19 free website audits done, THIS was the main thing missing
This step by step guide will fix it:
Free website help…yep, we ran a freebie audit session.
Not a great way to make money, but it helps a lot of people, and I guess, helps our brand too.
This is inside our free Facebook Group by the way, ➨ feel free to join here.
We had a lot of interest in this activity, as hey, you all run businesses, you mostly have websites, and out ranking your opposition is important.
There were several smaller technical issues that we found, for example too many H1 headers on the same page, that type of thing (too many H1 headers is like having an essay with 2 headlines or subject lines, instead of 1, confusing).
But by FAR the main reason that people are LOSING on Google to their opposition is backlinks.
The competition, in almost every case, has more and better backlinks than you do.
Fix that, and you’ll generally rocket up the Google leaderboard, and get more clicks, more enquiries, more sales.
All the good stuff!
SO - thought we’d draft up a beginners guide to getting started with backlinks - getting links TO your website, so Google can “get it”, know what you do and where you are, and rank you higher.
In this guide, you’ll find loads of ideas and things to do, if you need help with any of this stuff, just hit the contact us button below, and we’ll talk:
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours.
They’re one of the most important factors in how search engines like Google decide where to rank your site.
If your business website has zero backlinks, don’t worry—everyone starts somewhere.
Why Backlinks Matter
Backlinks act like votes of confidence from other websites.
When a reputable site links to yours, it signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy.
More quality backlinks usually mean higher search engine rankings and more traffic to your site.
How to Start Getting Backlinks
1. List Your Business in Online Directories
Start with free business directories such as:
Google Business Profile
Yelp
Bing Places
Yellow Pages
Industry-specific directories
These listings not only give you backlinks but also help with local SEO.
➨ We have a FREE resource HERE that lists a whole stack of these directories and citations for you.
2. Create Useful, Shareable Content
Write blog posts, how-to guides, or infographics that offer real value.
Content that educates or solves a problem is more likely to be shared and linked to.
Get creative with this.. for example My Ride Mount Maunganui, a Tauranga based bike shop, might create some guides for how to maintain your bike at home, or basic “how to change a flat tyre” resources.
3. Reach Out to Partners and Local Businesses
Ask suppliers, partners, or nearby businesses if they can link to your website.
If you’re listed on their website as a client or partner, that’s a great start.
The video below details our unique “We Featured You” method for getting free backlinks:
4. Guest Posting
Offer to write blog posts for websites in your industry.
In exchange, you can include a link back to your own website.
Our team works on guest posts every single day - it’s a very useful activity.
5. Use Social Media
Share your content on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
While social media links don’t count as traditional backlinks, they help your content reach more people who can link to it.
6. Join Forums and Communities
Participate in online forums or industry groups (like Reddit or Quora).
Add value to discussions and include your website link when relevant—not spammy.
Extra Places to become active for more backlink opportunities:
HARO - stands for “help a reporter out”. Journalists are actively looking for expert comments on that site. Very effective if you are an expert in a field.
Featured - this is one of our secret weapons, and our team uses it every day. It’s like Haro - bloggers and online writers looking for comments and opinions. It’s a great way to get backlinks for free.
Tips for Building Backlinks the Right Way
Focus on quality, not quantity: A link from a reputable site is more valuable than 100 low-quality links.
Don’t buy backlinks: It’s risky and can get your site penalized by search engines.
Be patient: Building backlinks takes time. Aim for slow and steady growth.
FAQ: Getting Backlinks for Beginners
Q: How long does it take to see results from backlinks?
A: It can take weeks or even months to see improvements in your rankings. SEO is a long-term strategy. Your Google Business Profile though, can be ranked faster than that, so if you need help specifically with that, reach out to us HERE.
Q: Can I just buy backlinks to speed things up?
A: It's not recommended, unless advised by a professional.
Purchased backlinks often come from low-quality or spammy sites and can hurt your rankings. However, sometimes purchased backlinks can be effective, but the average business owner won’t know how to spot good from bad. Feel free to reach out and ask us.
Q: How many backlinks do I need to rank?
A: There's no magic number.
Focus on getting links from high-quality, relevant websites rather than chasing a specific quantity.
At the end of the day, Google is comparing your website to other websites, so keep that in mind.
Q: What’s the easiest backlink to get?
A: Business directory listings are the easiest and fastest way to get started. They’re often free and safe.
Q: What’s the difference between a good and bad backlink?
A: A good backlink comes from a trusted, relevant website. A bad backlink comes from a low-quality, spammy, or unrelated site.