To Dos:

Do Links Matter?

Examples

Tips

Questions?

WARNING:Any links intended to manipulate

ranking may be a violation of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.

Linking discretion is advised.

Do links matter?

Google says:1 & 2: Links & Content3: RankBrain

http://searchengineland.com/now-know-googles-top-three-search-ranking-factors-245882

https://builtvisible.com/how-google-works/

Prominence is also based on information that Google has about a business from across the web (like

links, articles, and directories). Google review count and score are factored into local search ranking: more reviews and positive ratings will probably improve a business's local ranking. Your position in web results is also a factor, so SEO best practices also apply to local search optimization.

https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091

Sure would be an awful waste of space.

- Carl Sagan

SEOs say:

http://www.localseoguide.com/guides/2016-local-seo-ranking-factors/

It looks like links are the key competitive differentiator even when it comes to Google My Business Rankings.

My own eyes:

Links to a local business site.

Same site’s number keywords with top 10 rankings over approx. same time.

Organic share of voice

High quality local links can have an enormous impact on a small business site's visibility in local search results.

Google (and the rest of the world):The best way to get links is to create unique, relevant content.

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/66356

Great content = Regularly naturally picks up enough links to outrank competition.

“Great Content”

You

Work for local links too:Local

Local

LocalLocal

Local

Scholarships?

The Don’t Go to Law School Scholarship.

Less work, many links.

Community Concerns

County Most Dangerous Intersections.

Less work, many links.

Just add water.

Make Maps

Make maps for local events.

Promote it:Organic SocialPaid SocialCustom AudiencesSearch AdsGoogle Display NetworkRetargeting

Get to know the people in your community.

Local link building is a lot less about link-begging and buying and much more about taking a leadership role and developing relationships in your local community.

Link Building

True, but they can still work!

Real Comments

Linkta

tion

Targeting local links

#1 Local Link

Prospecting Tool

http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators_reference.html

[city] inurl:resource

[city] inurl:sponsor

[city] site:top500.com

++

Find local link targets.

Crawl target sites.

Analyze link metrics.

Great combo for broken local link building.

+Export Top Share of Voice Pages for Target Local Queries

Analyze link metrics and find link opportunities

Great combo for prospecting across sites in a particular keyword set.

Assimilate Competitor Links

Oh hey, I can do that.

Experiment with not mentioning links as part of outreach.

Resist Domain Authority.

Local municipality link.

If you obsess overDomain Authority, you might miss these.

Make it their idea to link.

Don’t Fear nofollow.

If there’s any trick, it’s knowing the location.

neighborhoods

streets

charities

zip codes

counties

cities politicsevents

schools

reporters

peoplebusinessesplaces

area codeshistory

bloggers

night life