The Future of Link Building: Build Links This Way

Some website owners use other tools and algorithms for SEO rather than link-building. But, according to link stats from Ahrefs, link building is still very important for generating organic traffic in SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) strategy. Google rates backlinks as one of the top three search ranking factors in link building, and research has shown that the more backlinks on a page, the more organic traffic a website will receive from Search Engines. In addition, 92% of marketers consider links to be an important ranking criterion in link building over the next five years. 

What is Involved in Building a Link?

Link building is a tool used in digital marketing to link other websites to yours. Building links involves making your business known on various digital platforms.

When you link to other websites, your website increases incoming traffic via backlinks. When used effectively, link building in digital marketing enables websites to rank higher in search and provides exceptional user experiences. When a website has several backlinks from what others consider authorities in their particular market e.g., businesses and publications, this website will perform better in SEO.

Building Links: the Basics for Backlinks

Building links involves acquiring natural backlinks from quality, reliable sources that are happy to link to your website content. When Google notices that other websites see you as an authority in your subject and link to your website, you will rank higher in a search through every link you have. To do this, your first step is to create quality content, information that people enjoy reading and that makes them return to the website time and again. When you do that, other websites will be willing to link to you.

5 Important Methods of Building Backlinks

1.  Resource Page Link-Building

According to Semrush, this type of link building is the simplest and most effective way to build links. Resource pages are reference pages that offer links to websites for particular subjects, from covering SEO tips to listing the best pet groomers. To be featured in a link on these pages, you fill in a form, and within minutes, your website is included as a backlink. You can find other resource page opportunities for building links, according to Google, “by looking at which pages already link to your competitors”. Semrush also has a Backlink Analytics Tool, a backlink checker that evaluates and compares link profiles when you enter a domain name.

2.  Finding Every Broken Link

Semrush describes broken links as “dead links on other websites”. The trick is to convince web admin to replace a broken link with a link to your website. The most common broken link is one that gives you an error code such as ‘404 Not Found’, which shows that the page has been deleted. Other examples of broken links, or hyperlinks that don’t work, include those where the URL hasn’t been formatted correctly, or when the structure of a website, or its URL changes.

3.  Using the Skyscraper Technique for Building a Link

This involves creating content that is of much better quality than other content that currently ranks high in SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). When you can outrank a website, you’re basically the higher skyscraper, and you will replace that website as a backlink. Website SEOClarity.net describes the process in three steps:

• Step 1: Finding relevant content that ranks high and has several backlinks.
• Step 2: Bettering the existing content by providing updated information, research and/or visuals as a link.
• Step 3: Creating an email campaign that secures backlinks to your new content.

4.  Checking out Your Competitors’ Backlinks

Semrush has a Back Link Gap tool where you enter domain names of up to four of your competitors, and view their backlinks.

5.  Asking Customers to Provide Testimonials

Customer comments are read avidly by prospective clients, so make sure you have several positive testimonials on your website and use each as a back link. You can also ensure you let websites know every time you link to a blog, or other website copy.

6.  Linking Your Suppliers to Build Credibility

Link those suppliers your business uses on your website; this is a great link-building tool. If your company has won any awards, link those associations that have awarded you, too. For instance, our sister website, maake, lists that we are ‘Winner of the 2023 awards for Most Ethical Fabric & Best Custom Printing’. We also provide links to all our trusted customers, including the BBC, Netflix, Burberry and many more. Remember: every link counts!

Link Quality Versus Quantity

Before you build links, do plenty of research, so you know how to build links correctly. The higher the quality of your backlink, the more authority and trust the website has, the more likely your link-building will be effective. The aim is to make Google see your website as an extension of your business and consider you as an authority in your field.

You also need to build good relationships with other websites, and link them to your website. Ensure these websites are reputable before you link to them. Beware of spam. Remember: even if you can only find one authentic, reputable website link, that’s fine. Google will reward you accordingly.

Link Building in 2026

Link-building has changed in 2026. According to an article on The Search Engine Journal, link-building strategies aren’t what they used to be. “Because search engines have evolved,” the article tells us, “links now serve two masters: Google’s algorithm and AI model training data. Ignoring this means losing search engine rankings (and watching your bottom line suffer).”

The author explains the importance of LLMO, or language model optimisation, and how it differs from SEO. LLMO, it says, “is the process of tuning your website so that AI systems and virtual assistants can easily find, read and surface your content”.

Although both SEO and LLMO focus on improving a website’s online visibility, they “have different channels and approaches,” he explains. We know that “SEO concentrates on increasing website rankings on traditional search engines like Google” and bases “its strategy on keywords”. LLMO, however, “focuses on increasing website and brand mentions on AI-powered search tools”, which, he believes, emphasises “brand visibility, semantic relevance and concise content”.

The difference? “Instead of cramming in keywords like SEO, LLMO focuses on clear, concise answers wrapped in natural language. This helps AI systems pull your text straight into their generated responses.”

Yes, AI is super important now, and it’s changing users’ behaviour. According to another study by Semrush, “AI search visitors will surpass traditional search visitors by 2026” – using LLMO. Because of this, Google has “expanded its use of AI overviews and launched its own AI model, AI Mode” which uses LLMO to work.

Important Points to Remember When Building Links

Content is Still King

Content quality remains the focus when link-building. Search engines evaluate information based on its quality and relevance, how it engages the user and how organic backlinks can be created as a result.

User Experience is Vital

User Experience (UX) is vital in every backlink strategy. Search Engines are focusing on websites that are reached via a link providing an entertaining experience for users. The more pleasurable the experience, the more backlinks it will attract.

Consider Mobile Devices

Sure, we all have computers, but many people are using their mobiles. Websites need to take this into account and be designed accordingly so that link-building is designed to work well on mobile devices. This offers an incredible opportunity for cultivating many more backlinks.

The Importance of Social Media

We all know how Social Media influences every aspect of our lives – business included. The more your app or website receives audience attention on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter, the more backlinks it is likely to receive.

The Power of Video Content

Let’s not forget how powerful video content can be. When you use video content on your website, you can receive video-related backlinks. This invariably results in improved Search Engine rankings.

Link Building Tools to Use with AI

These days, AI is doing much more than assisting you write effective copy and make you consider LLMO. It also looks at your website to see which content is trending, how users are reacting to your content and what your competitors are doing.

This way, it can help you create content that your users and search engines will respond to and link to their own websites. AI is robotic, which is why you must ensure you never lose that human element, as this will affect your brand’s authenticity.

Remember: it’s best to use various valuable AI tools available to your advantage, including when it comes to link-building and LLMO. Use them to assist you, not to take over.

Building Links in the Future

As technology progresses, we can expect many easier link-building methods. We’ll also have other AI tools aside from LLMO. Here are a few predictions of future link-building trends:

Using Interactive Content in a Link:

If you include different content formats like VR, infographics and other interactive tools in linkbuilding, this would increase the likelihood of your website being linked to others, and would also increase how many people visit your site. It’s a good idea to be more interactive on your website, as this will make the links you are building more likely to be used as references.

Using Video & Visuals in a Link:

Video marketing has become a popular tool because of its effectiveness, and, according to statistics on Hootsuite, short-form videos are extremely powerful; they are watched by around 139 million Instagram viewers every minute. Websites also optimise these videos for SEO, using relevant keywords. Sharing videos is also extremely common, which is basically link-building.

Catering to Voice Search Queries in Links:

More and more website users are using smart speakers and voice search. As a result, marketers need to consider using link-building strategies that focus on this. Audio formats, SEO that reacts to voice search through long-tail keywords and voice-activated content are all likely to be used in link building.

So, start now when you are building links to make sure your content is created so that it answers specific questions that searchers are likely to ask.

Collaborating with Influencers:

Influencer marketing is being used by many businesses to build brand awareness and expand their audience. And this is likely to improve in the future. After all, influencers have a distinct, very loyal following, who engage with them constantly.

This can certainly help a website that partners with these influencers and provides links to them on its websites. This can help you build top-notch backlinks that authenticate your authority and build a trusted audience through recommendations.

The Importance of Content Quality in Link Building

Content quality has always been important when building links, and it’s likely to be even more important in the future. Search engines will concentrate on choosing websites with relevant content that offers top-notch material.

The more well-researched your website, the better. The more relevant your material is to the subject matter and the more your content engages the audience, the better. This is how your website can achieve high rankings in search engines and attract backlinks. So ensure that the information you include on your website is exactly what your audience wants, and that it shows you’re an authority in your subject.

What to Focus on With Every Backlink

We know that the future of backlinks will change online. So, when building links, focus on:

• The quality and relevance of your content.
• The user experience that your website offers.
• Emerging trends like using mobiles instead of laptops, Social Media, voice search, videos, and other interactive content.
• Keeping ahead of the pack so that you drive more traffic to your website and also increase your rankings on search engines through SEO.

Link-Building in the Future

The more aware you are of what is likely to change, and the more you’re prepared to ready yourself to make those changes when link-building, the more likely you are to keep your website optimised. Monitor the changes in link building that are currently transforming websites, and be prepared to take chances. Keep your website real and provide your readers with value. If you do this, the future is bright.