Backlink Building - is it worth it?

[abisti2]

I've got a UK-based site with about 10,000 backlinks, according to majestic, and just 4 according to Open Site Explorer? Confusing! Rivals tend to have more - 28,000 in the case of our nearest competitors.

So I'm not sure the best way to go about building backlinks? Or if it's worth actively seeking to build them?

The index page of the site has a Moz PA of 45 (DA = 35) and I'm looking for any ways to increase these - need to get the DA up to 73 to compete with largest rivals.

One of our main rivals has about 60 .edu links - would be great to emulate that, but I'm also not sure how you go about this? i.e. when you spot a good backlink someone else has, how would you begin the process of also getting that link?

[JordanLowry]

I would begin by reading Moz's guide to linkbuilding to get started. They will provide some insight into how to get a solid linkbuilding campaign started. You will also want to conduct some research and build content that will earn links as well. For example, if you find a backlink you would want from your competitor look at the content piece or page that earned the backlink. Decide if you can build a more compelling content piece or elaborate on a specific topic. Then reach out to the webmaster and start that relationship and pitch your content piece.

That is one example to get you started.

Hope that helps some.

[EGOL]

After you are finished reading the Moz Guide to Linkbuilding that Jordan suggests, I would do a content audit to determine if you have valuable content assets that can be marketed as "important things for other webmasters to link to".  If you have these kinds of assets then you have a chance at attracting good, editorially-given links.  If you don't have these kinds of assets then you are entering an area of simply "building links" that are not supported by valuable assets on your website.  That type of linkbuilding is very different because it will either be paid links, traded links, dropped links or other types of links that Google will classify as linkspam and slap you with a Penguin problem or an unnatural link penalty.

[abisti2]

Many thanks Jordan - I've read that guide and it's really useful.

What I'm still unsure about is whether it's worth me getting someone to do, timewise.  The guide seems aimed at getting backlinks from bloggers - can that make a big difference on higher competition search terms? My rivals have many backlinks from Govt. & national media sites, for instance.

[abisti2]

Thanks EGOL, that makes sense. I'm looking for backlinks to products essentially, so not a great deal of content but perhaps some "newsability" (we won't be beaten on price in the UK, for instance).

[JordanLowry]

It depends, I would take a look at your rivals backlinks and see what types of content people are linking to on their website. Then I would consider recreating it or developing something better. If that seems feasible I would go for it.

However, I think it would take a lot of effort to move the needle in terms of your current domain authority. If you have the resources I would say go for it. If not then I would target less competitive terms etc.

[abisti2]

Thank you, that makes perfect sense.

[EGOL]

Some people write content that explains how to select the product, how to maintain it, demonstrations of how to use it.  These are great for attracting links.  DIY sites are the best examples of this type of content.  These article pages, if done well, can attract links, pull traffic, and ads on those pages send visitors to your sales pages.  Or, you can offer items for sale on these pages and those sales will come after your content has inspired the person to buy.