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How I build backlinks to EVERY article I write

I'll cut to the chase.

It's 2021. SEO isn't getting easier.

Except for this.

This makes things WAY easier.

Most people start building links by guest posting, which works.

One of the best ways to get your first high-authority links through building relationships and guest posting.

But what if you didn't have to write a guest post every time you wanted a backlink?

As you'd guess, it scales HORRIBLY.

What if people from your favorite websites couldn't help but link to you?

It's true that the links get far easier to get when your content is amazing.

But, marginally better "skyscraper" content won't get you there.

Over the past year, I've been working on a formula for getting a ton of links without any spammy email blast outreach.

In my link-building arsenal, this is strategy #2:

  1. Dream Link Building (link)
  2. The Double Data Strategy ๐Ÿ‘ˆ This is what we're looking at today
  3. The Authority on Autopilot Strategy
  4. The Encarta Strategy
  5. The Pre-Buyer Strategy (my personal favorite for SaaS companies)
  6. The BTTF Strategy

The Double Data Strategy

Today, we'll dive a bit deeper into my second link building strategy: original data.

Nothing sets your apart from copycat content quite like original data.

There are a few ways to do this:

  • Partner with somebody who has that data already
  • Have an audience large enough to survey for free
  • Pay somebody to acquire and organize
    the data

All three of these work, but here, I'll show you a fourth option I don't see a lot of people trying.

Step 1: Add Original Data to Your Article

Instead of citing the same tired facts that all the other copycat content is using, I like to use Google's Dataset Search:

enter image description here

For example, if I had a personal finance blog, I'd start by seeing what data I could find about personal finance. Looks like we have some promising results here:

enter image description here

But looking through them, nothing seems to apply, until I start digging a bit deeper. If my article were about the top personal finance apps (a lucrative and difficult topic to rank for), all of a sudden we get into some interesting data:

enter image description here

and looking at the split by gender in the survey, we can add some interesting (and likely polarizing) data to our article.

enter image description here

Once that's added, the real fun starts (and I'll explain more below):

Step 2: Get Your Own Never-Ending Data Supply

Now, in our fictional example, we'll embed our OWN survey in the content.

The data we already have will make our article stand out, but once people are on the page, they can take a quick 1-2 question survey about their favorite personal finance apps.

That then becomes OUR original data. ๐Ÿ’ฅ

Step 3: Share Your Data

And everybody who cited other sources, or even the data we found in Google's Dataset? We can reach out to them to share our original data as well.

If you do this right, you aren't begging for a backlink. Just sharing some interesting data that you've put together.

You also have a compelling reason to reach out every 6-12 months as the survey data may change over time. ๐Ÿ’ฅ๐Ÿ’ฅ

If you enjoyed this, would you also like to get my marketing newsletter? I write a weekly email, and, the next few weeks are all focused on building links (without begging for them with outreach). ๐Ÿ™Œ

Also, please let me know what questions you have about SEO and link building in the comments below. I'll answer EVERY SINGLE ONE!

  1. 3

    Big thanks to @momoko for being such a generous member of IH and guiding me on how to better contribute, here. Thanks Monica!

    1. 2

      Thanks for the effort Brendan! Gave you a vote :)

      Never seen Google Dataset Search before, that is super cool. I'm also building a data-driven resource right now that I'm hoping to use to attract links.

      As for questions, do you have a favorite real-world example of this strategy in action, ideally outside the SEO/marketing space?

      Good luck with the post & your newsletter!

      1. 3

        I'm using it in action here: https://seofortherestofus.org/seo/create-blog-content/

        Another great example is the annually updated blog trends article at Orbit Media (but that's send to their list versus embedded): https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/blogging-statistics/

        Both are in the marketing space, though. ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ

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          Still interesting! I ask because I've observed it can be easier to get links in the marketing/content space, compared to others where people are more "stingy" with linking out. So I'm always curious about case studies outside of marketing.

          Anyway, looks like your post went well :) Congrats!

          1. 1

            Yeah you're spot on. It's why I don't read most of the SEO sites where it feels like a snake eating its own tail and instead look for examples of client / company results. We've done this with a few clients as well, for example I believe Bill.com is going to be publishing something similar to this, soon.

  2. 2

    Dream Link Building (link)
    The Authority on Autopilot Strategy
    The Encarta Strategy
    The Pre-Buyer Strategy (my personal favorite for SaaS companies)
    The BTTF Strategy

    Do you have links for the rest of these?

    1. 1

      Not yet!

      Right now they're all in my community and upcoming course.

      I'll be writing about each of them, one at a time (for free) on my email list over the next 4 weeks.

  3. 2

    I love this simple list of yours...

    Focus on relationships (not links)
    Make your โ€œDream Linkโ€ list
    Remember your why
    Remember their why
    Do your research
    Reach Out
    Donโ€™t give up

    This should be an info graphic or a poster I can hang on my wall in my office

    1. 2

      Thanks so much, Ken!

  4. 1

    Yes, I have some questions. How we can use these datasets? Are you talking about the use of already available content? Don't you think unique content matters in both guest posting and on-page SEO?

    1. 1

      Great question! Unique content definitely matters, but it's also at the macro level. Quoting studies, naming statistics, etc. are all fair game. What we're really doing is using the stats and the graphics to set the stage for our OWN ideas. So in the example above, I'm using an existing study (plus getting my own data with an embedded survey), PLUS I'm going to talk about what that study means for the future, how it's effecting the present, etc. so most of the ideas are my own.

  5. 1

    Eeey, super interesting approach! I'll defentily give this a go!

    1. 2

      Please do! When you do, let me know. I'm looking for more and more examples to share.

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        Cool, Iยดll let you know! ๐Ÿ‘

  6. 1

    Interesting, I'll give this a go. Thanks for sharing!

    1. 1

      AWESOME! When you do, let me know. I'd love to share your work as an example.

  7. 1

    This is a great idea, it's simple but so obviously effective.

    1. 1

      Thanks so much! I really do think you'll see this more and more as it catches on.

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