Backlinks - Link building guide with 12 tips + AI integration

 

What is a backlink? (definition)

A backlink is a link that refers from one website or domain to another website.

A distinction is made between inbound links and outbound links.

An inbound link is an incoming link from another website to your own website.

An outbound link is an outgoing link from your own website to another website.

A backlink is therefore nothing more than a reference back to an external page.

Practical example: If you click on this example link here, the window of another website will open. In this case, it is a Wikipedia article on the topic of "backlinking". The link is therefore an outbound link to Wikipedia.

A backlink is made up of two components:

• the medium (linking website) that refers to the target
• the target or the target page to which reference is made

How important are backlinks for a good ranking?

Backlinks are extremely important for a good ranking. They are one of the most relevant Google ranking factors.

You can compare a backlink to a recommendation (website A recommends website B).

It is the online marketing equivalent of word of mouth. And as with word of mouth, every recommendation strengthens the person being recommended - which explains the enormous importance of backlinks for SEO. And the fact that SEOs and website operators invest enormous resources in link building.

What is link building?

Link building is an SEO measure that is assigned to the area of off-page optimisation. Link building is about generating external links from other websites to your site.

From our SEO agency practice

When advising smaller companies, we usually recognise a backlink problem. In many cases, these websites have hardly any backlinks from other websites.

If these websites are in highly competitive sectors, there is often no way around backlinks: only with them do you have a chance of achieving top 10 rankings. Once the goal of a top 10 ranking has been achieved, user signals play an important role.

That's why we as an SEO agency build backlinks for our clients.

Because sooner or later we reach our limits with all websites after technical and content optimisation. Certain rankings simply cannot be achieved because the other pages simply have an advantage due to existing backlinks.

If you then build up your own backlinks over a period of 6 months, you will achieve good positions in the Google results. 6 months is roughly the period until backlinks start to have their full effect.

The individual search engine ranking positions always improve when backlinks are built up regularly. For example, we were able to permanently double a client's traffic as a result:

Backlinks and SEO

Google's original idea was: "The more websites link to a certain website, the more important it must be".

And this principle still applies today, albeit in a slightly different form.

This is why backlinks are still important SEO KPIs in current SEO(search engine optimisation) and online marketing. Building good rankings for your site without backlinks is very difficult. In certain industries and niches, it is even impossible.

Search engines such as Google are based on so-called web crawlers that visit all websites on the internet. These web crawlers move from page to page based on individual links.

If many links lead to a certain page, this means (with certain prerequisites, which we will discuss later): This page is relevant, this page is important.

This is why search engines such as Google have chosen "backlinks" as one of the most important ranking factors. The more backlinks a website has, the higher its link popularity. And the higher the popularity, the more important the page.

You should therefore be sure to provide resources for backlink building in your online marketing plan for your website.

But be careful: Not all backlinks are the same, as you will soon realise. When building links, it's not just the number of links and backlinks that matters, but also the quality. And that means the quality of the inbound links.

What types of backlinks are there?

With backlinks, you can differentiate between a text link, an image link and a graphic link as well as between DoFollow links and NoFollow links.

With a text link, the so-called anchor text leads to the external website by means of a hyperlink.

However, text links are only one way of linking. Redirection to another page can also be realised by clicking on an image or a graphic.

Whether it is a text link or a link with an image file or graphic element is up to you. Search engines such as Google accept all three forms of backlinks.

The following question is much more relevant for the ranking of your page: DoFollow link or NoFollow link?

What is the difference between no-follow links vs. do-follow links?

For the user, there is no difference between a NoFollow link and a DoFollow link. Both links can be clicked without any problems, both links refer to a further page.

In fact, "NoFollow" is an instruction in the HTML code that is primarily relevant for search engine crawlers.

In this case, the names of the two link identifiers say it all: "Follow me" and "Don't follow me".

NoFollow link

If you set a link to NoFollow on your website, Google will not take it into account. From an SEO perspective, this is a devaluation of the link, so to speak.

When should you set a nofollow link?

In the past, the nofollow attribute was used to combat comment spam or to identify paid links and advertising links.

However, since the introduction of additional rel values in 2019, Google recommends these tags:

The nofollow attribute should therefore mainly be used if

• the linked page is not considered credible or trustworthy or
• whose page content has no editorial context to your own website.

This raises the question of why you link to such pages at all.

DoFollow link

DoFollow links are the opposite of NoFollow links. They are recognised by the crawler.

All backlinks without NoFollow assignment are automatically DoFollow links.

Incidentally, the aforementioned link juice is transferred for DoFollow links, but not for NoFollow links.

The distinction between NoFollow backlinks and DoFollow backlinks used to play a decisive role in determining PageRank. However, PageRank has not been published by Google for some years now.

Social signals (social media links)

Social signals are signals that emanate from social media channels.

Previously, the following applied: This social media content is a special type of nofollow backlink that does not play a particularly important role for Google in terms of search engine optimisation. You can therefore assign a significance to social signals, but you should not take them too seriously in relation to the PageRank of your site.

However, since the leak of the Google Search Documentation, there have been indications that Google is analysing signals from the Chrome browser. This means that the frequency and behaviour of users who access a page via these links could be recorded and evaluated by the Chrome browser. This would increase the importance of social signals for search engine optimisation.

If you would like to know more about DoFollow hyperlinks and NoFollow hyperlinks, I recommend this blog article: NoFollow & DoFollow - simply explained and used sensibly

How do I define the value of a backlink?

High-quality backlinks are important ranking factors for Google. The quality of backlinks is assessed according to certain criteria.

In search engine optimisation (SEO), you should always strive to build a traffic link for your website. In other words, a backlink that will also bring visitors to the website. In our opinion, this is the best current description of a good backlink.

Here are a few backlink quality criteria at a glance:

• Value and trust of the linking website (domain trust)
• Number of outgoing backlinks of the linking website
• Content relevance of the linking website
• Position of the backlink
• Anchor text of the backlink
• Topicality of the content

We would now like to tell you in detail what the individual points are and what you should pay attention to.

Value and trust of the linking website

Google assigns each individual page a PageRank and a trust rating, which measures trust. PageRank used to be publicly accessible. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case today.

The more valuable the website that links to you is, the more valuable the link is. Website operators should therefore look out for trusted domains in order to generate stream links.

When we talk about the value of websites, we can't avoid the topic of authority.

Number of outgoing backlinks of the linking website

The more external websites are linked to, the less "valuable" a link from this website is. However, this refers to mass links. So external links in a blog article etc. are not a problem. However, a web directory that only consists of links is not worth much.

You will learn more about this a little later when we look at buying links and link farming.

Content relevance of the linking website

If many industry-related websites link to your website, then these backlinks should be considered particularly valuable. If a mechanic in London links to a Chinese restaurant in Vienna, then this link is not so "relevant".

For new projects, we still advise you to have websites from other industries linked, as even a backlink with less relevance can bring about a change.

Position of the backlink on the website

The position of a backlink on the website is crucial.

The more present a link is for the website visitor, the more valuable it is for Google.

Whether a link is at the bottom of the website, the so-called footer, or appears prominently at the top makes a huge difference.

Links in the sidebar and in the navigation bar are also categorised as less valuable by search engines.

Anchor text of the backlinks

In most cases, backlinks consist of clickable anchor texts that lead to a linked URL. Google takes a very close look at the anchor text used to place such a backlink. Is it rather general or does it contain meaningful phrases and words that convey relevance? Does it appear natural?

A backlink to ithelps-digital.com could be set as follows:

• ithelps-digital.com
• Sebastian Prohaska
• Best SEO agency in Vienna

What is a natural anchor text?

A natural anchor text (also link text or anchor text)

A natural anchor text (also known as anchor text) is a link text that is organically integrated into the body text and offers the reader informative added value. It should have the following characteristics:

• The anchor text briefly and concisely describes the content of the linked page so that the reader knows what to expect when they click. Example: "We have more tips on keyword optimisation in this article."
• It is worded eloquently and appears natural in the text flow, not forced or promotional. Generic anchor texts such as "click here" or "read more" should be avoided.
• Anchor texts should be varied and form a natural mix so as not to stand out as manipulation. This includes brand/brand links, combinations of keywords and brand names, domain names, related terms and synonyms.
• For internal links, the exact search term for which the target page is optimised can be used as anchor text. With external links (backlinks), more caution is required in order to maintain a natural link profile.
• Linked images also transmit signals. Here, the alt text of the image counts as anchor text.

It is crucial that all anchor texts appear natural and do not follow a rigid pattern. With the right mix, meaningful anchor texts support both user guidance and the search engine optimisation of the linked pages.

Up-to-dateness of content

Website content should be regularly maintained, renewed, updated and expanded. If no new content is created over a longer period of time and existing content is not updated, this means for Google that the website no longer offers new content for users and is outdated.

As a result, it loses importance and relevance.

Keyword ranking factor: As search engines such as Google always want to provide their users with the best content according to the search intention, supposedly less relevant pages will always slip down in the SERPs (search engine results pages). So-called evergreen content is an exception.

What quality criteria should an inbound link to my website fulfil?

You need to know for a backlink to be of value: By linking back to your site from a specific page, it passes on parts of its authority and trustworthiness to you - regardless of whether this is good or bad, high or low.

This flow of authority and trustworthiness is called link juice.

Definition of "link juice"

Link juice is a term that describes and measures how much power a backlink transfers to another website. Link juice summarises and evaluates certain characteristics of a link. These include the authority, trustworthiness and relevance of the page as well as the quality and relevance of the linked text. The higher the corresponding values, the higher the quality of the link.

If you link to a page that has little to no authority, trustworthiness and relevance to your topic and the text is also irrelevant or of inferior quality, this will also reduce the quality of your relevant values.

Inbound links to your own website should therefore always fulfil the following quality criteria:

• The linking page should be trustworthy, relevant and of the highest possible authority.
• The linking text should be of high quality and relevance.

What are bad backlinks?

If there are good backlinks, there must of course also be bad backlinks in return. This is in the nature of things.

You could call all backlinks that contain none or only a few of the positive characteristics mentioned above "bad backlinks".

In this context, however, we would rather speak of "weak backlinks" or "less valuable backlinks". Backlinks from pages that have no relevance or significance are of little use to you. At best, they will be ignored by search engines such as Google.

from an SEO perspective, "bad backlinks" are links that are not only ignored by search engines such as Google, but in the worst case are even penalised with poor search engine rankings. This applies in particular to spam sites that practise link farming. These websites have no content value whatsoever. They have only one purpose: to sell or buy backlinks. And they do this on a large scale.

If such websites link to your site, then in search engine optimisation this means that your website is in a bad neighbourhood. And this can have toxic effects on your website.

We will tell you a little more about the practices that used to be extremely popular under the heading "Can I simply buy backlinks?".

Can I just buy backlinks?

Yes, but you shouldn't!

In our agency, we come across dubious offers of this kind time and again.

Backlinks should definitely be built up regularly, otherwise they will appear unnatural.

In the Google guidelines, Google recommends not to manipulate links manually. Paying for backlinks is even expressly forbidden. Google even explicitly prohibits this method in its webmaster guidelines. Unless they are purchased links for advertising purposes, which must be labelled separately.

Nevertheless, buying or acquiring links is still a common method, at least indirectly.

It also sounds too tempting. Just reach into your pocket, buy a few backlinks and get to number 1 in the major search engines in no time? If only it were that easy.

The probability that you will celebrate success with purchased backlinks is significantly lower than the probability of being penalised by search engines such as Google.

The tactic of focussing on organic, good backlinks is much more promising.

What other factors determine the success of my backlinks?

So now you know what a good backlink is and what kind of backlinks you should stay away from. But there are other factors that you should keep an eye on. Especially so that you don't throw in the towel after just a few days out of disappointment.

Your subject area

The subject area that you or your website or blog deals with is a crucial factor. There are areas in which there is constant movement and in which you must always be up to date.

Accordingly, your backlinks should also be constantly updated.

The best example is our blog, which deals with SEO. Search engines such as Google are constantly trying to improve their processes and publish updates at regular intervals.

In addition, there are new findings from research that we also have to take into account. Nobody wants to read an outdated blog that (now) provides completely worthless tips. Search engines know this too. That's why we have to constantly make sure that we stay up to date.

If, on the other hand, your website is all about gardening, you don't need to keep up with the latest trends.

The strength of the competition

Some topics are more popular than others. This doesn't just mean the number of websites that deal with them, but above all the quality of these websites. We have already told you the important things about domain authority.

You can score points with just a few backlinks if the topic is less popular. If it is a hotly contested topic, you will have to do a lot of link building to have any chance at all. This also applies to all other content on your site.

Your starting position

If you are only at the beginning of the link building process, success will come faster than in the opposite case. A jump from position 100+ to 25 is much easier than a jump from position 10 to 8, for example, because the higher you go, the better your competition is.

But even these "quick" successes take time, as you will see in a moment. The important thing is not to lose heart.

What can I do myself to ensure the success of my backlinks?

There is a lot you can do to achieve long-term success in link building. After all, what use are the best backlinks if the search engine doesn't consider your site to be relevant or trustworthy?

So build up your own expertise and trust. If you run a blog, for example, you should always give your articles a real author's name.

Interaction can also be an important step. Meaning: Ask users for feedback in your text. Maybe ask a question at the end of the article? And very importantly: Respond quickly to this feedback and interact with your users.

Set your own backlinks to reputable sources and websites. This enhances your text and increases user-friendliness. As you've probably already heard, Google is increasingly focussing on user signals.

How many backlinks do I need?

This question is not easy to answer and varies from case to case. This is because search engines not only take the number of backlinks into account when making their judgement, but also many other factors.

This used to be different, as the number of backlinks was the most important factor for PageRank. The more backlinks, the better. How high quality these links were and where they came from did not matter at first.

This led to a veritable flood of backlinks, and even led to the formation of link farms. These had no other purpose than to generate as many backlinks as possible for link building.

Don't believe us? Then take a look at this page.

But the Google search engine reacted quickly and put an end to this tactic. Backlinks are still used as a ranking factor, but in addition to the number of links, the focus is now much more on qualitative backlinks.

The situation is similar with content, as a lot has changed here too: whereas it used to be enough to simply place a lot of keywords on a page, nowadays this is not enough. Quality also counts when it comes to content. And, above all, that the user's search intention is taken into account.

Keyword stuffing is therefore buried in the SEO graveyard right next to backlink farming. Today, the more high-quality backlinks, the better!

However, Google does not want to tell us which factors are used in which weighting for the calculation.

How quickly can I achieve success with backlinks?

You can set your own backlinks quickly. We'll tell you how to do this a little later in this article. However, it can take a while from the creation of a backlink until it is fully effective.

Backlinks and links to your own content, articles or texts are not a method of increasing your rankings in search engine results overnight, but a sustainable means of optimisation.

As you have already read, various factors are included in the overall evaluation of a backlink. However, even "good backlinks" will not bring your website to the top within a few days. You should rather assume a few weeks, many experts speak of up to 16 weeks in this context.

Of course, it can also be faster, but it takes a few days before a backlink is even noticed. Our recommendation: You should assume at least 2 to 3 weeks, which is the absolute minimum.

If the page on which the new backlink is located has only recently been visited by a crawler, it will take even longer.

The colleagues from t3n have compared interesting research results and have come to the following conclusion:

"If no changes occur within a few days to weeks after one or more links have been built, it is important to keep calm. Changes often only become apparent in the longer term. However, the rankings gained in the search results usually remain in place in the long term if you continue to optimise constantly."

12 tried and tested tips for building backlinks

So now you know what backlinks are and why they are very important in SEO. You also know what criteria make a good backlink and that link building takes time.

Now it's time to get down to business!

In the next section, we would like to give you a few tips for your link building strategy. We will now introduce you to the art of link building and show you how you can build good backlinks yourself.

Firstly, take a look at what Sebastian has to say.

1. Partnerships

Does your company work with external partners or take part in conferences, trade fairs or events? Their websites are excellent external link sources.

Source: arket.io

2. Testimonials

Do you use software you like? A good book you've read?

Then you should write a testimonial for these entrepreneurs, authors and software manufacturers. Companies love such letters. Many will publish these letters on their own website. For you, this means a free link:

3. Portals

If your website has no or very few backlinks, this step pays off, especially at the beginning: Submit your website to portals and directories.

Depending on your business and product, there are various options available to you:

1. Various chambers and professional organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce (Austria), the Chambers of Industry and Commerce or professional chambers (Germany)
   Source: WKO Austria
   
   
2. Customer review portals such as ProvenExpert or Trustpilot
   Source: ProvenExpert
   
   
3. Company ABCs such as 11880.com, firmenabc.com but also regional company directories
   Source: 11880.com
   
   
4. Platforms such as "Who delivers what"
   

4. Write guest articles

A guest article is a text that is published on a blog that does not belong to your site.

You don't necessarily have to have a blog to write guest articles on other blogs. The deal is simple: you create high-quality content for the blogger in return for your website being linked to.

But that's not all. In addition to this backlink, you also benefit by further increasing your brand value. If you are published on "other people's blogs", this shows that you are an expert: There's an expert at work here who has something to say.

Here is an example of a guest article I wrote on chimpify.de about blogging without SEO.

5. Sponsoring

Another way to generate backlinks is to sponsor events such as workshops, seminars, trade fairs or sporting events.

You can find suitable events in the following directories, for example:

• MesseInfo.de
• Online-Marketing.de
• Online.marketing

Some of these events are organised by large, established organisations and companies. This means that it is very difficult to get a reference from the associated websites. However, these are often particularly valuable from an SEO perspective due to their thematic relevance.

Source: Big Brothers Big Sisters

Social projects such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programme or the charitable initiative Licht ins Dunkel are also suitable for sponsoring.

6. Product tests

Backlinks can also be built up in collaboration with bloggers or influencers. The following example illustrates this better:

Let's move on to the next method.

7. Backlink lists or buying backlinks

This is a controversial method. Why? Buying backlinks violates Google's quality guidelines.

Why many SEOs do it anyway is simple: with highly competitive niches or small websites of unknown companies, they often have no other choice.

What happens in the worst case?

If Google finds out about you, either the links will be devalued or you will be penalised. You should avoid both.

How can you do this?

• Don't buy from private blog networks: These often have digital footprints (footprints) such as CMS, name, hosting, imprint, through which the search engine algorithm can determine a domain relationship.
• Avoid professional link sellers (link brokers): These sell posts with spam links in bulk, making it easy for Google to discover their "lists".

If you still want to buy backlinks, you should do it right. Take a look at the following guide.

Buying backlinks - the ultimate guide for 2022

8. PBN - Private Blog Network

We have already advised you against buying links from private blog networks. Another method of generating backlinks is to set up such a network yourself or to run several blogs with different topics.

Although this grey-hat or black-hat SEO method works, there is also a risk of devaluation or penalisation.

9. Linkbait

Another strategy for building links from backlinks is linkbait.

What does this mean?

If you offer content (link-worthy asset) on your website or in your online shop that has been created for this reason, is of high quality and offers readers a certain added value, then it can automatically generate backlinks.

This includes website content such as articles, videos, freebies, free tools or e-books.

Here is an example from our site:

10. Content seeding

You can also collect backlinks by distributing your published blog articles via content seeding in the channels that are relevant to you.

In other words, you publish your high-quality content on your blog or YouTube channel and use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to promote it once it has been published.

11. Competitor analysis with Ahrefs

Or you can give it a helping hand. By analysing the top 10 rankings with a suitable SEO tool.

We use the Link Intersect function in Ahrefs for this. With this function, you can specifically compare your website with the pages of selected competitors.

You can see which websites your competitors have received backlinks from, but your website has not yet.

You can then contact the operators of these websites to offer your content for linking.

12. Domain snapping

Last but not least, we would like to introduce you to the domain snapping method.

When domains expire or have been released by their previous owner, they are offered for sale again by back snapping services or other domain providers.

Unlike new domains, these so-called expired domains already have rankings, backlinks and PageRank. To benefit from this, you should make sure to keep the theme you are already using after purchasing and re-registering the expired domain.

Link building video: Tips for link building

In the following video I show you my favourite tips.

Backlink analysis: The best backlink checkers

Before you start building links, it's worth taking a look at the initial situation: how many websites are already linking to your website, to one of your blog articles or to your online shop?

You can find out very easily with a backlink checker tool!

Free tools

These two free tools are ideal for an initial check and are also easy to use for SEO beginners.

Backlinktest.com

At Backlinktest.com you can carry out a free check to find out how many other websites are already linking to your own website.

Backlink Check from Seobility

A good alternative to this is the Seobility Backlink Check.

This programme displays up to 400 referring domains and allows queries at domain or URL level. Three free checks per day are possible without registration.

This is how it works: Simply enter the address to be checked in the input field. Then choose whether you want to check the URL or the entire domain and click on "Check backlinks".

You will then be shown the result immediately.

Paid tools

If you want to find out more about the backlinks to your site and the backlinks of your competitors, we recommend that you take a look at one or two paid backlink check tools.

There are also free test options here. However, these programmes only reveal their full scope in the paid version. In our opinion, such programmes are indispensable for SEO professionals, at least in the long term.

Backlink Checker from Ahrefs

Our first favourite in this area is the tool from ahrefs

Checking tool for backlinks from SEMrush

The backlink analytics tool from SEMrush is our second favourite.

Caution, trap? Criticism of backlinks

Search engines do not want unnatural backlink building. The basic idea of Google and the first basis of assessment was "the more links point to a website, the more valuable this site must be"

Of course, this leaves room for manipulation. Today, the search engine has created over 210 quality criteria (ranking factors) for assessing the quality of a website.

However, Google also actively combats unnatural backlinks. As already mentioned, paid backlinks in particular are prohibited. By doing so, you risk being penalised by Google. This is not a fine, but a reduction in the visibility of your website in the search results.

If you are penalised manually by Google, you will notice a massive loss of traffic and visibility. There are dedicated Google Quality Teams that carry out manual assessments and penalties.

Contact an SEO agency you trust to start the process of remedying this manual penalty from Google. You can also contact us.

Backlinks: What you can do immediately

Pay attention to supposed little things

As you already know, many different factors are analysed by Google for a backlink, all of which are included in the overall evaluation and therefore also in the ranking. But that's the way it always is in online marketing, unfortunately there is no single, all-important super trick.

The following points are just a small repetition, but we would like to recommend them to you once again. Because they are often forgotten or even underestimated.

• Pay attention to how the link is set: You have already read about NoFollow links and DoFollow links in this article. DoFollow is always preferable to NoFollow.
• Pay attention to the positioning of the link: A link that is placed in the middle of the body text is significantly more valuable than a link at the end of an article or in the footer.
• Use a meaningful and natural anchor text: It should also be meaningful. Example: "You can find more information in this blog article from ithelps" is much better than "You can find more information here".

Backlinks with "hard anchor text" are the most valuable. This means that the keyword appears in the anchor text. However, pack the hard anchor texts cleverly in the text. Otherwise they look unnatural.

Seemingly minor details of this kind can make a significant difference in the end.

What influence does AI have on backlinks and link building

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into search engine optimisation has fundamentally transformed link building and backlink strategies. Modern SEO managers now have access to a wide arsenal of AI-supported tools that not only automate time-consuming processes, but also enable higher quality and more targeted backlink campaigns.

Let's look at the multi-faceted impact of AI on backlink management and see how you can utilise these technologies for your SEO strategy.

Basics: Backlinks in the age of AI

While link building was traditionally based on manual processes - such as identifying relevant websites, personal outreach requests and content creation for guest posts - AI has revolutionised these processes. However, with the commercialisation of backlinks, questionable practices also emerged, to which search engines such as Google responded with algorithm updates that penalise manipulative link profiles.(Source)

AI-supported analysis and quality assessment of backlinks

AI tools analyse backlink profiles with unprecedented speed and accuracy. They evaluate metrics such as Domain Authority (DA), Trust Flow (TF) and topical relevance to identify high-quality links.

Predictive analytics for backlink quality

Tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush and CognitiveSEO use machine learning algorithms to predict the potential impact of backlinks. A study by Dodler Consulting showed that AI-based predictions can increase the success rate of link building campaigns by up to 40 %.

Competition analysis and opportunity identification

AI searches the web for competitor backlink profiles and identifies neglected link sources. For example, a tool like LinkMiner can find websites that link to competitors but not yet to your own site. This data enables targeted outreach strategies that exploit gaps in the competitor profile.(Source)

Automation of link building processes through AI

AI is revolutionising the efficiency of link building by automating repetitive tasks. According to an analysis by StarsMedia, AI tools reduce manual effort by up to 70 %.

Automated link prospecting

Tools such as Hunter.io and Pitchbox automatically search the web for suitable link providers. They filter websites according to criteria such as thematic focus, domain authority and acceptance rate for guest posts.(Source)

Content generation for link building

AI-supported platforms such as Scribtx create backlink-optimised content, including guest posts, forum comments and wiki entries. One example is the AI Backlink Generator 2.0, which can generate over 100 backlinks per job on various platforms.

Popular AI tools for backlink management and their core functions

The following table provides an overview of leading AI-supported tools for backlink management:

Tool	Core functions	Particular strengths
Ahrefs	Backlink analysis, competitor analysis, link tracking	Detailed metric analyses, historical data
SEMrush	Backlink audit, toxic link detection, link building	Comprehensive competitor analysis, spam detection
Pitchbox	Outreach automation, campaign management	Personalised email sequences, CRM integration
BacklinkGPT	AI outreach, personalisation	Highly personalised requests
LinkMiner	Gap analysis, opportunity finding	Identification of competitor backlinks
Scribtx	Content generation, anchor text optimisation	Natural integration of keywords and links
Labrika	Real-time algorithm customisation	Adaptive link building based on current rankings

Personalisation and increased efficiency in outreach

Natural Language Processing (NLP) enables hyper-personalised outreach campaigns that significantly increase response rates.

AI-optimised outreach messages

Tools such as BacklinkGPT analyse the behaviour and interests of target persons in order to create tailored emails. Tests show that personalised AI messages achieve up to three times higher open rates than generic templates.

Automated follow-ups and campaign management

AI-powered platforms like Pitchbox manage entire outreach campaigns: they send follow-ups, track responses and adjust strategies in real time. This automation enables the scaling of link building activities without sacrificing quality.

Challenges and risks of AI-supported link building

Despite the benefits, the use of AI harbours considerable risks that require critical evaluation.

Danger of spam due to automation

Fully automated link building tools can generate unnatural link patterns that are categorised as spam by Google. A report by Xpert.digital warns that 23% of AI-generated backlinks are placed in toxic environments. Without human review, there is a risk of penalties from algorithm updates such as Google's Penguin.

Loss of content quality

AI-generated guest posts rarely reach the depth and originality of human authors. Google's Helpful Content update prioritises user-centric content, causing machine-generated texts to lose ranking power. That's why we and other experts like Gerlach Media recommend always editing AI content.

Future developments and innovations through AI in link building

The integration of machine learning and semantic analysis will continue to revolutionise link building.

Semantic link building

AI models such as Google MUM analyse content contextually to identify thematically relevant link opportunities. Future tools could automatically suggest links to related concepts - from "AI SEO" to "machine learning marketing", for example.

Real-time adaptation to algorithm changes

AI-powered platforms such as Labrika use real-time data to adapt link building strategies to current ranking factors. This agility is becoming increasingly crucial in light of frequent Google updates.

Integration of visual and multimodal content

Tools such as SurferSEO are used to create backlink strategies that incorporate images, videos and infographics. AI analyses which media formats achieve higher linking rates in certain niches.

Practical tips: How to use AI successfully in link building

1. Develop a hybrid strategy: Use AI for data analysis and routine tasks, but retain editorial control. Seybold recommends using AI to support E-E-A-T compliant links.
2. Establish quality control: Regularly check your backlink profile for toxic links. Tools like SEMrush's Backlink Audit can automatically identify problematic links.
3. Personalise AI content: Use AI-generated content as a foundation, but customise it to your brand language and add unique perspectives. Munich Milan emphasises the importance of the human touch.
4. Focus on relevant niches: AI can help you identify topically relevant websites that strengthen your expertise. According to Claneo, thematically relevant backlinks will remain a key ranking factor in 2024.
5. Make data-driven decisions: Use AI analyses to measure the performance of your link building efforts and adjust strategies accordingly.

The future of AI-powered link building

AI has transformed link building from a manual, time-consuming process to a data-driven discipline. While tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush and BacklinkGPT are revolutionising efficiency, success requires a balance between automation and human expertise.

The future belongs to semantically intelligent AI systems that seamlessly integrate context, user intent and multimedia content into link building strategies. Companies that use these technologies strategically will lead the SEO competition in the long term.

As the Marketing Institute emphasises: Despite all the technological advances, backlinks remain an indispensable building block of successful SEO strategies - AI does not make them less important, but helps us to use them more efficiently and effectively.

Conclusion: Stay patient and you will succeed

Backlinks are still an important ranking factor for Google and other search engines. Every webmaster should therefore take a close look at the topic of "link building as a ranking factor".

We can't say it often enough: link building is not a magic formula, but requires time, patience and creativity.

Our recommendation for you as a website operator is therefore: Keep at it and be patient. Then your efforts will definitely pay off in the form of an improved ranking.