Could you share an example of how you've used social media to support your backlink building efforts?

Question

In the digital age, social media is a powerful tool not just for engagement, but also for enhancing SEO through backlink building. We gathered insights from SEO experts and entrepreneurs on how they've successfully leveraged platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to bolster their backlink efforts. From sharing blog posts to initiating strategic campaigns, explore the diverse tactics in these twenty-eight expert contributions.

Mei Ping Mak · Answer

I often share my blog posts on social media to increase page views and build no-follow links on these platforms. While no-follow links don't directly influence search rankings, they act as a hint for Google's algorithm and can contribute to my overall backlink profile by driving traffic and engagement, potentially leading to more natural backlinks from other sites.

Joe Hall · Answer

By using social media tools like BuzzSumo and SparkToro, I have found excellent outreach opportunities to promote content and guest-post opportunities. By being able to organize social media influencers by follower counts, I can quickly gauge the strength and likely influence that each of these individuals and their websites likely have within the search engine algorithms. And because their social accounts are linked, I can build several different points of contact to increase the likelihood of a response.

Tristan Harris · Answer

On Facebook, there are various groups dedicated to niche topics; in our case, about digital marketing and SEO. One such group is a vibrant community where many experts share under-the-radar digital marketing strategies or case studies that they have tested and found effective. This offers us a unique opportunity to showcase our own case studies.
So, what we do is provide valuable insights to individuals with limited resources who no longer need to conduct their tests—we share links to our case studies and articles from our website. If the tips or strategies we post are truly effective, we might be pleasantly surprised to see group members, who have their own blogs, linking back to the articles that we have shared.

Connor Gillivan · Answer

In the last 15 months, I've built a following of 65,000 across my LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Every day, I talk about SEO, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. As a result, I've met hundreds of amazing people within the marketing and business space. And I've leveraged those relationships to help in building quality backlinks to my businesses.
Here's an example: A blogger from the SEO industry found my social media content and started following me. After reading my content for a few weeks, they reached out asking if I'd be willing to share my thoughts on a specific topic. I shared my advice and asked that they link back to my website in the published article. They did so happily, and my business gained a quality backlink.
Another example: A podcast host reached out asking if I'd be a guest on their podcast. I let them know that I don't personally take on podcast interviews, but that my business partner does. They had him on the show, and we received backlinks to our business from the show notes page.
Takeaway: Building a personal brand opens doors. It's a powerful way to network and get in touch with people online that can help you gain exposure for your business and get you high-quality and relevant backlinks. It takes hard work to get it started, but once rolling, it can serve as a growth engine for many years into the future.

Lukasz Zelezny · Answer

One time, we had this quirky client who sold eco-friendly dog toys. We created a series of hilarious, meme-worthy videos featuring dogs playing with the toys and shared them on Instagram and TikTok. The videos went viral, getting picked up by pet influencers and even some eco-friendly lifestyle bloggers. These influencers loved the content so much that they started sharing it on their own blogs and websites, linking back to our client's site. 
The beauty of it was that we didn't just gain backlinks; we also built a community of loyal followers who genuinely cared about the brand. It was like watching a snowball turn into an avalanche of engagement and SEO juice, all from a few well-timed, well-executed social media posts.

Chaitsi Ahuja · Answer

As the owner of Brown Living, we have utilized social media to effectively boost our backlink-building efforts. One unique example is our 'Sustainability Spotlight Series.' In this series, we collaborate with eco-conscious influencers and bloggers to showcase their sustainable lifestyle tips, DIY projects, and product reviews on our social media platforms. Our approach involved reaching out to influencers and bloggers within the sustainability niche, extending invitations to participate in our Sustainability Spotlight Series. Upon their agreement, we coordinated feature dates and provided comprehensive guidelines focused on content creation related to plastic-free living and other eco-friendly themes. Subsequently, these collaborators shared their crafted content across their social media platforms, prominently tagging Brown Living and incorporating backlinks to our website. 
From our observations, 55.57% of influencers and bloggers engaged in the Sustainability Spotlight Series graciously provided backlinks to us on their respective blogs or websites. This initiative built engagement and interest among our social media followers, resulting in increased traffic directed to both our social media profiles and website. By consistently executing the Sustainability Spotlight Series, we not only cultivated a robust backlink profile but also fostered meaningful relationships within the sustainability community, solidifying Brown Living's standing as a reputable authority on eco-friendly products and insights.

Precious Abacan · Answer

We've utilized social media quizzes and surveys as effective link-building opportunities. I believe this approach is one of the most efficient ways to leverage social media for generating valuable content that fosters user engagement and interaction, which in turn can be a great source of backlinks from other websites.
In our experience, employing quizzes and surveys on social media platforms allows us to consolidate our messaging in a single place. This strategy offers users the opportunity to share their experiences or opinions, which can be highly engaging. Moreover, if promoted strategically, these tools can provide excellent insights.
These activities not only help in optimizing marketing campaigns and strengthening customer relationships but also prove crucial in link-building efforts. Utilizing quizzes and surveys on social media can be an excellent way to secure those much-needed backlinks, while also reaching potential new customers. Once we've established some links, we then use various backlink management tools for quick and easy monitoring of our achievements.

Nicholas Robb · Answer

Using social media to build backlinks is about being strategic and providing value.
First, I focus on creating high-quality articles that solve common problems my target audience faces. So, each week, I publish one long-form article on my blog. These articles are packed with valuable information designed to be easily shared.
After publishing, I repurpose these articles into multiple social media posts, like those on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. This includes breaking the article into smaller pieces, creating quotes, and making infographics. These posts drive traffic back to my blog, where the full article is available.
Don't forget that 'Domain Authority' refers to how trustworthy a website is to search engines. We all want quick results, but building trust in your brand takes time.
All I know is to provide valuable content and engage proactively with my audience. This is my method of increasing 'authority' within the niche. People will refer to valuable and also trustworthy content.

Juan Carlos Munoz · Answer

As a UI/UX design agency, we actively leverage LinkedIn for backlink building. We share informative blog posts on design trends and case studies, tagging relevant people to spark conversation and increase post visibility. This establishes us as thought leaders and increases the chance of backlinks to our website from those who find our content valuable.
We also participate in industry discussions, build relationships with influencers, and publish long-form content on the LinkedIn platform. These strategies help us secure backlinks by showcasing our expertise and attracting links from industry publications or websites referencing our work.

Bill Mann · Answer

Sometimes, it's as simple as clicking the follow button. We are always looking to connect with other companies that care about privacy and security. We follow and send requests every day. Oftentimes, these websites look at our content and use it as a source for their own content. Then we receive a backlink. If one of these new connections is a particularly valuable backlink, we have the option to offer a guest post to get one. Just get out there, network, engage, and don't be afraid to ask. Just be sure to keep the relationship reciprocal. Everyone should benefit.

Mohammad Goodarzi · Answer

We've utilized social media at Pixune to support our backlink-building efforts by sharing engaging and informative content related to our industry expertise. For example, we regularly post about our latest projects, creative processes, and industry insights on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. By establishing ourselves as thought leaders and providing valuable content, we attract attention from relevant websites and influencers who may link to our website. Additionally, we actively engage with industry communities and participate in discussions, nurturing relationships that may lead to backlink opportunities. This approach not only boosts our SEO efforts but also enhances our brand visibility and credibility.

Mahee Chouhan · Answer

As a manager, I leverage social media platforms as part of an unconventional backlink-building strategy. I focus my efforts on niche forums and communities related to my industry. I identify discussions about relevant topics and provide useful, insightful comments. I avoid self-promotion and keep the focus on adding value to the discussion. My genuine engagement and helpful contributions lead to other members organically linking to our website in their own posts and recommendations. I also build connections with key individuals and, when appropriate, suggest collaborating on a relevant blog post or resource to be shared on our respective sites. This approach has allowed me to form valuable relationships while also generating high-quality backlinks from new domains. By thinking outside traditional tactics, social media has become a powerful tool in our link-building arsenal.

Lydia Valentine · Answer

I've utilized link-building with Pinterest and Instagram to support our backlink efforts. On Pinterest, you can add one website link to your profile—make sure not to overlook this. Similarly, you can also add a link to your Instagram profile. It's effective to use icons to draw attention to these links. A common strategy is to encourage people to click on your profile link to learn more about the content in your Instagram photos.
It's crucial to keep every profile up to date across all the social media platforms you use. Also, make sure each profile, whether it's a Personal Profile, Business Profile, Fan Page, or Group Page, includes a working link to your website.
Moreover, sharing quality content from your website or blog across these social media channels is important. This strategy not only enhances your online visibility but also helps in generating more backlinks.

Craig Focht · Answer

We use social media to gather customer reviews and feedback, which might seem unrelated to building backlinks at first glance, but is actually a very helpful way for link-building!
In my experience, customer reviews help boost our social media business accounts in search engines and enhance our rankings due to the inclusion of relevant SEO keywords. Better rankings increase the visibility of our content and the likelihood that more people will link to it. Additionally, since positive reviews enhance our credibility, more individuals are likely to promote our content by clicking on our links and sharing our website with their contacts. This method has proven effective in increasing our online presence and aiding our backlink-building efforts.

Ihor Lavrenenko · Answer

Using Instagram to support backlink-building efforts has been quite effective for me. While working as an SEO specialist for Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, I targeted healthcare journalists to get quality backlinks. I started by listing potential journalists on Instagram who covered healthcare topics. I followed their accounts, liked their posts, and occasionally commented to get noticed.
Once I had established an initial contact, I crafted personalized messages highlighting common interests or recent posts I found valuable. This helped create a connection and made my outreach less cold. After a few interactions, I sent them direct messages proposing collaboration and followed up with a detailed email pitch. This method proved successful, as a few journalists mentioned our services in their articles, providing valuable backlinks.

Mahesh Joshi · Answer

One strategy that worked for us this year was using social media, especially LinkedIn, to promote our Market Reports, as professionals across various industries use LinkedIn to network, find insights, and stay updated on industry trends.
We started by creating a series of insightful posts on LinkedIn, highlighting key findings and trends from our reports.
Later on, we distilled our report into key insights and created a series of posts, each highlighting a unique trend from the report. Each post invited readers to explore the full report on our website for a deeper dive. The content was not only informative but also visually engaging, incorporating graphs and infographics derived from the report’s data.
This approach didn't yield instant results, but steadily, as industry professionals began sharing our posts and referencing our report in their articles and presentations, we noticed a significant increase in both our website traffic and the quality of backlinks, increasing by roughly 25%.
For anyone looking to try this, my advice would be to use social media for distributing key findings that drive your audience to seek further details on your website. Customize your content to align with the professional interests of your audience to boost engagement and sharing.
This approach will not only improve your backlink profile but also establish your brand as an authority in your field.

Kristie Tse · Answer

I use social media to support my backlink-building efforts by creating quality content that my audience finds valuable and shareable. By paying attention to current trends, I ensure my content resonates with what people are talking about right now. I've found that collaborating with influencers and industry leaders amplifies my reach and credibility. 
A specific example involved writing an insightful, research-based blog post on mental health trends, which I then shared on LinkedIn and Instagram. I tagged relevant professionals and groups, sparking conversations and shares. This strategy led to multiple high-authority websites linking back to the original post, significantly enhancing our online presence. Creating content that people can't refuse to link to has been key.

Clooney Wang · Answer

Social media has been vital to boosting our backlink-building efforts by allowing us to reach out to fellow industry players, bloggers, influencers, and thought leaders who could be assets in our endeavor. We utilize our TrackingMore LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook pages to share links to new content we’ve created on our website, such as customer success stories and blog posts.
Using our social media accounts, we can distribute this content far and wide on the pages themselves, forums, and other users' pages through shares and retweets. Through this, we’ve had several bloggers reach out, asking to link to our content in exchange for a link to valuable content that aligns with what we’ve created. Other backlinking opportunities are more organic, with websites picking up what we’ve shared and linking to it without contacting us. In all instances, our backlinking strategy is significantly enhanced through sharing content on social media.

Sam Hickson · Answer

I've leveraged my expertise on Quora and Reddit to support our backlink-building efforts, and undoubtedly, in my experience, these platforms are hotspots for obtaining social media backlinks. However, it's important to note that you can't just show up and drop a link to your site in response to someone's question or concern.
Quora and Reddit are about sharing knowledge and expertise, not about blatant advertising. What we do to promote our brand, product, or service is to engage genuinely by addressing people's problems and helping them discover new ideas and practical advice.
If our link naturally fits within the context of our response, it serves as a perfect way to support the conversation and secure a quality backlink to our site. Quora and Reddit have been particularly useful for this purpose, and answering questions without being overly sales-oriented has proven to be an effective strategy for earning backlinks and garnering support from social media platforms like these.

Amar Ghose · Answer

You can use social media to support backlink building by connecting with bloggers and brands in your niche. Start by identifying key influencers and thought leaders. Follow them, engage with their content, and join relevant discussions. Building genuine relationships can lead to opportunities for guest posts and content mentions, which include valuable backlinks and expose your content to a wider audience.
Another effective approach is the ego-bait strategy. Mention high-quality brands or influencers in your niche positively in your posts. These mentions often prompt them to reshare your content, promoting their own platforms while giving you valuable backlinks. This strategy helps boost your backlink profile and broadens your reach.

Michelle Robbins · Answer

Within the past year, we've created and quickly expanded a team dedicated to generating social media content for our digital media company in the insurance industry.
We've greatly built up our backlinking efforts to our sites by posting near-daily content to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X. From big, newsworthy items tied to insurance, to provider details, to FAQs.
Topics of recent posts have included the 10 cheapest auto insurance companies, car replacement costs, the longest emergency wait times by state, and whether you can drive alone with a learner's permit.

John Kawecki · Answer

At F1Blast, we went to one of the Formula 4 races and conducted some interviews with drivers. Then, we prepared it and posted a small sneak peek on our Twitter, with adequate hashtags.
Soon after, various media outlets reporting on motorsports reached out to us and offered to publish our interviews with the drivers on their platforms, with proper 'do-follow' links to our website. The biggest outreach came from Poland, as the Polish driver Kacper Sztuka won the championship that day, and everyone wanted to jump on the hype train and publish something about him. Our interview has been published on various F1-oriented sites in Poland, providing us with a decent amount of backlinks.

Pavel Naydenov · Answer

Absolutely, social media has been integral to our backlink-building efforts at Businessmap. One notable instance was a strategic Twitter campaign we initiated. We created a series of educative and value-packed infographic posts on project management trends and insights. In the post captions, we encouraged our followers to share the content and included a link to our more comprehensive blog post on the same topic. As a result, not only did we see an increase in retweets and likes, but also a significant uptick in inbound links, as blogs and online publications picked up and referenced our infographics, consequently connecting to our blog post.
Another example is our active engagement on industry-specific LinkedIn groups. We consistently share our blog content there, making a point to foster discussion around the topic. This prompted other group members to refer to our blog posts on their sites, thereby generating valuable backlinks. These experiences have cemented my belief in leveraging social media platforms as an effective tactic in a well-rounded backlink-building strategy.

Neil Hodgson-Coyle · Answer

One effective way we've used social media to support our backlink-building efforts is by using and following hashtags like #PRrequests, #journorequest, and #bloggerrequest. These hashtags are commonly used by reporters, brands, and bloggers who are seeking sources for their articles. We monitor these on Twitter and Instagram to identify opportunities where our expertise can contribute to articles or blog posts. When we find relevant requests, we respond with insightful comments or direct messages, offering our knowledge or suggesting our content as a resource.

Ajay Prasad · Answer

We published a survey on our website and shared key findings on social media to spark discussions. Engaging with our audience on various platforms, we tapped into relevant social media groups, amplifying our survey's reach. As the discussion gained traction, so did our survey's popularity, prompting more shares and backlinks. This social media-driven approach promoted our survey and garnered more links, bolstering our backlink-building efforts effectively.

Rizki Kadir · Answer

We've built collaborative relationships with content creators on social media. In my experience, this approach might seem similar to influencer outreach, but it actually functions a bit differently. It involves actively searching for opportunities to collaborate with various content creators.
What I did was engage in activities like jointly hosting webinars or podcasts, co-creating content, or showcasing each other's work on our respective channels. This strategy allows both parties to be featured on each other's platforms, which helps introduce our audience bases to both businesses. Ultimately, this method has provided both of us with the opportunity to gain prospective backlinks from social media, enhancing our online presence.

Daniel Kroytor · Answer

You can buttress local link-building by linking with other local businesses to improve mutual social performance. One effective strategy is reaching out to or partnering with local businesses or organizations willing to give you a backlink on their website while you collaborate on a promotional campaign or collaborative product. Building local SEO is also affected by link-building from any other online sources. In other words, more visibility on the macro scale also impacts your visibility on the micro-scale. 
Another local SEO strategy is to run a UGC campaign that asks users to share a brand’s posts and tag them. Social mentions build domain authority, including local SEO, if participants are located near or geotagged close to the business. Offer a prize, discount, or other valuable motivator to encourage customers and build buzz around your brand or product.

Jeffrey Pitrak · Answer

One example of how we've used social media to support our backlink-building efforts is during product launches. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook have been instrumental in showcasing our products with engaging content. Our strategy involves collaborating with micro-influencers and brand ambassadors who resonate with our audience. We provide them with product samples and encourage them to share authentic reviews on their social channels. This not only generates valuable backlinks to our product pages but also drives traffic and boosts sales. Our experience underscores the significance of leveraging influencer partnerships for organic backlinks and prioritizing authenticity in social media collaborations for tangible results.

How Do You Use Social Media to Support Your Backlink Building Efforts?

How Do You Use Social Media to Support Your Backlink Building Efforts?

Share Blog Posts on Social Media

Leverage BuzzSumo and SparkToro

Contribute to Niche Facebook Groups

Build Personal Brand for Backlinks

Create Viral Content for Organic Links

Run a Sustainability Spotlight Series

Employ Quizzes and Surveys

Repurpose Content Across Platforms

Utilize LinkedIn for Industry Authority

Network for Reciprocal Backlinking

Share Industry Expertise on Social Media

Engage in Niche Forums and Communities

Optimize Social Profiles for Backlinks

Gather Customer Reviews for SEO

Target Journalists on Instagram

Promote Market Reports on LinkedIn

Craft Shareable Content on Trending Topics

Share Content on Company Social Pages

Engage on Quora and Reddit

Connect with Influencers for Guest Posts

Post Daily Content Across Platforms

Sneak Peek Interviews on Twitter

Initiate a Strategic Twitter Campaign

Respond to #PRrequests Hashtags

Spark Discussions with Shared Surveys

Collaborate with Content Creators

Link with Local Businesses for SEO

Collaborate with Influencers on Launches