Once you wrap your head around why building links to your blog is important, the next logical question is how do you actually go about doing it?
To the new blogger, it can sound like a daunting task– something foreign and complicated that induces an “OMG, another thing to add to my to do list” panic. But, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds (promise). In fact, I’d bet you’re probably already doing the most important thing — creating great content. It doesn’t matter whether you’re sharing the recipe for your grandmother’s apple pie, a printable you created or a party planning guide– if it’s something that people care about and naturally want to share, you’re halfway there!
The next thing you should know, is that at its core, link building is actually relationship building. This is especially true for bloggers. Getting involved in the blogging community and networking with other bloggers will be your best friend when trying to build links to you site.
So be social! Do things like share other bloggers’ posts on Twitter, comment on blog posts and participate in link-ups or Twitter chats– anything you can do to join the conversation and add to the community. In addition to laying the groundwork for link building, these are great ways to get your name out there and drive traffic to your blog (and build up your karma bank!). Win-win!
Got it? Good– so let’s get down to the nitty gritty of how you actually build links. The process generally looks a little something like this:
Get the Party Started: Strategize
Think about link building as a party. You wouldn’t go to a party without getting ready first, would you? No, you plan what you’re going to wear, how you’ll get there, and what you’re going to bring.
So, before doing anything else, you have to get ready for link building by figuring out what exactly you’re trying to accomplish. Obviously, the end goal is to get someone to link to your blog, but how are you going to do that?
Think about it in terms of what you have to offer others and why they might link to you. For example:
- Expertise: Some bloggers like to supplement their own content with other bloggers’ to add a fresh perspective. If this is the case, you could offer to write a guest post. This is a great way to introduce yourself and your blog to a new audience AND earn a link. (Pro tip: This should always be a new post, not something you’ve already used on your blog)
- Content: Did you put together an awesome guide that you think their readers may be interested in? Share it with them and ask for their feedback. If they like it, they may share it!
- Sponsorship: Lots of lifestyle bloggers offer opportunities to sponsor their blog. Usually they’re pretty low cost and get you a spot (and a link) on their sidebar. Some bloggers will even do a “sponsor spotlight” post. This is a great way to start a relationship (and advertise your blog)!
- Friendship: If none of the above are possible, you can still reach out to try to build a relationship with them. Break the ice with a compliment and maybe share something you think they’d like (an article from a magazine, pin on Pinterest, or a new online store). Bloggers love connecting with other bloggers, and while it might not earn you a link in the short term, it definitely will pay off in the long run! (And bonus! Maybe you make a new friend or find a blog mentor?)
Why is it important to think about this first? Because it impacts what type of blog you’re going to be looking for and what you’ll say when you reach out. So it is important to start here!
Scope out the Prospects: Find Blogs
Once you’re at the party, you might stand in the corner for a bit to scope out the prospects, see who seems most interesting or like you have something in common, before going up to say hi.
With link building, you want to do the same thing and identify blogs that are interesting to you or similar to your blog, before reaching out.
Start with the blogs in your niche that you read on a daily basis. Look at the bloggers in their blogroll. Keep a running list (I recommend a Google doc) of ones you like or think might be a good fit.
If you’re looking for guest posting opportunities, do a search on their site to see if they’ve featured guest bloggers before or if they have a process in place already. If you’re looking for sponsorships, do the same thing– see if they have sponsors on their site and if they do, gather information on how to become one.
Once you’ve mastered or exhausted this method, you can use Google to find additional opportunities. String together some phrases and queries to get the optimum results.
For example, if you want to find if you want fashion blogs that have accepted guest posts search Google with a query like: fashion blog AND (“guest post” OR “write for us”).
This may seem complicated, but it just helps narrows down your search for Google. You’re telling it to look for fashion blogs that have used the exact phrases “guest post” or “write for us” on their blog. As you play around with these and get more comfortable, you drill down even further with more specific operators.
Something else to consider: just like as a freshman, you probably wouldn’t go up to the most popular senior at the party first, if you’re a new blogger, you probably shouldn’t start by reaching out to the top blogger in your niche. It’s okay to start small!
Make Your Move: Reach Out
Okay, you’ve found the fellow partygoer(s) you want to go talk to, now it’s time to go introduce yourself and make your move!
Similarly, once you’ve done your homework and found some bloggers you’d like to connect with, all that’s left to do is actually contact them!
Just send a short, simple, friendly email to the blogger. Something like:
Hey [First Name],
I just started my own blog [insert your blog name and link] and wanted to let you know yours has been a huge source of inspiration for me. I totally related to your post [on recent topic- Be genuine!] and loved [something they said].
I saw you have a number of sponsors. I would love to get some more info from you on that. I think it could be a great opportunity to support a blog I love and introduce myself to your readers. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Thanks,
[Your name]
Obviously, depending on what you’re offering the message will change, but here are some general do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:
DO
- Be genuine
- Bond over a common interest or recent post they’ve shared.
- Clearly communicate what you’re offering and why it has value for their blog and their readers
DON’T
- Stress or overcomplicate it.
- Make it all about you
The After Party: Follow-up
You and your fellow partygoers hit it off, so after the party, you definitely want to keep in touch with your new friends. You friend them on Facebook and exchange numbers and promise you’ll hang out soon.
The same principle applies here. After reaching out, your work isn’t done. If they do respond positively to your first email, awesome! Be sure to respond quickly and complete next steps.
If they don’t respond right away, that’s okay! I’m sure you know how out of control your inbox (and life) can get sometimes. It’s perfectly fine to send another email a week or two later to gently remind them of what you sent over.
If they turn you down, still reply back and thank them for getting back to you. Always be polite and friendly no matter what. A no now doesn’t mean a no forever and you never want to burn bridges or relationships!
No matter what, stay in touch. Continue commenting on their blog and connecting on social media. Nurture that relationship and it might blossom.
Remember, link building is all about the relationships. Focus on creating awesome content and tapping in the blogger community, and links will follow. The party’s only just getting started!
