If you’re running a small local business and you have launched a website, then building links for the site can be a very difficult thing indeed. Regardless of the amount of time you have or the size of your budget, it can still be a very difficult job to build links that have authority. Many websites struggle for years before they are able to get links that are actually able to help their search engine ranking.
Fortunately, there are things you can do in order to start building high-quality links straight away. Here we will look at how small local businesses can start building links straight away so then they can make a quick start building their search engine ranking.
Get Your Website In The News
On the surface, this sounds like something that is very hard to do. In actual fact, a little creativity and strategy can get your site in the news rather quickly. Building a little controversy in the process can also be very helpful for your link building as well. You have to start by developing an idea that you think will really grab people’s interests. If it is based around an issue that is considered to be polarised, then that is even better. You can’t please everyone after all, but you can please quite a few people.
Once you have your idea, you can then turn it into an asset. This is generally something that you can offer your visitors. Take this asset you have built and place it front and center on your site. Then write a press release to be sent out to a local news outlet about your asset. If they pick up on the story, then you can start spreading the word to other news outlets.
If you are planning to go down this route, then you should give it everything you’ve got. Make sure that you provide high-quality written content and use the best graphic designers you can hire. If this asset is going to get a lot of publicity, then you will want to look very professional in the process.
Sponsor Local Clubs And Organisations
While sponsorship links are often considered to be damaging for search engine rankings, in this case, they can actually be beneficial. No matter where you are, chances are that there will be some local clubs or organizations that are more than happy to have local businesses sponsoring them. All you have to do is get in touch with them and ask them what is entailed in sponsoring them. All you really want out of it is a decent link, so they will probably be more than happy to strike a deal with you that will make both of you happy.
If you are sponsoring local clubs and organizations, this is something that you should be promoting as well. After all, showing that you are a strong member of the local community can be very good for business. While sponsored links can be damaging for search engine rankings, in this particular case they can have a very positive effect.
Keep In Contact With Local Influencers
Local influencers can be anything from local businesses, to journalists or politicians. Building relationships with them however can be very hard work. This is the main stumbling block for many people trying to build links for their site. It is most definitely worth the effort though. Building links with them are by far the best way to build links for local websites, so it’s something that you should give plenty of your time.
You can start by doing a little online research to see who the local influencers are and what their audience is like. Once you’ve done that, you can start interacting with them online. This will not be enough though. You will at some point have to leave the office and talk with some of them directly. This is the best way to build a connection with people, and at the same time increase your chances of getting the strong link you want. Try and socialize with people from these local businesses and organizations by attending conferences or other general get-togethers. You will not be able to build a link agreement straight away, but when you get them in the future, they will be well worth the wait.
Offer Discounts To Students
This is a really great way of building links. Colleges and universities are always trying to help out their students by letting them know which local businesses are willing to offer them discount to help them get by. If you offer a discount yourself to local colleges and universities, then they will be more than happy to build links with you.
In order to get these links, all you really have to do is get in touch with the local colleges and universities and let them know that you are offering a student discount. If you really want to get them interested and possibly improve business at the same time, then you could extend your offer to include teachers and alumni of said colleges and universities.
Create A Community Event
If you want to try and build contacts through talking to people directly, then you could host a community event where the local community is able to attend. Invite the local newspaper along to cover the event and you can try and build a strong link with them at the same time. This is a great way to get involved in the local community, which will at the same time give you a great opportunity to build strong relationships with some of the biggest influencers in the area. If you are unable to go to them, then creating a community event is a great way of getting them to come to you.
