Aaron Anderson is a guest on the Niche Pursuits podcast, where he discusses effective link building strategies. His agency focuses on earning links through outreach, rather than paid or guest post links. The core strategies of his agency include broken link building, resource page link building, and unlinked mentions. They have had success in earning links from top-tier sites like the New York Times and Men’s Health through broken link building. Aaron shares tips on creating short and straightforward outreach emails and emphasizes the importance of providing value and aligning with the original intent of the broken link. He also discusses the strategy of finding unlinked mentions using Google search operators. Overall, Aaron provides valuable insights into building effective and free links that can help businesses maintain a high ranking in the SERPs.
Introduction
In a recent episode of the Niche Pursuits podcast, Aaron Anderson, the founder of LinkPitch, shared his expertise on effective link building strategies. With a focus on earning links through outreach rather than relying on paid or guest post links, Anderson’s agency has found success in various link building methods such as broken link building, resource page link building, and unlinked mentions. During the interview, Anderson provided valuable insights, tips, and examples to help listeners enhance their link building efforts and improve their website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Background of Aaron Anderson
Before diving into link building, Anderson shared some background information about how he got involved in marketing and link building. He began his career in sales, specifically cold calling and door-to-door sales. Eventually, he realized that his skills were well-suited for link building and transitioned into the field. He has since been working in SEO and link building for the past five years, gaining valuable experience and honing his strategies.
Different Angle on Link Building
Anderson’s agency, LinkPitch, takes a unique approach to link building, focusing on earning links through outreach rather than pursuing paid or guest post links. This approach emphasizes the importance of building organic and earned links that contribute to the overall credibility and authority of a website. By avoiding artificial link-building methods, LinkPitch aims to establish long-term, sustainable link building practices.
Overlap between Cold Calling and Link Building
One interesting aspect Anderson highlighted during the interview was the overlap between cold calling and link building. Both activities require resilience in the face of rejection and necessitate a similar mindset. Anderson’s experience in cold calling prepared him for the challenges of link building, enabling him to handle rejection with grace and persistence.
Aon’s Link Building Agency
Anderson’s agency, LinkPitch, specializes in earning links through strategic outreach. The agency has implemented various tactics and methods to achieve successful link building results. With a focus on personalized outreach, LinkPitch aims to establish connections with website owners and offer value in exchange for earned links.
Core Strategies for Earning Links
Within LinkPitch’s link building methodology, Anderson highlighted three core strategies: broken link building, resource page link building, and unlinked mentions. These strategies form the backbone of their approach and have proven to be highly effective in earning quality links.
Broken Link Building
One of the primary strategies employed by LinkPitch is broken link building. This approach involves identifying broken links on websites and offering a replacement link that aligns with the broken link’s original intent. By capitalizing on broken links, LinkPitch is able to provide value to website owners while earning high-quality backlinks.
Finding Broken Links
Finding broken links can be a challenging task, but Anderson explained some effective methods and tools used by LinkPitch. Manual searching, combined with tools such as Ahrefs, allows the team to identify broken links efficiently. However, Anderson also emphasized the importance of focusing on recent broken links to increase the likelihood of success.
Importance of Recent Broken Links and Quality
When considering opportunities for broken link building, Anderson stressed the significance of targeting recent broken links. Recent broken links indicate that website owners are actively involved in maintaining their sites, making them more likely to respond to outreach efforts. Additionally, Anderson highlighted the importance of considering the quality and authority of the source when assessing potential success rates.
Outreach Tips for Broken Link Building
In outreach efforts related to broken link building, Anderson recommended using concise and straightforward email templates. Fake flattery or unnecessary content should be avoided. The focus should be on genuinely offering value and aligning with the original intent of the broken link. Persistence is also key, as sending follow-up emails or reaching out to multiple contacts on a website can increase the success rate.
Success Rate and Examples
Anderson shared some notable examples of LinkPitch’s success in broken link building. The agency has been able to earn links from reputable sites like the New York Times and Men’s Health by effectively implementing this strategy. While success rates can vary depending on the specific campaign and circumstances, LinkPitch’s track record demonstrates the potential of broken link building to generate high-quality backlinks.
Reaching Out to Websites for Opportunities
Apart from broken link building, Anderson discussed the importance of reaching out to websites for various link building opportunities. Depending on the type of website, identifying the right contact person or team can be a crucial step in initiating successful outreach. Smaller websites may have less structured teams, making it easier to find the appropriate contact, while larger websites, especially media sites, may require reaching out to staff writers or editors in the relevant section.
Value of Resource Pages
Resource pages offer another avenue for effective link building, and Anderson emphasized their significance. The value of resource pages depends on factors such as the number of external links and the credibility of the curators. To succeed in link building on resource pages, Anderson emphasized the importance of altruism and offering valuable resources or information.
Altruism and Offering Value
Throughout the interview, Anderson reiterated the importance of altruism and providing value in link building efforts. By focusing on genuinely helping others and creating valuable content, website owners are more likely to consider including relevant links. Being helpful, informational, and respectful can significantly increase the likelihood of success in link building endeavors.
Unlinked Mentions
Unlinked mentions present another opportunity for effective link building, although they require a combination of manual and tool-based approaches to identify and convert these mentions into links. Anderson discussed how Google search operators can be utilized to find unlinked mentions and refine the search for optimal results.
Combination of Manual and Tool-Based Approaches
For various link building strategies, Anderson and LinkPitch employ a combination of manual searching and data from tools like Ahrefs and Pitchbox. While tools can streamline the process and provide valuable insights, manual research and personalization remain crucial to establish meaningful connections and achieve successful link building outcomes.
Link Building Success Factors
Throughout the discussion, Anderson emphasized that link building success is not solely dependent on the number or metrics of the obtained links. The quality and relevance of the content and website play a significant role. By aligning with Google’s preferences and providing valuable resources, link builders can enhance their website’s ranking in the SERPs more effectively.
Challenges in Certain Industries
Not all industries enjoy the same ease of link building due to their commercial nature. Industries such as casinos, gaming, adult, and CBD oil may encounter challenges in link building. However, Anderson highlighted that altruism and providing genuinely helpful, informational content can increase the likelihood of success even in challenging industries.
Conclusion
To summarize, Aaron Anderson’s discussion on the Niche Pursuits podcast shed light on effective link building strategies and provided actionable insights for enhancing link building efforts. By prioritizing earned links and avoiding artificial practices, webmasters and digital marketers can establish a credible online presence and improve their website’s visibility in search engine rankings. The core strategies of LinkPitch, including broken link building, resource page link building, and unlinked mentions, offer valuable opportunities for earning high-quality backlinks. By combining manual research with tool-based approaches, personalized outreach efforts, and a focus on delivering value, link builders can achieve success in their endeavors.