Where to start with white hat backlinking

It can be hard to start white hat link building, especially when black hat methods are so readily available and easy to use. Blogs such as SEOMoz and SEO Wizz are full of useful information to those looking to start on-site optimisation, for the more advanced link-builders out there and plenty of posts telling people that black hatters should become white. But there is not much out there telling people where to start.

The idea behind social bookmarking submission is about sharing your interests with the public with the hopes to generate widespread interest. The real benefits of social bookmarking occur when you’re able to direct this interest to your website. This is not black hat SEO but some of the best white hat there is, you are creating and sharing amazing content on the internet that people want to read and share with others!

This is a quick post to give those looking to start white-hat link building a point in the right direction.

The easiest place to start is with the “low hanging fruit”. When you take on a new client dig into the current networks. All companies work with other companies, be it suppliers, customers, or sister companies. Find out who they are, their website, main point of contact, email, phone number and what their relationship is to your client (customer or supplier).

Once you have a list from your client you’re good to go!

When you get in contact with the companies make sure you follow these simple rules:

1. Name the person who gave you their contact details
2. If you have a number phone them - it’s much more powerful
3. Make sure each email is personal, not a template or a standard email. Always think about what would make you respond, would you reply to an impersonal email from a company you’ve never heard of? Make sure you are asking the right person for the link. There’s not much point in asking the receptionist, but the MD is also not the right person to ask. Do your research and find the right person.
4. Chase! Don’t just send off one email and leave it at that, most people are busy and will need prodding.

Sometimes your natural charm and wit may not be enough to get a link, even though you are talking to companies with an established relationship with your client. If that is the case you may need to bribe them. This does not mean handing over cash, but it could be something just as valuable... some juicy, hot-off-the-press, new content.

Perhaps a blog post talking about some industry news, a product review or a testimonial from your client to be used on your targets website. If you show willing to put in some work and effort for someone, they are normally willing to reciprocate.

Of course, you don’t only have to do this at the start of each contract. Companies change who they work with, have different products, suppliers and customers. Make sure you keep in regular contact with your clients and make sure you ask them about the companies that they work with on a regular basis.

If you follow these simple guidelines you’ll soon be munching on that ‘low hanging fruit’, seeing the benefits and growing in confidence about your new found back-linking skills!