For a while, people were saying link building was “dead,” but that’s not really true. It’s just changed.
Backlinks still matter, but now it’s not just about getting as many links as possible. It’s more about where you’re being mentioned and how often your brand shows up in credible places online. Search engines and even AI tools are paying attention to that.
Think of links like little votes of confidence. When a trusted site links to you, it tells Google your content is worth paying attention to. But now, even if your brand is just mentioned alongside other reputable sources, that still helps build your authority.
So how do you actually get these links and mentions? It really starts with your content. As mentioned in class, you need to create things people want to reference, like helpful guides, simple graphics, or even original data. The more useful and specific your content is, the more likely someone is to link to it.
From there, it’s about being intentional with who you reach out to. Not every site is worth your time. Focus on blogs, creators, or publications that are actually relevant to your niche and have real audiences. And when you do reach out, keep it personal. A short, thoughtful message will always work better than sending the same generic email to 100 people.
At the end of the day, link building isn’t just about links anymore, it’s about building a presence people recognize and trust.
Source: Link Building for SEO: Proven Strategies That Still Work
2 Responses
This is such a great post! As you said, it’s better to have a short, thoughtful message, rather than a generic one. When I receive a generic email from a brand, I am less likely to interact with them.
I like the way you thought of link building as a vote of confidence I had never though about it like that before.