Lacking in-depth technical skills or time to conduct solid SEO campaigns, many entrepreneurs turn to outsourcing related tasks. Still, bad link building does more harm than good, failing to secure the return on investment. On the other hand, adept link builders charge top dollar for their services, but what they also offer is a risk-free, rank-improving acquisition of links. So, how much is solid link building worth? Does blowing the budget put you to ruin, or can something good come out of it? Well, as a general rule of thumb, you get what you pay for.
Taking Chances
The strong online presence must be built block by block, with meticulous craftsmanship and ample funds. The heart and soul of the whole endeavor are content marketing and link building, the two SEO strategies that hit the digital mark like no other practice. Alas, you cannot just post links from any external sources you come by and let the chips fall where they may. Also, copying and stealing the content from other websites is the sure way to sabotage the authority and ranking.
The 99.2% of top-ranking search results have an external link pointing to the website included, and the lower amount of them are connected with the page. This should be enough to convince the skeptics about the efficiency matters. Now, algorithm updates such as Google Penguin, as well as shifting preferences of the users, have brought forth a situation in which the more is not always better. The quality now plays a major role, and overshadows the benefits of sheer quantity.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Truth
The link building strategy should aim at gathering links to reputable websites that feature relevant, original content. What is more, to get more bang for your back, you should make an effort to align the process of link building with your branding efforts. You could say that bad link building is cheap, but risky, while the good one involves great rewards, but also hefty expenses. So, what are exactly the risks associated with poor link-building?
Well, among other things, you may be dealing with link spam and schemes with the sole purpose of manipulating the rankings. These suspicious activities lead to business-sinking penalties, plummets in ranking, and massive drops in traffic. Many entrepreneurs never recover from these shattering blows, regretting the day when they foolishly assumed they could easily get top-notch service. Those who want to link to high value sites and pay-for-performance campaigns might have to come up with an amount ranging from few hundreds to a few thousand dollars.
Even if you avoid this worst case scenario with lousy links, it is highly likely that their shabby authority will undermine the one of your website. On the other hand, guest posting on prominent websites or attracting links through original, impeccable content does wonders for your authority, also spurring many other benefits. Just to name a few, you can probably count on recurring returns of referral traffic, trust by association, higher conversions, etc.
Strike Gold
Remember that if the offer sound too good to be true, it probably is not. Insane proposals packed like a clown car are often backed by automated software, link networks, or manual placement on websites like Fiverr. Fishy business is not uncommon, but Google strives to uncover shady and “black hat” tactics and punish the culprits. Hence, partnering up with an actual SEO consulting agency could be the best decision you can make, provided that you do the homework and check the credentials.
Professional work and masterful execution are not easy to come by, and they also cost an arm and a leg. Yet, if you can afford them, do not fret. Respected agencies focus on forging relationships, not merely amassing links. Their strategies are built around great content, the one people want to read, comment on and share. These professionals are adept at diversifying the approach and letting SEO scale up. Ultimately, good link building has a permanent effect, as nobody wants to remove good links. In fact, their value grows over time, providing you with a real gold mine.
On the Money
Empowering network of links makes your online persona fully shine, and enables it to capture the attention of both the search engine deities and mortals wandering the bustling digital avenues. Always ask yourself how the particular link contributes to your brand. Even a single, well-placed link may bring you hundreds, even thousands of dollars in returns. On top of that, you will be blessed with increased traffic, boosted authority, better ranking potential and brand visibility. Just make sure that paid services fit the budget, your company goals, and ideas of where you want to take the business in the future.
Raul is a B.Sc. in Innovative entrepreneurship and has a lot to say about innovations in all aspects of digital technology and online marketing. While he’s not enjoying football and great food, you can find him on Technivorz.com
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