When promoting a website, you’ll inevitably encounter the strategy of link building. Backlinks remain the most important ranking factor to this day. I would rank them as the number one factor, contributing to about 50% of overall promotion efforts. Google recommends focusing on your site, improving usability, and creating quality content to naturally attract backlinks. While this is true, it could take years for your business to grow to the point where authoritative sites start linking to you. Google doesn’t address how to survive during this time. This is where SEO and link building come into play – offering a way to speed up the process and engage in a constant back-and-forth with Google to earn high rankings.
Why Website Owners Avoid Link Building
Why do so many website owners avoid link building? The simple answer: it’s expensive. You’ve probably seen offers for 1,000 links for $20, promising instant success. While this might give you a temporary boost, your site will likely crash just as quickly. Quality links cost money. On average, a good backlink costs around $100, and most businesses need about 10 per month, depending on their niche.
Outreach as an Alternative to Link Building
Outreach is another way to obtain backlinks, often perceived as “free.” The process involves finding websites relevant to your niche that meet quality standards. To earn a backlink, you need to offer something valuable in return. In most cases, this is high-quality content, though sometimes it involves content and money, or just money. It’s important to distinguish this from simple affiliate link exchanges.
Is SEO Without Backlinks Possible?
If you’re reading this, you might be wondering: is SEO without backlinks even possible?
Yes, it is – but with caveats…
The Cost of SEO Without Backlinks
Much like outreach, SEO without backlinks comes with a price. Imagine launching a new site in a competitive niche. Your competitors have been around for 10 years and have hundreds of backlinks, while you have none. As I mentioned earlier, backlinks are crucial for speeding up promotion and competing at the same level.
If you’re set on avoiding backlinks, the cost is content. This follows Google’s guidelines, but while natural, it’s often an expensive and time-consuming approach. Let me explain why.
The Role of Content in SEO Without Backlinks
Take, for example, a dental services website in a large city. Competitors in the top 10 search results have been established for years, each boasting hundreds of backlinks. Targeting high-volume commercial keywords like “Dentist [City]” will likely keep your site invisible for years without backlinks.
A content-focused strategy shifts towards producing blog articles targeting long-tail, low-competition keywords. For instance, “How can I prevent tooth decay if I love eating donuts?” Skilled SEO specialists can identify these types of keywords, forming the backbone of a successful content strategy. To implement this, you have two options: handle it yourself (if you have the expertise) or work with a SEO and digital marketing agency in Calgary.
The Importance of Low-Frequency Keywords
Content for these niche queries often faces little competition, meaning your site can rank without backlinks. This content attracts visitors, who can potentially convert into customers. However, the demand for such keywords is often minimal – perhaps five searches per month. Realistically, one or two readers may convert into clients from a single article. Now, consider how many articles and how much time it would take to reach meaningful results.
Crafting High-Quality Content for SEO
So far, we’ve only touched on the foundation of content strategy: finding the right low-frequency keywords. The real challenge lies in consistently producing unique, high-quality content. This requires attention to detail, including author credibility, proper optimization, relevant graphics, and internal linking to promote commercial pages.
How Much Content is Necessary?
While link building typically requires around 10 backlinks per month for effective SEO, content remains essential regardless. If you forgo link building entirely, the question becomes: how much content is necessary to achieve results within a year? It’s not just one or two articles per month. Realistically, you’d need at least 10 articles monthly – ideally 20. Each piece must be optimized and high-quality, not just filler. Producing this level of content requires investing in skilled professionals.
Final Thoughts on Content-Driven SEO
Many business owners believe their expertise allows them to write extensively about their field. While this is true, there’s a difference between writing from experience and crafting SEO-optimized content that drives traffic. It’s not as simple as it sounds.
If this sounds overwhelming, consider reaching out to expert SEO Calgary. A professional team can help you navigate the complexities of content-driven SEO, ensuring your site grows and thrives without relying heavily on backlinks.
