Link building is a cornerstone of effective search engine optimization (SEO), and while the traditional approach involves seeking links from various sources, there’s an innovative strategy that often gets overlooked: obtaining links from your competitors. It may sound counterintuitive, but strategically leveraging your competitors’ backlink profiles can yield significant SEO benefits. In this article, we’ll explore real link building case studies to demonstrate how to get links from your competitors.
Understanding the Strategy
The concept of acquiring links from competitors revolves around identifying websites that link to multiple competitors but not to your website. These are often industry-specific or niche websites that already recognize the value of your competitors’ content. By reaching out to these websites and offering your valuable content or resources, you can secure backlinks, enhancing your own site’s authority and search engine rankings.
Link Building Case Study 1: The “Skyscraper” Technique
One of the most well-known Link building techniques is the “Skyscraper” method, popularized by Brian Dean of Backlinko. This strategy involves finding high-quality content in your niche, creating even better content on the same topic, and then reaching out to websites that link to the original content to suggest they link to your improved version instead.
Case Study: Let’s say you operate a website in the travel industry and want to acquire backlinks from your competitors. You identify a popular travel blog that has linked to multiple competitors’ articles on “Top 10 Travel Destinations in 2023.” You create an exceptional, up-to-date guide on the same topic and reach out to the travel blog, highlighting the value of your content. The chances are high that they will link to your improved article.
Link Building Case Study 2: Reverse Engineer Competitor Backlinks
Another effective approach is to reverse engineer your competitors’ backlink profiles to discover websites that frequently link to them but not to your site. Tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush can help you identify these linking domains.
Case Study: Suppose you run an e-commerce website selling eco-friendly home products and want to boost your link profile. You analyze your competitors’ backlinks and find that a prominent eco-conscious blog frequently links to their products but not yours. You contact the blog owner, offering to provide in-depth information about your eco-friendly products and their benefits. By demonstrating your expertise and product value, you secure a link from the blog.
Link Building Case Study 3: Resource Page Outreach
Many websites maintain resource pages featuring valuable links related to their niche or industry. Identifying resource pages linked to your competitors and then reaching out to them with your relevant content or resources can be a fruitful link-building strategy.
Case Study: If you’re in the digital marketing space and want to acquire links from your competitors, you can search for resource pages that list “Top SEO Tools” and find that several of your competitors’ websites are featured. You create a comprehensive guide comparing various SEO tools and reach out to the resource page owner, suggesting that your guide would be a valuable addition. They may include your guide on their resource page, giving you a backlink.
Link Building Case Study 4: Collaborative Content
Collaborative content is another excellent way to secure links from competitors’ linking domains. By partnering with industry experts, influencers, or competitors themselves, you can create content that attracts backlinks naturally.
Case Study: Suppose you operate a fitness blog and want to acquire backlinks from websites that link to your competitors. You reach out to fitness influencers who have previously collaborated with your competitors and propose a collaborative project. Together, you create a comprehensive fitness guide that combines your expertise. These influencers share the guide on their websites and social media, providing you with valuable backlinks.
Link Building Case Study 5: Guest Posting on Competitor Blogs
Guest posting is a classic link-building technique. However, consider guest posting on your competitors’ blogs or related websites within your industry. This approach can provide an opportunity to showcase your expertise to an audience already interested in your niche.
Case Study: Let’s say you’re a tech startup and want to get links from competitors in your field. Identify tech blogs or industry-specific websites that have previously published guest posts from your competitors. Reach out to them with a compelling pitch, offering to contribute an insightful article on a relevant topic. By guest posting on their platform, you can secure a backlink to your website.
Conclusion
Link building is a dynamic and creative process, and acquiring links from competitors can be a valuable addition to your strategy. By analyzing your competitors’ backlink profiles and identifying websites that frequently link to them, you can strategically reach out to these sources and offer valuable content or resources. These case studies demonstrate that with a well-thought-out approach and the right content, you can secure backlinks from your competitors’ linking domains, boosting your website’s authority and SEO performance. Remember that link building is an ongoing effort, and continually seeking new link-building opportunities can lead to long-term success in the competitive world of SEO.