What is a Natural Link?
A natural link is a backlink you get organically without having to ask someone for it. Such an organic backlink is earned and not created.
Many SEOs think that they are hard to get because it is all about presenting convincing content that is so impactful that a website gives you a backlink.
However, it seems difficult but is not impossible. It all depends on the effort you put in to produce impressive content rather than asking others or paying them to give you a backlink.
Qualities of a natural link
A natural link can have the following qualities that can differentiate them from unnatural links:
Natural links are not paid for, as paid links are typically considered spam backlinks and can negatively impact your website's SEO efforts.
Unlike unnatural links that may use JavaScript or other tools to redirect users to different pages, natural links lead users directly to the intended destination without any redirection.
Natural links are typically found within relevant content on the host's web page and provide additional information or value to users. This means they are placed organically and contextually, making them more valuable to both users and search engines.
Difference between natural and unnatural links
Natural links are the backlinks that have a good impact on SEO and are a result of all legitimate efforts.
On the other hand, all the backlinks that involve spammy practices or require you to pay for them are unnatural links.
Unnatural backlinks are gained by manipulative techniques that come in the category of black hat SEO.
It is important to note that not all SEO-friendly backlinks are considered natural links. For example, if you exchange backlinks, it can be good for your SEO, but these are neither organic nor natural.
How do natural links influence SEO?
Gaining natural links is indeed the safest and most effective way to improve search engine rankings and excel in off-site SEO.
It is important to note that natural links may not fit neatly within a traditional link-building process or an active SEO campaign, as they should ideally occur organically and without direct influence from the website owner seeking to boost their domain authority and popularity.
Rather than focusing on aggressive link-building tactics, website owners should concentrate on creating high-quality, valuable, and shareable content that naturally attracts backlinks from reputable sources.
Link building through guest posts, advertorials, business directory listings and other such techniques is also considered a good way to improve SEO, but this will only get a website up to a certain level of domain authority.
Quality natural links can take it a step further. The only way website owners can increase their chances of earning natural links is to create quality content that others will find relevant and useful enough to quote and reference.
Why are natural links important?
Natural links are important in SEO in the following way:
Increase traffic
Organic links will also attract organic traffic, and it is the best reward for your efforts. It is because inorganic traffic can cost you a lot.
Also, it is likely that you pay more for advertisements or campaigns and do not get the required results.
Improve ranking
Natural links will bring more organic traffic, and the result will be a good ranking of your website.
The search engine keeps the user experience as one of the top priorities, which is why the more users reach your content, the more ranking it will get.
Improve credibility
Natural links speak of your website’s credibility because it is not easy to gain a “vote of confidence” organically.
If you are able to get a position where you are organically linked to other pages, your domain is actually credible.
Brand recognition
They also increase the exposure of your brand and increase brand recognition. It means that the more natural backlinks you gain, the more people will recognise your business.
How to earn a natural link?
Although natural links are difficult to get and natural link building is a slow process, you need to invest your time and effort in earning them.
Quality content
The most crucial strategy to gain natural links is to write quality content. Any content will be quality content if it is fresh, unique, informational, satisfactory, natural, and interesting.
However, it is not defined by all these qualities in a single piece of content, but it should be satisfying enough to answer users’ queries and bring more users to your website.
Such type of content may include infographics, tools, case studies, surveys, new information, newsworthy stuff, etc.
Also, because you are the content owner, you need to make sure to bring authentic information to the people.
Guest blogging
Some SEOs say that guest blogging is not part of natural link building, while others think it is. This difference of opinion arises because we define natural links as backlinks that are not asked for.
On the other hand, guest posts are only published when you write quality content. To settle this debate, it is helpful to focus on the best practices for link-building strategies.
As long as a link-building approach is not manipulative or deemed spammy by search engines, it can be considered acceptable and beneficial, regardless of the specific label assigned to it.
Social media
Your personal social media is all about you, which is why it is a good place to promote your content among your followers.
If the content is interesting, it is likely that your followers may share it with their followers, and you get recognition.
Takeaway
Natural links are important for several reasons. They increase traffic, improve rankings, improve credibility, and increase brand recognition.
To earn natural links, you need to invest time and effort into creating quality content, including infographics, case studies, surveys, and newsworthy information.
Remember that natural link building is a slow process, but it is worth the effort to improve your website's authority and popularity.