Link building for SEO is an important practice for financial advisors looking to improve their website’s SEO. And whether you’re unsure of the different types of links or don’t know where to start, this list will break it down for you.
But before we start looking at link-building strategies, let’s start with the foundation of link-building – Links. Why is link building for SEO so important?
Understanding Links
Links come in two types, inbound and outbound links. Internal links are also on this list but function a little differently, so let’s cover all three.
What Are Inbound Links?
Inbound links are links from one website to an entirely different website. For example, if I create a post on social media with a link to this blog, the link on social media would be considered an inbound link for this blog post.
What Are Outbound Links?
Outbound links function just like inbound links but in reverse. For example, let’s add a link to Hubspot. This link would be considered an outbound link – a link that leads away from our website.
What Are Internal Links?
Internal links are links that connect two pages within your website. They don’t leave or enter.
How Do Links Improve SEO?
Each link type helps improve SEO. But, some types of links, and the websites they link to, are better for SEO than others. Here’s how each one helps:
Inbound: This is the best link type for SEO. Inbound links tell Google and other search engines that your site is reliable enough for others to link to it as a resource. The more inbound links you have, the higher your search results ranking will be.
Outbound: Outbound links take second place, improving SEO by providing context and credibility, letting Google and other search engines where you acquire your resources. In simple terms, it’s like checking your sources and seeing if they’re reliable and accurate, which in turn will determine whether you’re reliable and accurate with your content.
Internal: Not as important as inbound or outbound links, but still important for SEO, the internal link gives search engines an idea of your web structure and how each piece of content relates to one another. Internal links can also help improve the traffic of some pages by linking them to higher-performing ones on your site.
5 Ways Financial Advisors Can Get More Inbound Links
Of the three types of links, inbound links are both the best for SEO and the hardest to receive. Any piece of content can receive an inbound link, but there are certain types of content that have a higher chance. Using these strategies to create high-quality content increases the chances of receiving an inbound link and improves your SEO.
1. Original Research
Content creators are always on the lookout for new and interesting data. Oftentimes, this data is used to support an article, blog post, or another piece of content. Citing these resources is far easier and faster than performing the research on your own. So it only makes sense.
Whenever data is used, the content creator will also provide a link to the resource. Doing so makes the content creator’s piece more credible and transparent while also providing a link to the original research.
The site that conducted the research thus receives an inbound link as a result of their work. A great example of original research is a blog referencing a website or an eBook, which provides them with the information they need to create the content.
For example, FMG has a variety of eBooks filled with facts, statistics, and other useful information that visitors are welcome to read and use as references.
2. Leverage Images
Infographics take the appeal of research and make it far more shareable – displaying data points as an interesting and entertaining visual. And according to NeoMam Studios, Readers recall 80% more information from an infographic (20% for written words only) and are 17% more persuaded by writing with visuals than without.
Infographics are often used on social media, attracting more views and engagement. And, as an image, infographics can be discovered on Google image search, increasing searchability and SEO. Another option, though, is to create a smaller, single image using one data point unlike an infographic, which provides a collection of information. This singular image brings similar link-building benefits.
Advisors can create infographics from scratch using one of our favorite tools, Canva.
3. Write about Timely and Trending Topics
One of the largest challenges of obtaining links is competing against similar content. By covering trending, and timely topics, you reduce the chances of competition. However, since many advisors receive information from the same sources, timely topics won’t remain new for long.
To leverage timely topics, don’t just make your content informative but provide an opinion on the subject. This will set your content out from others and allow you to demonstrate your authority on the subject to both clients and prospects alike.
News sources and social media are good locations to find trending topics. Though, writing content can take a bit of time. If you’re a Website Engine user, you can instead use Content Assist to find trending and timely content. And, since the content is customizable, advisors can customize it to provide their own perspective.
Check out FMG’s website engine and our customizable content library, which has content that will show you’re on top of timely topics.
4. Provide Resources
Some websites provide resource pages covering a list of other industry-relevant websites, content, and services for visitors. Websites often create these lists to attract traffic by becoming a one-stop location for the resources they’re providing. Such pages come in a variety of types, from list articles, like our post on the best websites for free stock image sites, to stats articles. Visme has more infographic statistics that you should know about when marketing.
5. Create Niche Content
As mentioned with timely content, one of the challenges of acquiring links is competition. But, by creating content that appeals to your niche, you not only reduce competition but appeal directly to your ideal audience.
Niches are great because they give you a foothold and allow you to see what path you which to follow when it comes to strategizing. Once you know your audience, it’s much easier and more efficient to market toward them and not broadly, which is the case without a niche.
For example, above, you’ll see Money Maven Financial has found its niche, being women who struggle with the feeling of financial overwhelm. Once they found their niche, they were able to target that audience and market more efficiently.
Wrapping Things Up
At its core, attracting links is all about creating high-quality content to receive links from well-known websites and improve SEO. There are various ways to do this, from communicating with industry sources to writing about topics with reduced competition. Keep these options in mind when creating your own content and seeking to improve SEO through link-building.
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