Ranking an e-commerce website is often more difficult than other types of sites because of the intense competition. Many e-commerce companies have difficulty attracting attention to their product pages because of a plethora of equivalent offerings. A well-run link building campaign has the potential to elevate the search engine ranking, generate more organic traffic, and increase the overall visibility of an e-commerce website.
More than just a technical strategy, link building also establishes trust, indicating to potential customers that your e-commerce business is a trusted player in the market. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into link building for e-commerce websites, shedding light on its importance, varied strategies, and best practices to ensure your e-commerce website stands out.
Why Link Building for E-commerce Websites Is Vital?
When it comes to link building for e-commerce websites, standing out from the competitors is a pressing challenge. The massive number of e-commerce websites means that simply having a well-designed website or offering quality products might not guarantee visibility on search engines. This is where link building becomes pivotal for e-commerce success.
Link building is the procedure of securing external links from other websites back to your own. For e-commerce websites, this can translate to a direct path for potential customers to find your product pages. But the benefits don’t stop there. Each quality link to your website serves as a nod of approval, signalling to search engines that your e-commerce website is a credible and valuable resource.
Your e-commerce website has a greater chance of achieving a higher ranking in search engine results when you enhance your link profile with higher calibre backlinks. This means that when a user searches for a product that you offer, your site is more likely to appear on the first page, driving more organic traffic your way.
Additionally, a robust link-building strategy can lead to improved brand awareness. When well-known websites link back to yours, their audience becomes familiar with your brand, widening your reach.
Link Building Strategies: Which One Works Best for E-commerce Sites?
For e-commerce websites, certain methods of link building have proven to be particularly effective in driving organic traffic and enhancing visibility. Let’s explore these strategies in detail:
1. High-Quality Blog Content
Crafting compelling blog content is foundational to link building. For e-commerce websites, crafting insightful articles that address the demands and appeals of your target audience can be invaluable. When your content resonates with the users, it becomes a reference point, compelling other websites to link to your website. This not only establishes your e-commerce site as an industry authority but also enhances organic traffic.
2. Niche Edits
Niche edits involve reaching out to website owners to include your link in their existing content. For an e-commerce website, this can mean embedding relevant links to product pages or articles within high-ranking pieces. By offering website owners a value-added proposition, niche edits can enhance content visibility and drive targeted traffic.
Read More: Link Building in Competitive Niches: Strategies for Outranking Competitors
3. Broken Link Building
Broken link building involves identifying broken links on other websites and suggesting your content as a substitute. For e-commerce sites, this could mean finding pages that once linked to similar products or content but are now extinct and then reaching out to the website owner with your product page or article as a viable alternative.
4. Digital PR Campaigns
Launching digital PR campaigns can help in creating a buzz around your brand. Whether it’s collaboration with influencers, hosting industry-relevant events, or breaking news about your business, a well-executed PR campaign can result in multiple high-value websites linking back to you.
5. Infographics
In this age of visual communication, infographics stand out as an effective link-building tool. By distilling complex data into engaging visual stories related to your industry, e-commerce sites can entice other platforms to share and naturally link back to their content, increasing visibility.
6. Blogger Outreach
Facilitating relationships with industry bloggers can yield significant dividends. By reaching out with personalised pitches, e-commerce sites can gain product mentions or reviews. This not only builds backlinks but also introduces the e-commerce business to the blogger’s dedicated audience, fostering potential sales.
7. Product Reviews
Authentic testimonials and reviews from satisfied customers can act as natural link generators. When customers pen down their experiences on personal blogs, forums, or even niche platforms, they often provide a link back to the product page, driving organic traffic and enhancing the trust quotient.
8. Podcasts
The podcasting world has recently seen an explosion in popularity. For e-commerce businesses, this channel offers an opportunity to build links. By either hosting a podcast or participating as an industry expert on established ones, e-commerce sites can provide valuable insights, encouraging listeners to visit and explore further while also building links.
9. Press Releases
Timely and newsworthy announcements can be a great way to build links. Whether revealing a groundbreaking product, sharing company milestones, or highlighting industry achievements, a well-drafted press release can catch the attention of multiple platforms. As they cover the story, they often provide a link to your e-commerce website, enhancing visibility and credibility.
10. Leverage Video Marketing
Showcase your products, provide tutorials, or share customer testimonials. Videos can generate more engagement and social shares, which can lead to more backlinks.
Also Read for more: Link Building Strategies
Best Practices in E-commerce Link Building
While understanding the various types of link building for e-commerce websites is essential, implementing them correctly is equally crucial. For e-commerce websites aiming for long-term success, adhering to best practices ensures that the efforts put into building links translate into tangible results. Let’s delve into these best practices:
1. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
It’s tempting to chase after a large number of backlinks, but not all links hold the same value. Links from high-quality, authoritative websites can greatly boost your site’s trustworthiness. Instead of focusing on sheer numbers, aim for quality links that align with your e-commerce website’s content and ethos.
2. Utilize Relevant Anchor Text
Anchor text plays a crucial role in conveying the context of the link to search engines and users. They should be relevant to the content it’s linking to. Using descriptive anchor texts that reflect the content of your product page or blog can improve the user experience and make the link more valuable to search engines.
3. Diversify Your Backlink Profile
Putting all your eggs in one basket is not a good strategy when it comes to SEO and link-building. Diversify your techniques to foster a rich and varied link profile. This diversification looks more organic to search engines and shields your e-commerce site from potential algorithmic fluctuations.
4. Avoid Black Hat Techniques
Shortcuts often lead to short-lived successes, especially in SEO. Black hat techniques, like buying links or using deceptive tactics, might deliver fast results but can result in severe punishments from search engines. E-commerce sites should adhere to ethical and accepted link-building methods that genuinely prioritise delivering value to the user.
Also Read: White Hat vs Black Hat SEO Link Building: What You Need to Know
5. Cultivate Relationships With Influencers and Bloggers
In the digital landscape, influencers and industry-specific bloggers play an instrumental role in shaping opinions and trends. Building relationships with them can pave the way for meaningful collaborations, guest posting opportunities, and genuine endorsements. For e-commerce businesses, this helps in link building and offers access to a wider, engaged audience, enhancing brand visibility and trust.
6. Regularly Audit & Monitor Backlinks
Building backlinks is a continuous endeavour, not a one-time task. E-commerce websites should routinely audit their backlinks to maintain a clean and high-quality profile. Regular monitoring can help identify and rectify potentially harmful links, ensuring the site’s reputation remains untarnished.
7. Stay Updated With Algorithm Changes
The SEO sector is constantly transforming, with search engines frequently updating their algorithms. E-commerce businesses must stay abreast of these changes to ensure their link-building efforts remain effective and compliant. Regular updates ensure that their approaches align with the latest best practices and search engine policies.
By adhering to these best practices, e-commerce websites can harness the full potential of link-building, ensuring sustainable growth and prominence in the online marketplace.
Conclusion
Link building, when done correctly, can be a game-changer for e-commerce businesses. It’s a tool to improve search engine rankings and a comprehensive strategy to build trust, foster relationships, and expand brand awareness.
As the digital landscape becomes increasingly competitive, e-commerce businesses must leverage advanced link-building strategies to stay ahead. Adhering to best practices, maintaining consistency in efforts, and continuously evolving with the dynamic nature of search engines ensures a strong online presence.
Need Help With E-Commerce Link Building?
Taking the plunge into link building can seem overwhelming, especially with the various strategies and best practices to implement. ACERO is here to guide you. With a team of experts well-versed in the nuances of e-commerce link building, we offer tailored solutions to elevate your online presence. From crafting compelling content to forging relationships with key influencers, we handle it all.
Contact us today! Let ACERO be your partner in navigating the world of e-commerce link building, ensuring that your business reaches its full potential online.
FAQ
White hat link building employs tactics that adhere to search engine guidelines and focus on building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites. In contrast, black hat practices involve deceptive link building for e-commerce websites and can risk penalties.
Link building is a process, especially effective link building for e-commerce websites. Typically, noticeable improvements in website traffic and rankings manifest within 3-12 months, depending on the strategies employed.
Yes, consistent link building efforts are crucial for e-commerce SEO. While an initial focus on building links can provide a boost, maintaining a natural link-building approach helps in staying competitive and adapting to evolving algorithms.
Buying links goes against best practices for e-commerce and is a risky tactic. E-commerce link building should emphasize earning links naturally from relevant websites rather than purchasing them to avoid potential penalties.
Absolutely. Despite algorithm changes, the importance of link building remains steadfast. It’s an essential part of e-commerce SEO, with links serving as endorsements, enhancing the link juice and authority of a site.
Armen is an On-Page SEO and Content Marketing expert who is the CEO of ACERO. He frequently delves into subjects such as SEO, Link Building, Digital Marketing, UK Law, Finance, Music, Blockchain, Technology, and Lifestyle. His passion for research and his ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and engaging way have earned him a reputation as a highly skilled and versatile author and digital marketing expert.