Backlinks represent trust from other websites to yours. These help tip search engines off that your content is valuable and eventually lead to ranking on places like Google (an SEO baby is born).
While most active business owners can create great content simply by writing up case studies or generating blogs around FAQs, building links is still expensive and sometimes ambiguous.
If you're building backlinks on a budget, this article will point you in the right direction to get started. Keep in mind that white-hat link-building is a slow burn. Most businesses should expect to build only a few links a month with these methods, but over time, they will prove far more effective than buying quick placements and not really being sure of their value.
Building backlinks doesn’t have to be expensive, although if you’ve requested proposals from agencies, we are sure you’ve seen some high quotes. That is because link building will always take time and real people negotiating a real exchange of value…and people are expensive! But with the right strategies, a few tools, and a little time to dedicate to the task, you can secure high-quality links in-house without spending a fortune. Below we have listed some of the most effective ways to attract links in a white-hat fashion & on a budget.
Journalists are constantly looking for expert opinions. Services like Qwoted and Featured let you connect with writers working on articles in your industry.
These backlinks are often from highly authoritative domains, making them valuable for SEO.
The best backlinks come naturally when you produce valuable content. Instead of begging for links, create something worth linking to & send it out to influential websites & indivudals. Some ideas include:
When your content is truly useful, people will naturally link to it, reducing the need for cold outreach.
Guest posting remains one of the best ways to get backlinks. But how do you do it on a budget?
With the right approach, guest posting can be a cost-effective way to build links and authority simultaneously.
Not all directories are spammy. Many reputable sites offer free business listings that provide solid backlinks. Focus on:
These may not be the most powerful backlinks, but they add credibility and help with brand exposure.
This method involves finding broken links on other websites and offering your content as a replacement.
This strategy requires effort but costs little and yields great results when done right.
Sometimes, link-building is about relationships, over rankings. Being active in industry communities can lead to organic backlink opportunities.
Not all backlinks help your SEO. In fact, bad backlinks can hurt your rankings. When building backlinks on a budget, avoid these pitfalls:
We would be lying to you if we said backlink building can be done in an efficient manner without the use of some tools. Below we outline two free or low-cost resources (we use right here at Mad Mango) that can help you find backlink opportunities, track mentions, and connect with site owners for link placements.
Qwoted is a free journalist connection platform that helps experts gain backlinks from media outlets and blogs.
Hunter.io helps you find the email addresses of website owners, making it easier to reach out for link-building opportunities.
You don’t need a massive budget to build backlinks. By focusing on content, outreach, and strategic networking, you can develop a strong backlink profile without spending big. SEO is a long game, and smart, budget-friendly tactics will help you steadily improve your rankings over time.