Backlinking Criteria For Obtaining Quality Backlinks

Backlinks are one of the most important ranking signals. Studies have shown that the more quality linking domains a webpage has, the higher up the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) they are likely to be. Backlinks are considered a core component of any successful Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) campaign. Google’s algorithm analyses how many external sources link to a page on your website. These backlinks are recognised as a type of endorsement for your website. So, with that knowledge in mind, let’s begin getting backlinks!

When obtaining new backlinks, it’s important to remember that not all backlinks are created equal. The number of links you need to rank at the top of the search is variable, but the critical factor is the quality of the links. Aim to get backlinks from high quality, authoritative sources. Blog contributions and citations are a great way of doing this.

At Digital Insider, we can get you quality backlinks and local citations on industry-leading websites that refer potential leads and customers back to you. If you want to know more about our criteria for finding quality backlinks, read on!

Backlinking Criteria

When searching for backlink sources we check potential sources against the following criteria.

Domain Authority

Ranging from one to 100, a Domain Authority (DA) score predicts how well a website will rank on SERPs. The higher the score, the more likely it will rank. The DA score takes into account a number of factors on a website, such as linking root domains and the total number of links.

Website Relevance & Quality

When investigating a potential source, we check the following factors to ensure relevance and quality:

• As our clients are typically based in Australia, we check that blog websites are Australian (com.au) or US (.com) based as these sites will be more relevant for their target audience. 
• We also ensure the server is hosted in Australia, US or UK. Check that you’ve never published on the site before and that the Server IP does not already contain a backlink to your website. Putting more than one backlink on the same IP/website does not add any extra value after the first backlink.
• Check that the site has a low spam score. According to Moz, a website’s Spam Score “represents the percentage of sites with similar features [they] found to be penalized or banned by Google”. This should give you a good indication of the relevance and quality of the source.
• Check the volume of organic traffic. Aim to acquire backlinks on sites with high organic traffic. 
• Do their links contain the “dofollow” attribute? If the link has a “nofollow” attribute then it will not add SEO value to your website.

Local Citations

A local citation (also known as a business listing or online directory listing) is any place online that shows the Name, Address and Phone number (NAP) for your business. Make sure that your NAP is accurate on your website and on other websites.

When searching for local online citations we analyse the DA score, make sure it is geographically local and that it fits the relevant category or industry for our client.

Before you begin searching for local citations, ensure that your listing on Google My Business has all relevant information and is up-to-date. As this is a listing from Google, it is considered to be one of the most valuable listings to develop and manage.

Digital Insider has the digital marketing strategies, creative insight and technical skills to make it happen. We specialise in proven, predictable and profitable campaigns that create a continual expansion for your business. If you want to discuss how backlinking and other SEO techniques can help you rank naturally in search results, get in touch on 0459 845 633 or request a strategy today!