In the competitive world of ecommerce, having a robust online presence is crucial for success. One of the key factors that can significantly impact your website’s visibility and search engine rankings is the quality and quantity of backlinks pointing to your site. Backlinks act as votes of confidence from other websites, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy.
However, link building for ecommerce websites is particularly challenging due to the commercial nature of the content and the intense competition. Advanced link building strategies can help you earn high-quality backlinks and enhance your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore nine powerful link building strategies specifically tailored for ecommerce websites, along with a comparison table to help you evaluate the most suitable techniques for your business.
1. Leverage Established Partnerships
Capitalize on existing relationships with distributors, stockists, or other industry partners if your ecommerce business already has these connections. Encourage partners to list your website in their online directories or partner listings to enhance your visibility and credibility through association.
This will not only provide valuable backlinks but also expose your brand to a broader audience interested in your products or services.
Example: If you run an ecommerce store selling outdoor gear, reach out to camping equipment manufacturers or outdoor activity clubs you partner with and request a listing on their “Where to Buy” or “Partners” page, along with a link back to your website.
2. Utilize Content Marketing
Content marketing offers powerful, long-term benefits for ecommerce websites. Develop high-quality, shareable content, including blog posts, infographics, videos, and podcasts, to educate or entertain your target audience. Content that addresses common customer problems, explores industry trends, or provides expert insights is more likely to earn backlinks organically from relevant websites and industry influencers.
By consistently creating valuable and engaging content for link building for ecommerce website, you can establish your brand as a thought leader in your niche, attracting high-quality backlinks and driving organic traffic to your ecommerce website.
Example: If you sell kitchen appliances, create a series of cooking tutorial videos or a blog exploring the latest culinary trends. This type of content is more likely to be shared and linked to by food bloggers, culinary websites, and enthusiasts in the cooking community.
3. Explore Digital PR Tactics
Digital public relations (PR) is an effective link-building strategy for ecommerce businesses. Engage in activities that capture media attention, such as releasing innovative products, participating in or organizing charitable events, and showcasing your brand’s unique aspects.
High-quality backlinks can be garnered from media coverage, significantly boosting your SEO efforts and increasing brand awareness. Develop newsworthy stories or campaigns that highlight your brand’s values, achievements, or community contributions, making your site more appealing for media coverage and links.
Example: If you sell eco-friendly clothing, organize a clothing drive for underprivileged communities or partner with an environmental organization. These types of initiatives can generate positive media coverage and backlinks from news outlets and relevant blogs.
4. Engage with Niche Communities
Identify and actively participate in online communities related to your industry or niche. Regular engagement in these forums, such as Reddit, Quora, or niche-specific discussion boards, can help you build relationships and establish yourself as a trusted authority.
By providing valuable insights and contributing to discussions, you can organically earn backlinks from community members who appreciate your expertise. However, it’s crucial to prioritize genuine contribution over self-promotion, as spammy behavior can quickly damage your reputation within these communities.
Example: If you sell pet supplies, join online forums or Reddit communities dedicated to pet care and offer helpful advice on topics like training, grooming, or nutrition. As you become a trusted member, you’ll naturally have opportunities to share links to relevant content on your website.
5. Implement Competitor Link Analysis
Analyze the backlink profiles of your competitors who are already successful in your market niche. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz can help you identify the high-quality backlinks pointing to your competitor’s websites. If you find yourself struggling to replicate their link-building efforts, it may be worth considering white-label link-building services to gain a competitive edge.
Once you have a comprehensive understanding of their link building strategies, devise tactics to acquire similar or even better links. By leveraging your competitors’ research, you can enhance your own SEO profile and gain a competitive advantage in the search engine rankings.
Example: Use a tool like Ahrefs to analyze the backlink profile of a top competitor in your niche. Look for backlinks from authoritative websites, industry publications, or niche-relevant blogs. Reach out to those same websites and pitch your own content or offer to contribute a guest post, aiming to earn similar high-quality backlinks.
Here’s a comparison table to help you evaluate different link building strategies for your ecommerce website:
| Strategy | Effort Required | Potential Impact | Long-Term Benefits |
| Leverage Partnerships | Low to Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Content Marketing | High | High | High |
| Digital PR | Moderate to High | High | Moderate to High |
| Engage with Niche Communities | Moderate | Moderate to High | High |
| Competitor Link Analysis | Low to Moderate | Moderate to High | Moderate |
This table compares the effort required, potential impact, and long-term benefits of each link building strategy, allowing you to prioritize the tactics that align best with your resources and goals.
6. Respond to Journalists and Bloggers
Platforms like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) connect journalists and bloggers with subject matter experts seeking insights or commentary for their articles. By subscribing to these services and providing valuable perspectives within your area of expertise, you can earn high-quality backlinks from reputable publications or industry-specific blogs.
Remember, the key to success with this strategy is to provide insightful and relevant information that adds value to the journalist’s or blogger’s piece, rather than simply promoting your products or services.
Example: If you sell fitness equipment, subscribe to HARO and monitor for queries related to health, wellness, or exercise. Provide expert insights or data that can be referenced in the article, increasing the likelihood of earning a valuable backlink from the publication.
7. Convert Unlinked Mentions into Links
Monitoring and converting unlinked brand mentions into backlinks can be a powerful link building tactic for ecommerce websites. Tools like Google Alerts, Mention.net, BuzzSumo, or Awario can alert you when your brand is mentioned online, providing an opportunity to request the addition of a link where it is missing. If managing this process becomes too time-consuming, you may consider hiring a Link Building Agency to handle it efficiently.
Reaching out politely and offering additional value, such as high-quality images, expert insights, or exclusive discounts, can increase the likelihood of the website owner adding a backlink to your ecommerce site. This strategy not only helps you earn valuable backlinks but also ensures that your brand is properly credited and linked whenever it is mentioned online.
Example: Set up Google Alerts for your brand name and monitor for unlinked mentions on blogs, news articles, or forums. When you find one, reach out to the website owner and politely request they add a link back to your website, offering something of value in exchange, such as unique product images or an exclusive discount code for their readers.
8. Leverage Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing can be an effective link building strategy for ecommerce businesses, particularly in industries where social proof and recommendations hold significant sway over purchasing decisions.
Identify influential bloggers, vloggers, or social media personalities within your niche and collaborate with them to create sponsored content or product reviews. Influencers with a dedicated following and high domain authority can provide valuable backlinks, in addition to increased brand exposure and social proof.
Example: If you sell fashion accessories, partner with popular fashion bloggers or Instagram influencers to showcase your products. Provide them with free samples or incentives in exchange for an honest review or feature on their blog or social media channels, which can include backlinks to your ecommerce website.
9. Guest Posting on Relevant Websites
Guest posting is a time-tested link building strategy that can be particularly effective for ecommerce websites when executed correctly. Identify high-authority websites within your niche that accept guest contributions and pitch engaging, informative article ideas. If you find yourself short on time or resources to manage this process effectively, you may want to consider leveraging guest posting services from a reputable agency.
When crafting these articles, it’s essential to keep in mind the Google ranking factors SEO checklist, ensuring that your content aligns with the best practices for search engine optimization. By providing valuable content to these websites, you can earn a high-quality backlink within the article, boosting your SEO efforts while also establishing your brand as a knowledgeable authority in the industry.
Example: If you sell pet supplies, identify popular pet care blogs or magazines that accept guest posts. Pitch article ideas related to pet health, training, or product recommendations, and include a contextual backlink to your ecommerce website within the content.
10. Broken Link Building
Broken link building is a strategic approach that involves finding broken links on authoritative websites and suggesting your own relevant content as a replacement. This technique not only helps you earn valuable backlinks but also provides value to the website owners by fixing their broken links.
To implement this strategy, use tools like Check My Links or Broken Link Checker to identify broken links on relevant websites within your niche. Once you’ve compiled a list of broken links, create high-quality content that can serve as a suitable replacement and reach out to the website owners, offering your content as a solution.
Example: If you sell office supplies, use a tool to find broken links on productivity blogs. Create a guide on “Office Organization Tips” and suggest it as a replacement for broken links.
11. Resource Link Building
Resource link building involves creating comprehensive, informative resources that other websites will naturally want to link to. These resources could take the form of ultimate guides, extensive tutorials, industry reports, or tools and calculators that provide significant value to your target audience. SEO experts say the third most important factor for search optimization is external linking.
By investing time and effort into developing these valuable resources, you increase the likelihood of earning backlinks from websites that want to reference or recommend your content to their audiences. This strategy positions your ecommerce website as a go-to source of information within your niche, driving both backlinks and targeted traffic.
Example: Develop a comprehensive “Gardening Encyclopedia” with in-depth information on plants, tools, and techniques if you sell gardening products. Pitch it as a linkable resource.
12. Local Link Building for Ecommerce
If your ecommerce business has a physical presence or serves a specific geographic area, local link building can be an effective strategy. Start by claiming and optimizing your business listings on local directories like Google My Business, Yelp, and industry-specific directories.
Additionally, engage with local communities by sponsoring events, partnering with local organizations, or contributing content to local publications. These efforts can help you earn backlinks from local websites, enhance your visibility in local search results, and establish your brand as a reputable business within the community.
Example: If you run a local pet store, sponsor a dog walking event in your community and get listed on the event website with a backlink.
13. Leverage Existing Customer Relationships
Your existing customer base can be a valuable asset for link building. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews or testimonials on third-party review sites, which often include backlinks to your ecommerce website.
Additionally, reach out to loyal customers and ask them to share your products or services on their own websites, blogs, or social media channels. Offer incentives or exclusive discounts to encourage participation, and ensure that any shared content includes a relevant backlink to your website.
By leveraging the power of positive customer relationships, you can earn high-quality backlinks while also fostering brand advocacy and customer loyalty.
Example: Reach out to satisfied customers and offer a discount if they share a review with a backlink on their personal blog or website.
14. Scholarship Link Building
Offering scholarships can be an effective link building strategy for ecommerce businesses looking to establish themselves as community-oriented brands. By creating and promoting a scholarship program, you can earn high-quality backlinks from educational institutions, scholarship directories, and relevant websites that share information about financial aid opportunities.
To implement this strategy, design a scholarship program that aligns with your brand values and target audience. Clearly outline the eligibility criteria, application process, and deadline. Reach out to colleges, universities, and educational resource websites, requesting them to feature your scholarship opportunity and link back to your ecommerce site. This approach not only helps you acquire backlinks but also demonstrates your commitment to supporting education and giving back to the community.
Example: Offer a yearly scholarship for students pursuing environmental studies if you sell eco-friendly products, earning backlinks from colleges.
15. Giveaway and Contest Link Building
Hosting giveaways or contests can be an engaging way to earn backlinks while also increasing brand awareness and customer engagement. Partner with relevant blogs, influencers, or niche communities to promote your giveaway or contest, encouraging them to share the details with their audiences and include a link back to your ecommerce website.
To maximize the effectiveness of this strategy, ensure that your giveaway prizes or contest themes are relevant and appealing to your target market. Additionally, provide clear instructions and guidelines for participation, making it easy for others to share and link to your campaign. Not only will this help you earn valuable backlinks, but it can also foster positive brand associations and drive traffic to your ecommerce site.
Example: Partner with mom bloggers for a baby product giveaway, having them link to your contest page on their sites.
In Conclusion
Implementing advanced link building strategies is essential for ecommerce websites seeking to enhance their online visibility, establish credibility, and improve search engine rankings. By leveraging established partnerships, creating valuable content, engaging in digital PR, participating in niche communities, analyzing competitors’ backlink profiles, responding to journalists and bloggers, and converting unlinked mentions, you can earn high-quality backlinks that drive organic traffic and boost your ecommerce success.
Remember, link building is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and a commitment to providing value to your audience and industry. Prioritize strategies that align with your resources and goals, and continuously monitor and adjust your approach for maximum impact.
Take action today and start implementing these advanced link building strategies to gain a competitive edge in the ecommerce landscape. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on the latest SEO trends and link building best practices, and unlock the full potential of your ecommerce website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How important are backlinks for an ecommerce site?
Backlinks are crucial for improving search engine rankings and establishing your site as credible and reputable. They are a strong form of social proof that can significantly affect consumer perception and organic search performance.
- What type of backlinks are most beneficial for ecommerce sites?
Backlinks from authoritative and reputable domains are the most beneficial. These are typically websites that are well-regarded by both users and search engines, often with high domain authority or ratings.
- How can I ensure that my link building efforts are ethical and in line with search engine guidelines?
Focus on earning links through quality content, building genuine relationships, and providing value to your audience and industry. Avoid tactics like buying links, participating in link schemes, or engaging in any deceptive practices that violate search engine guidelines.
