Social Media Link Building: The Best Bang for Your Bucks

Social media at first glance may seem like a night out.  It’s your secret route to SEO riches.

If you’re asking yourself how “no-dancers” (those with two left feet) are boosting brands on social media faster than Sha’Carri Richardson can run, you aren’t the only one.

In this guide, I’m about to spill the tea. There’s a new player in town, and she’s ‘kicking butt’ and taking names: “Social Media Link Building“

So, if you’re ready to master proven backlinking tactics that are highly effective, keep reading. Get ready to increase your website’s authority and drive organic traffic … let’s get to stepping.

– Follow me …

Social Media Link Building: The Secret Weapon You Didn’t Know You Had

Forget the breakdancing routines and exhausting content creation marathons that haven’t yielded results. Looking for the hidden gem in social media marketing that can help you boost your domain authority, it’s been right there, in plain sight. “The Social”.

Yes, you don’t have to adjust your glasses. The same platforms used to connect with friends and followers can be used intentionally to build high-quality backlinks. Intrigued? We thought so.

This post will unveil the magic of social media link-building. This will be the best 9-minute read because you’ll get actionable strategies and real-world examples.

 Let’s get started!

What is Social Media Link Building?

Social media link building is the systematic process of obtaining backlinks (preferably high-quality) to your website via social media platforms.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Backlinks: Links that point back to your site from other websites. Every time a website backlinks to your website, this tells Google that it’s trustworthy.
• Social media platforms: Examples of social media platforms are Facebook, IG, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, and any other network, of the kind. (But there are the top ones.) From those networks, you can share content and build a tribe.

Now, how do these two seemingly separate things come together?

 Catch the magic:

• Creating high-quality, engaging social media content increases the chances of other websites and influencers referencing and linking to you.
• You can strategically participate in online communities and discussions, naturally weaving links to your content to add value to the conversation.

Think of it like this: social media is a bustling marketplace for ideas. When visitors gain valuable insights and resources, they will likely follow, share, and buy your product or service.

I can read your mind, you’re thinking social media is about watching dogs meowing and cats barking, right? Those days are over. You won’t believe the professional services that market on social media, you name it, they’re there, even mortuary services… (creepy, not necessary)

Get this: mortuaries, doctors (discussing STDs), lawyers, accountants, truckers, construction—you name it, TikTok or other social media platforms claim it.

 Social media can help you get the word out about your business build brand awareness, generate leads, and ‘yes’ improve their SEO ranking.

How to Create Social Media Links: A Step-by-Step Approach

Now, let’s move on to social media link-building fundamentals and practical steps.

Here’s a detailed guide to get you started:

Step 1: Content is King (and Queen)

The foundation of any successful social media link-building strategy is exceptional content. Remember, you’re not just creating posts, you’re crafting valuable resources that people will want to share and reference.

Here are some content pillars to focus on:

•   Guides: People want to be told what to do directly. And they prefer a complete guide that will work them through from start to finish. Here is an example of a guide with actional tips, Search Engine Optimization Copywriting.

•   Data Insights: You may have noticed that data is driving business. Big businesses started connecting data years ago. Now third-party cookies, can connect, store, and use our data to (what they call better service us). Businesses crave data-backed information. 

•   Case Studies: Success leaves clues, and you can use those successes to demonstrate your offering can fix your audience’s problems.

•  Interactive Content: We’ve all heard the term “crickets. Something you don’t want to experience as a business trying to connect with your market. One way to avoid this is by incorporating” Quizzes, polls, Or open-ended questions. This encourages engagement and more content-sharing.

Step 2: Selecting the Right Network

Everybody isn’t your target audience. The key is finding where the largest group of your audience hangs. Identify where they are and meet me there.

Detailed Strategies for Each Platform:

• LinkedIn is known for its large group of professionals. LinkedIn is Ideal for B2B businesses, you can find CEOs, COO, or any other C. You can see them there. (A little corny but you catch my drift, right). That’s where the big dogs hang. Here you want to share helpful articles, stories, and emerging trends. 

• Twitter:  If you are the kind of people who keep abreast of new trends and new ones, Twitter is your platform. And the Twitter community devours such content. Just remember to use relevant hashtags.  Engage in trending conversations with relevant hashtags.

• Facebook: There are mixed content strategies regarding Facebook. Experts say Facebook is tripping, but still worth your time. The overall sentiments of Facebook groups are the goldmine. Search your industry and join a group.

• Instagram: If you love viewing stunning visuals and having an audience that does as well then IG is one of the best choices, Pinterest is the ultimate for imagery. IG is known to be the place where you can find the most influencers and where they are influencers there are potential customers.

Step 3: Optimize for Shareability

Creating amazing content is just the beginning. Make it irresistibly shareable.

 Four quick Tips:

•   Visual Attraction: Humans think in pictures. (word pictures) Adding eye-catching images, infographics, and videos is worth the time and will set your content apart. A picture is worth a thousand words, and what’s better is shareable.

•   Convincing Headlines: Unfortunately, you can write the best content ever written in history. (A bit much, I know…) but NO one will know if you don’t get past first base, if the headline or Title sucks. Crafting attention-grabbing headlines is vital. Use strong verbs and ‘power words’ to pique curiosity.

•   Social Sharing Buttons: Although people are online, they still want, easy. My hubby’s favorite slogan. Don’t make it hard for me to spend my money. Buttons are bold, so displaying them prominently grabs your audience’s attention.

•   Encourage Engagement: Don’t be afraid of talking to our audience. They will notice and you will too. Talk “at them” and they won’t respond. One way to encourage engagement is by running polls. Active engagement sparks conversations and increases the likelihood of sharing.

Stories Sales Facts Tell …we are emotional creatures to produce shareable content.

People love stories, they are memorable and sharable.

Sharing your story will touch other people who have the same or similar stories. They will relate and share with other like-minded people. This type of sharable content creates an invaluable backlinking environment. not

Step 4: Build Relationships with Influencers

Influencers can be powerful alliesStep 4: Build Relationships with Influencers

Influencers are known to be powerful allies in your link-building journey. Find influencers in your niche and see how you can build a mutually beneficial relationship.

Try these 3 strategies for starts:

•  Engage with them:   Start following influencers and engaging on their preferred social media platform. Comment, share, and demonstrate how their content has helped your brand improve. 

•  Offer Value: Don’t approach asking for favors, instead offer value by adding to their point of view.

•  Content Collaboration:  Work with influencers and co-create to tap into their audience.

It’s like trying to find a friend with benefits… as long as you have something of value to offer, you’re good. In your link-building journey, Find influencers in your niche and build relationships with them. Here’s how:

• Engage with Their Content: Start by following influencers and engaging with their content. Share their posts, comment on their insights, and show genuine interest in their work.
• Offer Value: Don’t just ask for favors. Offer value by sharing their content, providing feedback, or collaborating on projects.
• Collaborate on Content: Co-create content with influencers to expand your reach and tap into their audience.
• Reach Out Strategically: When you’ve built a relationship, consider reaching out to propose guest posting opportunities or collaborations.

It’s like trying to find a friend with benefits… as long as you have something of value to offer, you’re good.

Step 5: Leverage Social Bookmarking Sites

WStep 5: Use Social Bookmarking Sites

Social bookmarking sites used to be the rage, however, they’re not as popular as they were but are valuable sources of backlinks. Platforms like Tumblr, Reddit, and StumbleUpon can help attract new audiences and potentially backlinks.

•  Find Relevant Subreddits: Although Reddit is as strict as a drill sergeant it’s worth the headache some say. (They get on my last nerve) Look for subreddits related to your niche and contribute valuable content to discussions, but don’t cross the line, they will kick you off, quickly!

•  Create Engaging Posts: What justifies compelling content?  Write compelling titles and descriptions that include info that will help readers solve a problem.

•  Contribute Actively: Engage with other users by upvoting, sharing, and commenting.

• Find Relevant Subreddits: Find subreddits related to your niche and contribute valuable content to discussions.
• Create Engaging Posts: Write compelling titles and descriptions that entice people to click and bookmark your content.
• Participate Actively: Engage with other users by commenting, upvoting, and sharing content.

I must be honest here—I strongly disliked Reddit; I keep getting banned. They send you a nastygram, basically telling you not to come back. Of course, it’s never my fault, not intentionally anyway. If anybody knows the secret to getting in good with Reddit, let me know. 😉hile not as popular as they were, social bookmarking sites can still be a valuable source of backlinks. Platforms like Reddit, Digg, and StumbleUpon can help you reach new audiences and potentially earn valuable links.

Step 6: Monitor and Analyze

One of my mentors’ favorite quotes is, inspect what you expect. This means to track your progress and adjust your strategy appropriately.

Use analytics tools (each social media platform offers analytics) to measure engagement, demographics, click-through rates (CTR), and more. Identify what’s working and what’s not and make data-driven adjustments to your approach.

Measuring Success:

Use Google Analytics to trace metrics like bounce rate, and conversion rates. Tools like Moz can break down your backlink profile, giving you a backlining overview.

Regularly analyze this data to adjust your strategies. For instance, your business blog discovered that most of its high-quality backlinks came from Pinterest.  So, you’ll want to give your readers more of what they like. Feel the fish what they like, not what you like.

Advanced Tips & Techniques:

Utilize UTM parameters to track the performance of your social media links and understand which platforms are driving the most traffic. Tools like BuzzSumo can find and connect with influencers in your niche.

For example, one marketing firm tracked its LinkedIn success and found that posts with industry reports generated the most backlinks. Source: (HubSpot, 2022)

Yep, one of the most overlooked benefits of social media platforms is their analytics. But many newbie marketers, don’t know how to leverage the data in their favor.

Here’s how my Pinterest analytics look:

It gives demographic details, age, gender, and location, so you can aim your message right at the center of the target.

Social Media Link-Building Examples

Social Media Link-Building Examples

Explained is the potential power of social media link-building,

Here are 2 real-world examples:

Example 1: Buffer, a popular social media management tool, that can help build profile links.

Biffer constantly shares high-quality content, collaborates with influencers, and engages with their audience, which increases your visibility.

Example 2: Neil Patel, an expert SEO marketer, shares a mix of original content, and long-form articles, and actively engages with his audience, and other industry experts.

This approach has earned him millions of followers and countless backlinks.

More Practical Examples:

Consider the case of Moz, a well-known SEO tool. They used Twitter chats and Reddit AMAs (Ask Me Anything) to engage their audience and provide useful SEO tips. This interactive approach led to thousands of backlinks from blog posts.

Another example is a small local restaurant using Instagram stories to showcase behind-the-scenes content. This approach attracted food bloggers who linked to the restaurant’s website in their reviews.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Avoid link spamming... Instead, focus on adding interesting and informative content to conversations. Engage genuinely with your audience rather than self-promoting.

For example, a startup faced backlash for aggressively posting links in online forums without participating in discussions, resulting in negative perceptions. (although this happens often, avoid spamming forums)

 After being criticized, they shifted to offering helpful advice and casually linking to their site, improving the backlink profile and reputation.

Future Trends and Developments:

Want to stay at the top of your game, incorporate social media platforms as they emerge.

 Short-form videos are expected to be the next big thing. Create short videos to drive followers to your long-form content or longer YT videos.

 Instead, they shifted to giving helpful answers and casually linking to their site, which improved their reputation and backlink profile.

Future Trends and Developments:

Stay updated with emerging platforms like Clubhouse for audio content or use LinkedIn’s new features for professional networking.

 Keep an eye on, trends like short-form videos (e.g., Instagram Reels, TikTok). For example, a digital marketing agency used Instagram Reels to showcase quick marketing tips, gaining new followers and backlinks from marketing blogs that featured their content (Source: Social Media Examiner, 2022).

New TikTok Feature: TikTok Shopping

 TikTok Shopping (New Feature)

TikTok “TikTok Shopping.” Allows creators to integrate their e-commerce platforms directly with TikTok, encouraging buyers to spend without leaving the app.

This seamless shopping experience streamlines the buying process.

Setting Up Your TikTok Shop: A Quick Start Guide

To get started with TikTok Shopping and set up your TikTok Shop, follow these steps:

1.            Visit TikTok Seller Center:

 Create an account using your existing TikTok credentials or a new email and phone number.

 This is also where you’ll manage your TikTok Shop, including product listings and sales.

2. Verify Your Business:

Next, you’ll need to provide verification documents. For individuals, a government-issued ID. For businesses, a business license or registration.

3. Organize Your Shop:

Once verified, start stocking your TikTok Shop. You can do this manually or use a platform like Shopify, through integration. Ensure product details are inclusive, including high-quality images and helpful descriptions.

4. Customize Your Shop:

Enhance your shop by setting up a Product Showcase, where users can easily browse and purchase items. Use shoppable videos and live streams to enhance engagement, linking products directly to streamline the purchase process.

5. Promote Your Shop:

Use TikTok’s ad options like TopView ads, In-Feed ads, and branded effects to reach a wider audience. Increase your reach with influencers and collaborators.

6. Monitor and Adjust:

Use tracking tools to trace your performance. Regularly update your product listings and adjust your marketing strategies based on data-driven metrics.

For more details refer to resources such as the TikTok Shop Guide by Social Pilot.

Ethical Considerations:

Tips to keep in mind. Always be transparent about sponsored content and partnerships with influencers. Authenticity is key; keep it real by not buying followers or likes, as these practices are short-lived and will eventually damage your credibility and trust.

Does Social Media Still Work for SEO?

Absolutely! While the algorithm has evolved (to put it nicely!), social media remains a powerful tool for SEO. (Although, some shenanigans are going on between Chat and Google) Having a strong presence on social media isn’t a direct ranking factor, but it can indirectly influence your search rankings.

Here’s how:

• Heightened Visibility: social media can boost website traffic and potential backlinks.
• Boost Brand Reputation: You can positively impact your search rankings by enhancing your social media engagement.
• Enhance CTR: social media can improve your click-through rates  (CTR) and, in turn, boost your search rankings

“Social media link building is a long-term strategy. It takes time, effort, and consistency, also known as blood, sweat, and tears before achieving positive outcomes.

High-quality content, relationship building, and selecting the right platforms will induce Google to promote your rankings. 

Conclusion:

Now you’re armed with the knowledge to add social media link-building to your arsenal. 

Remember “Social media link building will enhance your SEO strategy.

Here’s a recap of how to stay ahead of the rivals.

Recap:

• Use social media platforms to achieve high-quality backlinks.
• Craft shareable, engaging, and informative content.
• Form authentic relationships with influencers.
• Monitor and modify your strategy based on real data.

Now it’s your turn.  We hope our post helps you in your backlinking endeavors.

But the only way we’d know is from your feedback.

Please share our thoughts and comments, that will help us tremendously.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget we offer even more small business marketing tips on our blog.