International Versus Local Backlinks?

[Undergrnd]

I'm running a dentist's website and I've been wondering if there is any additional benefit to achieving local backlinks from other medical sites versus larger international ones?

For example, if I had a blog article that I wanted another site to link to, would you choose the local medical website within the same city or the international one that has more viewers?

[Roman-Delcarmen]

No matter where the link is coming from your main concern should be if that link is relevant to

• your audience
• your content
• your goals

You need to understand that your main goal is your audience (not your brand)

Which keywords are using? (I'm talking about your possible patience)
How they make their research? (of your services of course)
Which site are they visiting? (I'm talking about your competitors)

Example: you have a link coming from a relevant blog with an article related to dental health
and pointing to your site with this anchor text keyword with your location, this blog has a lot of traffic and a good authority.

On the other hands, you have a local directory pointing to your site

Which one do you think is more relevant to Google?

No matter if the first one is local or not. From the Google, perspective it's a relevant website, with relevant content, giving you a vote of trust (link is like a vote) with a local signal "your location"

what would I do in your case?

Make competition research

Identify your competitors
First, you need to identify your main competitors, those sites who are in the first results of Google
and are taking those possible clients with those keywords that you to rank for

Backlink analysis
Then you need to determinate the site who are linking to your competitors I mean if your biggest competitor has 15 links will be easy to beat of course if have 200 you need to think in a better strategy

Keyword analysis
On this point, you need to determinate the competition level of the keywords that you want to rank.I mean with competition level of 0 to 30 is fine, with a level of 30 to 60 will be not easy and I will take some efforts but you can do it, on the other hands over 60 just forget it and found another keyword.

Performance analysis
On this day the performance matter so if your competitors have a poor performance then you have an opportunity, if don't so you need to think that you need, an outstanding performance, plus an outstanding content, plus outstanding structure.

[Roman-Delcarmen]

I made a quick research and I founded 12 sites related to dental health care as link prospect who already accept a guest post with an average PA over 40 who accept guest post. so as I mention if the link has enough quality no matter the origin will help your site to rank and if this link has local signals or local keywords even better

[MiriamEllis]

Good thoughts from Roman, for sure, and a good question, Dylan.

Roman is right that formal link analysis will provide the only data-based answer to your query about which link will "do more" for you. But, in general, for local businesses, it is best to build up local relevance with local links. However, if a dental practice had a chance to be featured on the website of the ADA or something like that, then of course, you'd jump at that chance.

What you don't want to do is focus on getting backlinks from something that really doesn't relate to the geo-industry. So, for example, a dentist in Chicago doesn't really have a sensible relationship to a directory of dental providers in San Diego ... even if you could somehow get a link there, it wouldn't be very relevant.

But, in general, build up highly relevant local links, and if the chance comes up to be featured on an authoritative industry site, go for that, too.

[Roman-Delcarmen]

Thanks, Miriam Ellis