Starting any link building strategy requires a foundational approach, regardless of the website or niche. Whether initiating backlink efforts from the outset of a new site or further along the journey, establishing a foundation of your website with links is crucial. This is where foundational links are created. Read on to learn more about them.
The Definition
Foundation links serve as the bedrock of your site’s backlink profile, akin to sturdy pillars supporting a structure. They provide the stable connections necessary for sustained growth, forming the basis upon which additional backlinks can be constructed.
These links are designed to remain unchanged and are resilient to algorithm updates from search engines like Google, making them the cornerstone of your backlink strategy.
Therefore, they act as the foundational elements of your SEO campaign. Examples of foundation links encompass backlinks from government websites, Wikipedia, reputable news outlets, and other high-authority websites.
How do Foundational Links Set Them Apart from Standard Backlinks?
Foundational links function by establishing core web pages and publishing evergreen content that attracts links from other websites.
To enhance your web authority, first check your website’s authority on reliable tools like Ahrefs. We tried it for our demo site and here is the result:
Employ link building tactics like guest posting, niche edits, and journalist outreach to secure quality backlinks from authoritative sites.
It’s essential to establish these foundational links early on, whether launching a new website or revamping an existing one.
Moreover, these links must possess stability to withstand fluctuations in search engine algorithms.
Remember, foundational links should originate from reputable websites to optimize your SEO efforts. The objective is to earn top-notch backlinks that bolster your website’s authority.
So, let’s quickly break down each type of link and how they differ from foundation backlinks.
- Regular links: This refers to any backlinks to your website, whether they’re from guest posting, online directories, or social signals. They can come from highly authoritative websites with high domain authority (DA) ratings or any site for that matter. But remember, the goal is to earn high-quality backlinks, instead of quantity. One high domain authority link is better than multiple low-quality ones from a link farm.
- Tiered links: They compose a multi-tiered link building structure designed to create link juice or equity for your website. They often get used interchangeably with foundational links. But as mentioned, foundational links focus on building your site’s strong base.
- Pillow links: Also known as cushion links, they act as a protective layer for your website. They are usually low-quality backlinks, providing a buffer for your site to safeguard your backlink profile. As such, they don’t contribute to your website’s SEO authority compared to foundational links.
Types of Foundational Links
Most of the links to your websites can be considered foundational links. But what makes them truly foundational is when they come from credible and authoritative websites linked to your core web pages and content pieces.
There are many different ways you can build foundation links, but typically, the different types will come from:
- Guest Posts:
Guest blogging entails creating an article for another website in your industry. You reach out to a niche-relevant website, write a guest post for them, and get your article published on their site. By doing so, you can include do-follow and no-follow links to earn high-quality backlinks for your website. If you’re looking to build foundation links, you should aim to gather do-follow backlinks from big name, authority websites.
- Online Directories:
There are various directories on digital platforms guiding users who are looking for information online. Let’s take business listings, for example. You can get your company listed on Google My Business (GBM). But while at it, add your website, which will serve as one of your foundational links. Just make sure the online directories you’re getting foundational links from are high-quality. Here is how you can get listed on Google:
- Niche Edits:
Niche editing involves adding your link to existing content on a particular website. A broken link on a website page is a perfect example where you can ask the publisher to replace it with your relevant link. Also known as curated links, niche edits let you earn foundation links for your website if done right.
- Institution Websites:
Backlinks earned from top institutions are highly authoritative and credible. Think of the academic and government websites linked to your web pages. Even the websites of non-profit organizations and established institutions linked to your site can do the same. They can help establish your authority as a thought leader in your industry. Though, getting a link from this kind of website can be difficult, depending on your business.
- Online Publications:
A press release is an example where you can write a news story about your business and have it published in online publications. You can also leverage the Help a Reporter Out (HARO) platform by pitching to journalists and getting quoted as a credible source. Both link building tactics allow you to earn quality backlinks.
- Social Signals:
Though you won’t gain a lot of authority by sharing your latest article on LinkedIn in terms of backlinks, this can still help build the foundation for your content and kickstart your traffic. This also acts as a trust signal to Google and your audience by showing you’re active on social media and you’re getting traffic from it.
- Online Forums:
The internet is a goldmine of digital platforms allowing users to interact with each other. Think of Quora, allowing industry experts to share valuable insights and others to comment on. When sharing or commenting on online forums, you can include links to your website as long as they’re relevant or useful. Though this won’t give you much authority (since backlinks aren’t as powerful from these kinds of websites), they can still pass traffic via potential users on the site.
- Internal Linking:
As the name implies, this involves linking your web page to other content pieces on your website. This tactic allows you to create link equity by letting your audience explore other pieces and providing more value to them. Internal links are as equally important as your external links for establishing your backlink profile.
Ways in Which Foundational Links Maximizes Site’s Potential
- Enhanced Authority: Foundation links from credible and authoritative websites bolster your website’s authority in your industry or niche, establishing trust and credibility with both users and search engines.
- Improved Search Engine Rankings: By attaining quality backlinks from reputable sources, your website is more likely to rank well in search pages (SERPs), driving organic traffic and visibility.
- Stability and Longevity: Foundation links provide a stable base for your website’s backlink profile, offering resilience against fluctuations in search engine algorithms and ensuring long-term sustainability.
- Increased Referral Traffic: Quality foundation links not only contribute to SEO but also drive direct referral traffic from users clicking on those links, expanding your audience and potential customer base.
- Established Networking Opportunities: Building foundation links often involves establishing relationships with other website owners, industry influencers, and thought leaders, opening doors to collaboration, partnerships, and further growth opportunities.
How to Identify Foundational Links Pointing to Your Website?
Use SEO Tools:
SEO tools are essential for analyzing your website’s backlink profile. They provide comprehensive data on which websites are linking to yours, the quality of those links, and other relevant metrics. Popular SEO tools like Moz, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Majestic offer backlink analysis features that make it easy to identify foundational links.
Analyze Backlink Profile:
Begin by entering your website’s URL into the search bar of the SEO tool you’re using. This initiates the process of analyzing your backlink profile and generating a report on the websites linking to yours.
Once you’ve entered your URL, explore the backlink profile section of the SEO tool. This section typically provides a list of all the websites linking to your site, along with various metrics such as domain authority, anchor text, and more.
Focus on Authority:
Pay close attention to the authority of the websites linking to yours. Domain authority (DA) or domain rating (DR) scores are indicators of a website’s overall strength and influence in search engines. Foundational links often come from websites with high DA or DR scores, as they carry more weight in terms of SEO value. We checked our demo domain on Moz. Here are results:
Assess Relevance:
Evaluate the relevance of the linking websites to your own content or niche. Links from websites that are closely related to your industry, topic, or target audience are more valuable. They are the ones to signal search engines that your website is an authoritative and reliable source within its niche.
Prerequisite is to consider the context in which the link appears. Links embedded within valuable content or mentioned in positive contexts are typically more valuable than those placed in spammy or irrelevant content. Contextual relevance enhances the credibility and authority of the link.
Review Anchor Text:
Anchor text can be termed as the clickable text of a hyperlink. When analyzing your backlink profile, pay attention to the anchor text used in the links directing to your site. In an ideal situation, the anchor text should be relevant to the content it’s linking to and not overly optimized with keyword stuffing, as this can appear spammy to search engines.
Identify Patterns:
Look for patterns in your backlink profile, such as recurring domains or common linking strategies. For example, if you notice that several high-authority websites within your industry are consistently linking to your site, these could be considered foundational links.
Conclusion
A well-rounded foundation link package ensures your website benefits from diverse types of backlinks, enhancing its authority and trustworthiness.
Getting your foundation links right can be challenging and time-consuming, potentially leading to adverse outcomes if not managed by professionals familiar with your SEO and link-building requirements.
This blog focuses on providing valuable insights into the components of effective foundation links, the targeted placement of each type of link, and strategies for maximizing their impact on your website’s performance.
FAQs
How do I ensure that my foundational links are relevant to my website’s content and niche?
It’s essential to prioritize relevance when building foundational links. Look for websites and sources that are closely related to your industry, target audience, or niche. This ensures that the links you acquire are not only valuable in terms of SEO but also resonate with your website’s content and provide genuine value to your visitors.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when building foundational links?
Some common mistakes include focusing solely on quantity over quality, engaging in link schemes or manipulative tactics that violate search engine guidelines, neglecting to diversify your link profile, and failing to regularly audit and monitor your backlinks for quality and relevance.
Are there any risks associated with building foundational links?
While foundational links are essential for SEO success, there are potential risks involved, particularly if you engage in manipulative or spammy link-building tactics. These risks can include penalties from search engines, loss of rankings, and damage to your website’s reputation. It’s crucial to approach link-building ethically and focus on earning high-quality, natural links over time.
