Why do we overcomplicate link building?

People regularly ask me what tactics and strategies I can share with them about link building.

When I answer, “Well I just search the web for good sites and reach out to them,” I tend to get a lot of disappointed looks and long faces. I don’t have any top-secret methods for finding good linking partners, creating great content or forming a connection.

To me, building links is pretty simple and always has been. It’s just that some parts of it can be tough.

Execution can be tough

While link building is a simple concept, campaign execution can be complex.

Finding good sites takes an enormous amount of time. Researching can take forever, and taking time to establish a working relationship can be highly frustrating.

In fact, the “relationship” part of linking may be the most difficult part of search engine optimization (SEO) I’ve done because it relies on the cooperation of other people.

Link building can be incredibly fun at times and mind-blowingly dull at others. You can’t sit around and wait for links to happen, you have to work hard, keep brainstorming new ideas, learn about industries and their niches and keep coming up with new ideas for content.  There is a clear process I know works well, and I think anyone can do it.

So why do we overcomplicate this thing called link building?

[Read the full article on Search Engine Land.]

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Marketing Land. Staff authors are listed here.

About The Author

Julie Joyce

Julie Joyce owns the link development firm Link Fish Media and is one of the founding members of the SEO Chicks blog. Julie began working in search marketing in 2002 and soon became head of search for a small IT firm. Eventually, she started Link Fish Media, where she now serves as Director Of Operations, focusing on working with clients in ultra-competitive niches all over the world.