTube, Twitter)
2. Offer ~$200 for product review
3. Goal: Exposure → someone with a blog writes about it
4. Every mention creates potential backlinks

### Engagement Strategy
- Engage with influencer content first
- Build genuine relationships
- DM with personalized pitch
- Offer exclusive access/features

---

## Strategy 10: Other Methods

### Linkable Assets
- Create infographics with research data
- Original studies/surveys
- Free templates/resources
- Others link when referencing

### Broken Link Building
1. Find broken links on relevant sites
2. Create content to replace dead link
3. Pitch site owner: "I noticed broken link → here's replacement"

### Skyscraper Technique
1. Find highly-linked content in your niche
2. Create significantly better version
3. Outreach to sites linking to original
4. Pitch your improved content

### Guest Posting
- Write articles for other blogs
- Include backlink in author bio or content
- Focus on relevant, high-DA sites

### Podcasting
- Guest on podcasts
- Backlink in show notes
- Build authority simultaneously

### Link Swapping
- Exchange links with relevant sites
- Use sparingly → Google detects excessive swapping
- Must be genuinely relevant sites

---

## What NOT to Do

### 1. Low-Quality Link Buying ❌
- Fiverr $10 backlink packages
- Leads to permanent de-ranking
- Google eventually catches ALL spam

### 2. Over-Optimized Anchor Text ❌
- Spamming keywords in anchor text
- "professional headshots" repeated unnaturally
- Google recognizes and penalizes

### 3. Spammy URL Injection ❌
- Posting links everywhere on Quora/Reddit
- Spam comments on blogs
- Detectable and harmful

### 4. Private Blog Networks (PBNs) ❌
- Fake blogs linking to each other
- Google increasingly catches these
- Fast route to being banned

### 5. Irrelevant Site Submissions ❌
- Headshot site linking from travel blog
- Raises red flags
- Wastes time, no SEO benefit

---

## Strategy Selection Framework

### Based on Resources

| Resource | Recommended Strategies |
|----------|----------------------|
| **Have product, no budget** | HARO, Case Studies, Manual Outreach |
| **Have budget, need speed** | Affiliate Program, Domain Acquisition |
| **Have audience** | Leverage Followers, Influencer Partnerships |
| **Are a developer** | Content Rings, Build Free Tools |
| **Have time, no money** | Link Stealing, HARO, Guest Posting |

### Priority Order for New Sites

1. **Foundation**: Build great product
2. **Quick wins**: Case studies, Content rings (if you have tools)
3. **Ongoing**: Affiliate program, Link stealing
4. **Long-term**: HARO, Manual outreach
5. **Amplification**: Audience leverage

---

## Tracking & Measurement

### Monthly Tasks

1. **Monitor competitor backlinks** (Ahrefs)
   - Filter by DA > 25
   - Count new unique domains in past 30 days

2. **Track your backlink growth**
   - New referring domains
   - Average DA of new links

3. **Maintain spreadsheet**
   - Outreach sent
   - Responses received
   - Links acquired
   - DA of each link

### Success Metrics

| Metric | Goal |
|--------|------|
| New referring domains/month | Growing consistently |
| Average DA of new links | > 30 |
| High-value links (DA 80+) | 1-2/month |
| Response rate on outreach | > 5% |

---

## Reference Files

- [STRATEGIES.md](STRATEGIES.md) - Detailed playbooks for each strategy