Quality Link Building Tools and Processes Including using Ahrefs, SEMrush, Whitespark, PlagSpotter and SEM Compass for quality links - By Peter Mead

1. Quality Link Building Tools
and Processes
@petermeadit
linkedin.com/in/petermeadit
Including using Ahrefs, SEMrush,
Whitespark, PlagSpotter and
SEM Compass for quality links
http://petermeadit.com

2. Why care about link building
➢ As an SEO consultant, have
experienced the power of link
building.
➢ Link building proved powerful
results for over a dozen larger
clients (over $50k/mo) I have
worked with.
➢ Consider links as
powerful endorsements

3. About linkbuilding?
★ Internet is built on links, it makes stuff
work.
★ SEO’s roles have changed, it’s now a skill
set of many Online Marketing disciplines.
★ Don’t think about the link, think
endorsement
★ Link Building and SEO is not for everyone.
★ Google wants best possible experience.

4. General Strategies Includes
❏ Quality - Don't think about the link
❏ Content Marketing and Link
Earning
❏ Share and engage to spread
message
❏ Measure your effectiveness
❏ Tools include: Ahrefs, SEMrush,
Whitespark, PlagSpotter, SEM
Compass, Google Alerts, Google
Webmaster tools, to name few

5. Isn't linkbuilding bad?
❖ Google set a mad Penguin
loose right?
❖ Algorithm changes are
happening so often now, it
is difficult to track.
❖ Use Algaroo, Mozcast.

6. The old
days of
Glory
are
gone

7. General guidelines
❏ Dont’s - Avoid practices that lead into link
manufacturing or sculpting
❏ blog networks, widget links, profile links
❏ Sitewide links
❏ Author BIO links
❏ Don’t ask for Anchor text
❏ External anchor text followed footer links
❏ Do’s - Focus on natural links/endorsements
❏ Quality link building/earning
❏ Sharing engaging syndicating
❏ Quality outreach
❏ Go for high Authority links
❏ Nofollow links ok
Eric Schmidt - Software Engineer

8. Ahrefs what is it?
http://ahrefs.com

9. SEMrush what is it?
http://www.semrush.com/

10. Whitespark what is it?
http://www.whitespark.ca/

11. PlagSpotter what is it?
http://www.plagspotter.com/

12. SEM Compass what is it?
http://semcompass.com/

13. Quality links
❖ Take responsibility, reputation management
- you need a good reputation.
❖ Clean your links before you get penalized.
❖ Check with Ahrefs, Majestic, SEM Compass
❖ This often involves quality outreach

14. Example outreach
Be personal and polite. Hand write each outreach, and clearly explain the
link opportunity. You may even engage on social media or telephone.
Scaled down version (do not use as is) below:
Hello <Name>,
Thanks for featuring <my relevant content> on your site. I noticed it on this
page <page url>. Would you please attribute my <content> with a link to my site
at <site url>.
Thank you, I appreciate your time.
Best Regards,
<Your name>
<contact details>
Remember, do not spam please.

15. Getting easy links
Suppliers, partners, Authorities, Experts,
Friends, People you know, that are
happy to link back to your site.
❏ Check quality of referring site
❏ Discover good location for the link
❏ Use outreach to acquire the link
❏ Use Ahrefs, SEMrush, SEM Compass

16. Local Quality Directories
Yelp.com.au, TrueLocal.com.au, yellowpages.com.au,
womo.com.au, hotrog.com.au, aussiesweb.com.au,
localbusinessguide.com.au, local.com.au, startlocal.com.au
❏ Google My Business
Listings
❏ Relevancy is important
❏ NAP signals matter
❏ Use WhiteSpark or
SEM Compass

17. Reviews to build links
Reviews are a quality indicator, and are often the first
things people look for
❏ Google Reviews a person's profile
❏ Reviews link back to a business listing
❏ Business listings link to your website
❏ Use Whitespark & SEM Compass

18. Images and content links
People may steal your images or other content, so get
them to link to your site.
❏ Use Google image search
❏ Look for: Logos, Staff photos, Brand images
❏ Use outreach to ask for the link
❏ Use, Image search, PlaggSpotter to find content

19. Mentions for links
Freshly published content, that mentions your brand or any
other relevant terms.
❏ Find fresh mentions
❏ Determine if suitable for a link
❏ Use outreach to acquire link
❏ Use Google alerts, Whitespark, SEM Compass

20. Broken Links
Find 404s or broken links to pages that may have been lost
while moving sites, etc. then fix the links.
❏ Find 404s with Google webmaster tools
❏ Use outreach or instead 301s
❏ Find dead competitor links and acquire
❏ Use Ahrefs, SEM Compass

21. What kind of links will you build?

22. SEM Compass
❏ A special signup page with discounted pricing
has been created for any of my friends wanting
to try SEM Compass
❏ Note this is NOT an affiliate link, but simply a
special offer for discounted pricing.
❏ http://semcompass.com/accounts/register/friends-of-peter-mead/

23. Resources
Rules of link building, Cyrus Shepard: http://moz.com/blog/the-rules-of-link-building-whiteboard-friday
Link building basics, Moz: http://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-link-building
How to build backlinks for SEO 2015, David Jenyns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pHJycJTI0c
Ten effective link building ideas, James Norquay:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ten-effective-link-building-ideas-competitive-business-james-norquay
5 easy link building ideas, Jon Ball: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/5-easy-link-building-tactics-small-business/120674/
SEM Compass aggregator tools: http://semcompass.com
Algoroo: https://algoroo.com/
MozCast: http://mozcast.com/
Melbourne SEO Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-SEO/
Peter Mead: http://petermeadit.com @petermeadit or linkedin.com/in/petermeadit