Does link building still work in 2020?

Aug 7, 2020 by
Does link building still work in 2020?

SEO has changed. Indeed, it’s always changing. But there are still a few basic tenets that have remained stoic throughout and are just as relevant today as they were 5 or even 10 years ago. Is link building one of these foundational tenets?

Few would argue that manual link building is an enjoyable enterprise but while it might be tedious, it is far from the dodo that many claim it has become.

You see, while what constitutes rankle content might have evolved over the years, link building has remained largely the same, with a few notable amendments.

Quality over quantity

At its core, Google is all about links, it’s what fuels the almighty engine. However, while marketers spent the early years of the internet desperately trying to build as many links as possible, we now operate in an age where authority is king and you don’t build authority by linking your content out to any old page. 

Quality over quantity is the adage that now rules the roost as far as link building is concerned and Google will always reward relevant and authoritative links with a decent rank.

Staying power

The Google algorithm is notoriously flaky, with updates constantly moving the goalposts in several directions, whether that be by modifying the importance of keyword density or mobile optimisation.

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the power of good links. Content strategy and link building were outlined as the most important SEO ranking factors in a 2019 study by SparkToro and chances are that hasn’t changed in the last 12 months.

More than just ranking

Link building might principally be about ranking but that’s only half the story. A link from a good source, for example, can lead to increased traffic, which is particularly welcome if it’s relevant to your niche. In addition, it can also help your brand exposure and allow you to develop more renown within your sector as an authoritative source.

And once you’ve established yourself as an ‘authority’ you’ll begin to notice exponential improvements in the frequency and quality of your traffic.

Building bridges

Any good content strategy should involve developing relationships and link building is, by its very nature, a great way to foster relationships with others within your industry. As long as you pitch it right.

There are plenty of opportunities sewn into the world of link building for cultivating deeper and more rewarding professional relationships.

One hand washes the other

We’ve all probably heard and grown sick to death of the phrase “content is king,” but this was a catchphrase coined years ago, in the days when there wasn’t half as much content and it was easier to attract attention.

Fast forward to 2020 and there are more than 347 blogs being registered in WordPress alone every minute of every hour of every day.

With so much noise to sort through, link building isn’t just an SEO tool it’s an essential SEO building block and the only way that readers and buyers are going to find you.

Natural link building is an art form, plain and simple. Connecting your brand and your product with the bloggers and influencers that can help you reach ‘the next level’ is something that can’t be learned overnight. But if you need any help getting there, we’d be more than happy to help.