You must have read a lot of content on the importance of having a strong backlink profile. To secure a good ranking on the search engine results page (SERP), you should support your site content by linking to high authority sites. However, you also need to be very conscious about generating backlinks from niche sites.
When it comes to local link building, this process can be more difficult. You have to keep in mind that all the sources should be local, relevant and have high authority.
In this guide we look at some unconventional, yet effective ways to get backlinks for your local business site.
- Local Case Study
If you already have clients, create a case study page to showcase how your company has helped them. Create a review section for each case study and ask clients to provide a rating, linking their sites to the case study you wrote. This will help Google recognize your relationship with local businesses and improve your local ranking.
You can make videos and infographics out of these case studies and market them on social media platforms with a link to your site page. Eventually, this will help you generate more traffic within your targeted areas and it will also strengthen the backlink profile of the particular page.
Apart from this, you can also write press releases on these case studies and promote them on local news sites to further strengthen the backlinks.
- Participation in Contests
Almost every city or town has contests that invite the community to participate. They may be run by local newspapers with active websites or small organizations with no online presence. If you can secure your business in the contest and get a backlink from these websites, it can be a huge boost to your local SEO. Similarly, you can compose a press release about your participation in the contest and promote it on various platforms.
In some award programs, you have to win to get mentioned and other times, a nomination can earn you a backlink. All you need to do is to find a good fit.
- Donation
Can your business offer a service or product to a local charity organizations? Think about how your company can help non-profits and suggest a trade for exposure. For example, a digital marketing agency in Toronto can offer an online promotion to a Non Governmental Organization or a sports team. If you can’t offer a service, you can always make a donation and ask for a mention on their websites.
- Leveraging Your Career Page
Does your business have a job page? If not, create one today and promote it on both local and national job directories. For each open position, try to mention as much detail as possible. These links are very easy to share, which can improve your relevance in the related searches.
You can also submit your career page URL to local universities so that students can apply. It’s very effective for businesses that offer internships.
- Meetups
Local meetups are a goldmine for links. Create an account on meetup.com today and join active groups related to your business that are in your city. Look for businesses that are looking for meetup locations and offer your place to them.
If there’s no group seeking for a place, look for those who want sponsors. You can sponsor the meetups and ask for backlinks.
- Local Resource Page
Show your visitors that you are an industry expert with a local resource page. It will not only help you gain more social engagement but also attract backlinks and create an impression in the community. You can also approach local hotels, travel agents and newspapers to link back to your resource page.
- Brand Mentions
Find out whether your brand name is mentioned by any business listing, news or review site and ask them for a link back to your site. Your brand name might also get mentioned in different blogs. Reach out the writers and editors of those sites. If it’s difficult to find their contact details, use a tool like hunter.io to send them emails in order to make necessary changes.
- Facts and Stats
You can start a local fact series, describing the history and some interesting stories about your city and share them on social media platforms once a week. It can help generate a lot of local traffic and backlinks.
- Google Custom Maps
Google’s Custom Maps tool can be very useful for local businesses to earn quality links. Include important landmarks like hospitals, schools, parks, etc., that are in your vicinity. If your business is in an industrial area, you can create a map focused on a specific type of business. Post it on a landing page of your website and approach local businesses to link to it.
- Citations
Local and niche business directories are both useful for improving your ranking in targeted searches. Citations help search engines locate your business based on your NAP (name, address and phone number). The more local listings you have translates into increased association of your business within a particular area. The best way to find these directories is by searching on Google using the keyword city + “business listing” and city + “business directory”.
All of the tips mentioned above are the great examples of natural backlinks. Now develop your own strategy around these link building tips and improve your local search presence. Identify methods that fit your brand image. Just keep in mind that the best backlinks come with time. It’s not that you will witness an influx of backlinks right after implementing these tactics.
