What's your biggest piece of advice for someone new to link building who wants to see tangible results? What should they focus on first?

Most novices lose time in pursuing too many backlinks without a clear plan. I realized that concentrating on one good link teaches so much more. On a project where I was working on iGaming which had no search visibility, I discovered a niche blog of about 12,000 monthly readers. I read through what their audience was not getting and wrote a comprehensive 1,500 word guide to fill that void. That one guest post alone increased referral traffic by 38% in three weeks and has kept organic visits consistently. That experience showed that the process of mastering one complete cycle of research to results is more effective than hundreds of cold pitches. Start with a single applicable site, get to know what their readers want and provide them with more valuable content than what they are currently reading. Having quantified the effect of that link, do it with a few others. This consistent maneuver develops authority and establishes sustainable growth with no wasted energy.

Over my 12 years as an SEO, I have made all of the mistakes you could make while testing links. My biggest piece of advice is to follow these 3 practices. 1. Most links you'll buy from most link vendors are not going to do much good. Many of these are PBNs, or they are sites with little to no traffic. There are some good link vendors out there, but they are few and far between. If I were just starting now, the main advice I would give myself would be to spend most of my time focusing on getting PR links from sites like Featured, HARO, and Qwoted. 2. Focus on geographic relevance and topical relevance. These, along with high-authority backlinks, are what move the needle. Links from your local Chamber of Commerce and local blogs help with geographic relevance. Links from sites that are about your industry, or sites that target your ideal prospect, will be topically relevant. Let's use the example of a local dentist. It will help the site more to get a link from the local Chamber of Commerce or a national website solely about dentistry than a link on a national website that covers hundreds of topics. 3. If you're buying links from a vendor, do a test order, then run the site through a tool like Ahrefs. You're looking for a DA that is higher than your site. The site should have traffic. Look at the historical data to make sure traffic has been steady and hasn't suffered any large traffic drops. If the site has very low or no traffic and few or low-quality keywords, it is not going to do much to help you. In that case, move on to another vendor to test.

My biggest advice for someone new to link building is to stop thinking about "getting links" and start thinking about earning mentions in places that genuinely matter to your audience. The first thing you should focus on is understanding your niche, including where the conversations are happening and which websites, events, podcasts, and media outlets your ideal customers already trust. Once you know that, create something worth talking about for those platforms. This could be unique insights, data, helpful tools, or even sponsoring small events in your niche and offering products as giveaways. These opportunities often cost little or nothing, yet they can get you featured and linked by reputable sources. This approach gives you links that not only help with rankings but also send real, targeted traffic, which is something random directory links or mass outreach usually fail to do.

For those just starting with link building and seeking tangible results, I recommend focusing on niche edits rather than guest posts as your initial strategy. In my experience working with clients, niche edits have consistently proven to be faster to implement and generally easier to secure than creating entirely new content for guest posting. I've observed that these contextual links within existing content can move search rankings more quickly, which is particularly valuable when you're building initial traction for a newer website. Once you've established some momentum with niche edits, you can gradually expand your approach to include more diverse link building tactics as your expertise grows. Remember that consistency is key - even a small number of quality links acquired regularly will yield better results than sporadic efforts regardless of which method you choose.

My biggest advice for new link builders is to focus on relationships, not just tactics. Don't start by chasing every backlink opportunity; start by connecting with people in your niche — newsletter writers, podcasters, or site owners. When you add value through collaboration, the links you earn are higher quality, more natural, and tend to compound over time.

For someone new to link building who wants to see tangible results, I recommend focusing on a balanced approach that delivers both quick wins and long-term value. Start by securing lower-tier backlinks that are relatively easy and cost-effective to obtain, as these will help build your initial momentum and provide some early metrics to track. At the same time, make it a priority to target at least one high-value, authoritative backlink each month, either through a reputable broker or through organic relationship building. This balanced strategy will help you demonstrate consistent progress while also establishing the foundation for more substantial SEO gains over time.

Get started with citations and local sponsorships and then start with cold outreach. Most new link builders go out to get high-authority backlinks without establishing a relevance base. Begin with the professional references through the industry directories, chambers of commerce and the directories of local businesses. Then seek out sponsorship opportunities, youth sports teams, local events, or nonprofits where you can get backlinks on high traffic community sites. These linkages are not only geographically and contextually but also indicate that the search engines are indicating trust to them quicker than generic guest post. A win that usually gets overlooked: Ask vendors and clients to list your business as a business partner and/or recommended service provider on their websites. These initial-stage connections do not usually have to be negotiated and provide quantifiably measurable improvement in local rankings.

The link-building process can be difficult in the beginning, but focusing on quality and relevance can lead to valuable results. So, based on this, it is best advised to create both valuable and link-worthy content. Before even reaching out to the outreach, know what you're gonna present in terms of valuable assets. Try to create content that can truly help your target audience. Below are some key aspects of doing that: Add comprehensive step-by-step guides in the content that work on resolving a problem. Use original research and data to present your insights with surveys, data analysis and unique findings. Involve case studies in your content, where a real-world example shows what you are trying to present. Infographics and visuals add an easy way of understanding to your content. Mostly, they convey complex information in the easiest way

After helping a marina resort generate over $300M in revenue and working across healthcare to hospitality, I've learned that link building succeeds when you solve real problems for local businesses first. The links follow naturally when you become indispensable to your community. My biggest breakthrough came when I started creating location-specific landing pages for service areas around Tennessee. Instead of chasing generic backlinks, I focused on building relationships with complementary businesses--realtors, contractors, and local chambers. When I redesigned websites for three chiropractors and helped one triple their patient sign-ups, those success stories became case studies that other healthcare practices started referencing and linking to. Start by documenting one major win you create for a client with specific numbers. I published the exact results from swapping static ads to video content (tripled sign-ups in two months), and that concrete data became something other agencies needed to cite when talking about video marketing ROI. The secret is becoming the go-to person who actually delivers measurable results in your local market. When you consistently help businesses grow and document those wins publicly, the links come from other service providers who need to reference real success stories.

For those new to link building, I recommend focusing first on strategic content placement through platforms that already have established authority. Based on my experience, leveraging services like HARO to provide expert quotes to journalists and writing problem-solving guest pieces for relevant publications can yield significant results without requiring a large budget. Building your personal brand visibility through owned platforms like LinkedIn simultaneously creates opportunities for backlinks as you establish yourself as a thought leader in your space. This approach allowed me to transform my professional identity into an effective backlinking strategy that delivered measurable outcomes. I suggest starting with one or two of these tactics rather than trying everything at once, allowing you to refine your approach based on what works best for your specific industry and expertise.

After 8+ years helping service businesses climb search rankings, I've learned that most people overcomplicate link building. The biggest mistake I see is chasing quantity over relevance. Start with **local partnerships** - they're easier to secure and often more valuable than you think. Here's what actually works: I helped a Denver roofing contractor increase their domain authority by 15 points in six months by focusing solely on industry partnerships. Instead of begging for guest posts, we connected them with local HVAC companies, solar installers, and property management firms. These businesses share customers but aren't competitors, making collaboration natural. The secret is **broken link building** combined with genuine value. We found broken links on local business websites and construction industry blogs, then offered our client's content as replacements. One broken link we replaced on a Colorado construction association website drove more qualified traffic than three guest posts on national blogs. Skip the spray-and-pray outreach emails. Focus on 5-10 local businesses where you can offer real value first - maybe sponsor their newsletter, contribute to their blog with actual expertise, or collaborate on a community project. I've seen single local partnerships generate more leads than months of generic link building because the audience trusts the referral source.

Think like a brand, not just an SEO. Focus on earning links from websites your ideal customer already visits and trusts - the kind of link you'd be proud to share with your audience. These are the mentions that strengthen your reputation, not just your rankings. New website owners tend to believe that linkbulding is a numbers game, because they still haven't collected a good number of backlinks and their DA is low. But one strong, niche-relevant backlink from a respected site can outperform dozens of weak ones.

Stay away from linkbuilding where chasing for VOLUME is the primary goal. A few hundred low-quality backlinks might seem impressive on paper, but they almost NEVER generate rankings or trust. Instead, give yourself the goal of earning that impressive link from a site your audience already admires. Again, imagine bringing a leader in your industry and getting them to write you just one testimonial- it would do more for your credibility and search visibility than get hundreds of random people no one knows. Focus on relevance and credibility over sheer numbers. These include the sites that influence thought in your industry (trade publications, major niche blogs, respected directories). Just make that content worthy of taking up the space, something like an original piece of research, a useful tool or data, or simply a strong perspective with well thought out points. Come to publishers with a value-focused pitch that shows you have done your homework. With a week or two the rankings and traffic don't lie. A strong link with a solid strategy can easily beat a dozen generic ones any day of the week. As far as link building is concerned, targeted quality over quantity wins EVERY TIME.

If you're just starting with link building, perhaps the most straightforward method for achieving measurable results is by working with expert quote sites like HARO. I recommend clients who utilize rapid, authoritative contributions rather than complete guest posts to acquire homepage links. Here's how it works: keep an eye on journalist requests, chime in with brief, helpful commentary, and add in a transparent link to your homepage or content if it makes sense naturally. This approach does two things. First, it builds credibility because you're showing up as a quoted expert in relevant publications. Second, it lands backlink placements that are editorial and contextual. Over time, these gains can build up, bringing more traffic, trust, and better rankings. As you grow, mix this with content development and individual outreach. For near-instant, low-threshold influence, HARO-style placements and earned mentions are a great place to begin.

One quiet Tuesday I wrote a quick myth-buster about "social-media-ready nose job photos" and the local skincare spa owner asked if she could repost it on her blog with a cite to my site--suddenly my traffic chart for Tampa rhinoplasty started climbing a neat little 8-degree slope. At Plasthetix I turn every patient FAQ into a bite-size answer on HARO; last April that routine scored an interview mention in the *Herald* and a DA 82 backlink. Your fastest wins will be the places already talking to your patients--dietitians, aesthetic dentists, even the med-spa down the hall--start there before dreaming of WebMD links.

When we finally stopped firing blind pitches to every tech blog, we picked three tiny hyper-local Chicago ISP forums with maybe 2,000 readers each; one post about "how we run fiber across brownstone roofs" landed us twelve links from property-manager niche sites and one anchor client who signed a $30k annual contract. Pick the little ponds first--they slap harder than the ocean.

For new people creating links, my biggest advice: focus on creating authentic relationships, not just links. It's easy to get into a frenzy and forget that there's someone behind each website. Start by identifying the right sites within your niche and use them to be trustworthy - contact us with thoughtful messages before sharing content, sharing your message, or distributing anything. In the first stage, create high-quality content, prioritize content worthy, and think about original research, useful guidelines, or unique information. It gives people the real reason you present. Don't waste your energy pursuing all the possibilities of a return link. Focus on relevance and authority. Additionally, follow this iteration. Building links is a long game, with tangible results coming from sequences and connections, not from labels. Defines confidence, offers and links that follow.

When I first launched YEAH! Local, I wasted weeks chasing shiny links until I pinned a simple Google Sheet to the wall with three columns: target URL, DA, and the exact local keyword the link had to push--once I ranked a tiny dentist for "Atlanta clear braces" with only seven carefully-tracked links, the habit stuck. My rookie promise: track every pitch result daily; the numbers will tell you faster than any guru which tactic is paying the pizza bills.

The biggest mistake made by someone who is new to link building is to try to go too broad too quickly. Clarity should be the first step: identify your ideal partners and the subjects you wish to be found for. When we first started, we concentrated on industry-relevant websites where our audience already spends time rather than pursuing every backlink opportunity. My recommendation is to begin with outreach that is value-driven. Seek out opportunities for natural collaboration, such as exchanging ideas, inviting guests, or hearing from experts, rather than cold pitches. Although it starts out more slowly, it gradually increases authority. It's much simpler to scale the momentum once you have five to ten high-quality, pertinent backlinks.

One of the best places I recommend to start with link building is to identify dead links on websites within your niche. Ahrefs, SEMrush, or browser extensions make it that much easier to spot dead links. Once you've located them, reach out to site owners and provide them with your content as a replacement. It gets their readers access to up-to-date information while getting your content a good-quality backlink. Building upon broken link opportunities gets you real results quickly, stabilizes the strength of domains, and forges real relationships with other websites within your digital landscape, with a good foundation for long-term SEO development.