How to build backlinks for your Shopify store

Building backlinks is a crucial aspect of any successful SEO strategy, especially for Shopify stores.

High-quality backlinks not only improve your site’s authority and rankings but also drive targeted traffic and increase conversions.

This comprehensive guide will provide you with advanced strategies for building backlinks to your Shopify store, including internal linking best practices and leveraging the Juice SEO Shopify app.

Why backlinks are crucial for Shopify stores

Backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are links from one website to another. They play a vital role in SEO because they signal to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your site is likely to rank in search engine results pages (SERPs).

For Shopify stores, backlinks are essential for several reasons:

Increased visibility: Backlinks from reputable sites increase your site’s visibility, driving more organic traffic.
Higher rankings: Search engines like Google use backlinks as a ranking factor. Quality backlinks can boost your site’s authority and improve its ranking in SERPs.
Referral traffic: Backlinks from relevant websites bring targeted referral traffic, increasing the likelihood of conversions.
Brand authority: Being linked to by reputable sites enhances your brand’s credibility and authority in your niche.

Understanding the different types of backlinks

Not all backlinks are created equal. Understanding the different types of backlinks can help you focus on acquiring the most valuable ones for your Shopify store.

Editorial backlinks: These are natural backlinks earned when other websites link to your content because they find it valuable. Editorial backlinks are highly valuable and indicate strong content quality.
Guest blogging backlinks: By writing guest posts for other websites, you can include backlinks to your Shopify store. Ensure your guest posts are published on reputable sites with relevant audiences.
Business profile backlinks: These backlinks come from creating profiles on business directories, social media platforms, and other relevant sites. They help establish your online presence and provide valuable backlinks.
Niche-specific backlinks: Backlinks from websites within your niche or industry are more valuable than those from unrelated sites. They provide context and relevance, improving your site’s authority.
Backlinks from influencers: Collaborating with influencers can result in valuable backlinks from their websites or social media profiles, driving traffic and boosting credibility.

Conducting a backlink audit

Before starting your link-building campaign, it’s essential to conduct a backlink audit to understand your current backlink profile and identify areas for improvement. Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to analyze your backlinks.

Identify your existing backlinks: Compile a list of all backlinks pointing to your Shopify store. Categorize them based on their quality and relevance.
Analyze the quality of your backlinks: Evaluate the quality of your backlinks by considering factors such as domain authority, relevance, and anchor text.
Identify toxic backlinks: Toxic backlinks are low-quality or spammy links that can harm your SEO efforts. Use tools to identify and disavow these links.
Benchmark against competitors: Analyze your competitors’ backlink profiles to identify opportunities and gaps in your own strategy.

Developing a link-building strategy

A well-thought-out link-building strategy is essential for acquiring high-quality backlinks that boost your Shopify store’s SEO. Follow these steps to develop an effective strategy:

Set clear goals: Define your link-building objectives, such as improving rankings for specific keywords, increasing domain authority, or driving targeted traffic.
Identify target websites: Compile a list of reputable websites in your niche that you want to earn backlinks from. Look for sites with high domain authority, relevant content, and engaged audiences.
Create valuable content: Develop high-quality, valuable content that other websites will want to link to. This could include blog posts, infographics, guides, videos, and more.
Outreach and relationship building: Reach out to website owners, editors, and influencers in your niche to build relationships and request backlinks. Personalize your outreach and highlight the value your content provides.
Monitor and analyze results: Track the success of your link-building efforts using tools like Google Analytics and Ahrefs. Adjust your strategy based on the results and continue to refine your approach.

Creating link-worthy content

Creating link-worthy content is crucial for earning high-quality backlinks. Focus on producing content that is valuable, informative, and engaging. Here are some content types that tend to attract backlinks:

In-depth guides and tutorials: Comprehensive guides and tutorials provide valuable information that others will want to reference and link to. Ensure your guides are well-researched, detailed, and easy to follow.
Infographics and visual content: Visual content like infographics is highly shareable and can attract numerous backlinks. Create visually appealing infographics that present complex information in an easy-to-understand format.
Original research and case studies: Conducting original research or presenting case studies with unique insights can attract backlinks from industry websites and blogs. Ensure your research is thorough and well-documented.
List posts and resource compilations: List posts and resource compilations provide curated information that is valuable to readers. Create lists of tools, tips, or resources that are relevant to your niche.
Expert roundups and interviews: Featuring insights from industry experts in roundups or interviews can attract backlinks from the experts themselves and their audiences.

Guest blogging for backlinks

Guest blogging is an effective strategy for building backlinks while establishing yourself as an authority in your niche. Follow these steps to maximize the benefits of guest blogging:

Identify relevant websites: Look for reputable websites in your niche that accept guest posts. Focus on sites with high domain authority and engaged audiences.
Pitch compelling topics: Craft personalized pitches with compelling topics that align with the website’s audience and content. Highlight the value your guest post will provide.
Write high-quality content: Once your pitch is accepted, create high-quality, valuable content that meets the website’s guidelines. Include relevant backlinks to your Shopify store in the content.
Engage with the audience: After your guest post is published, engage with the website’s audience by responding to comments and sharing the post on social media.
Track and analyze results: Monitor the performance of your guest posts using tools like Google Analytics and Ahrefs. Track the backlinks and referral traffic generated from each guest post.

Building relationships for link building

Building strong relationships with industry influencers, bloggers, and website owners can significantly enhance your link-building efforts. Here are some strategies for relationship-based link building:

Engage on social media: Follow and engage with influencers and website owners on social media platforms. Share their content, leave thoughtful comments, and participate in discussions.
Attend industry events: Attend industry conferences, webinars, and networking events to connect with influencers and website owners in person or virtually.
Collaborate on content: Collaborate with influencers and website owners on content projects, such as co-authored blog posts, podcasts, or webinars. These collaborations can lead to valuable backlinks.
Offer value first: Provide value to influencers and website owners before asking for backlinks. Share their content, promote their projects, or offer to help with their initiatives.
Maintain long-term relationships: Build and maintain long-term relationships by staying in touch, sharing updates, and continuing to provide value.

Leveraging business profiles and directories

Creating business profiles and listing your Shopify store on relevant directories can help you acquire valuable backlinks and increase your online presence. Here are some steps to leverage business profiles and directories for link building:

Identify relevant directories: Look for industry-specific directories, general business directories, and local directories where you can list your Shopify store.
Create complete profiles: When creating business profiles, ensure all information is accurate and complete. Include your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and a detailed description.
Add high-quality images: Include high-quality images of your products, store, and logo in your business profiles. Visual content can make your profiles more appealing and trustworthy.
Encourage customer reviews: Positive customer reviews can enhance your business profiles and attract more visitors. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your profiles.
Update profiles regularly: Keep your business profiles updated with the latest information, products, and promotions. Regular updates show that your business is active and engaged.

Utilizing internal linking for SEO

Internal linking is a crucial aspect of SEO that involves linking to other pages within your website. It helps search engines understand the structure of your site and distributes link equity, improving your overall SEO performance. Here’s how to optimize your internal linking strategy:

Use descriptive anchor text: When creating internal links, use descriptive anchor text that accurately describes the linked content. Avoid using generic terms like “click here.”
Link to relevant content: Ensure your internal links are relevant and provide additional value to the reader. Link to related blog posts, product pages, or category pages.
Distribute link equity: Use internal links to distribute link equity across your site. Link from high-authority pages to newer or lower-authority pages to boost their rankings.
Create a logical structure: Organize your content in a logical structure with clear hierarchies. Use internal links to guide users and search engines through your site.
Regularly audit internal links: Regularly audit your internal links to ensure they are working correctly and providing value. Fix any broken links and update outdated links.

Internal linking with Juice SEO app

The Juice SEO app is an invaluable tool for managing and optimizing your internal linking strategy on Shopify. Here’s how to leverage the app to boost your SEO efforts:

Automate internal linking: The Juice SEO app automates the process of creating internal links, saving you time and ensuring your site is well-linked. The app analyzes your content and suggests relevant internal links based on keywords and context.
Track and manage links: With the Juice SEO app, you can easily track and manage all your internal links. The app provides insights into which links are performing well and which need improvement.
Improve user experience: By ensuring your internal links are relevant and helpful, the Juice SEO app enhances the user experience on your site. Visitors can easily navigate to related content, keeping them engaged and on your site longer.
Boost search engine rankings: Effective internal linking helps search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your site. The Juice SEO app ensures your internal links are optimized, improving your chances of ranking higher in search results.
Regular updates and maintenance: The Juice SEO app continuously monitors your internal links, alerting you to any broken or outdated links. This allows you to maintain a healthy and optimized internal linking structure.

Creating shareable content for backlinks

Creating content that others want to share and link to is key to earning high-quality backlinks. Here are some strategies to create shareable content:

Develop comprehensive guides: Comprehensive guides and how-to articles are valuable resources that attract backlinks. Ensure your guides are detailed, well-researched, and provide actionable insights.
Produce engaging infographics: Infographics are visually appealing and easy to share. Create infographics that present complex information in a simple and visually appealing format. Promote them on social media and outreach to relevant websites for backlinks.
Conduct original research: Original research and data-driven content are highly link-worthy. Conduct surveys, analyze industry trends, and publish your findings. Other websites will link to your research as a credible source of information.
Write listicles and roundups: Listicles and roundup posts are popular content formats that attract backlinks. Create lists of the best tools, tips, or resources in your niche. Reach out to the featured websites and influencers to let them know they’ve been included.
Publish expert interviews: Interviews with industry experts can attract backlinks from the experts themselves and their followers. Conduct insightful interviews and publish them on your blog. Promote the interviews on social media and notify the experts for additional shares and backlinks.

Building backlinks through outreach

Outreach is a proactive link-building strategy that involves reaching out to website owners, bloggers, and influencers to request backlinks. Here’s how to conduct effective outreach:

Identify target websites: Compile a list of websites in your niche that you want to earn backlinks from. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to find websites with high domain authority and relevant content.
Personalize your outreach: Craft personalized outreach emails for each website. Mention specific details about their content and explain why your content would be a valuable addition. Personalization increases the likelihood of a positive response.
Highlight mutual benefits: Explain the mutual benefits of linking to your content. Highlight how your content can add value to their readers and enhance their content.
Follow up: If you don’t receive a response to your initial email, follow up after a few days. Keep your follow-up concise and polite, reiterating the value of your content.
Track your outreach efforts: Use tools like BuzzStream or Pitchbox to manage and track your outreach efforts. Monitor which emails get responses and adjust your approach based on the results.

Leveraging social media for link building

Social media platforms are powerful tools for promoting your content and building backlinks. Here’s how to use social media effectively:

Share your content: Regularly share your blog posts, infographics, and other content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Use engaging captions and relevant hashtags to increase visibility.
Engage with your audience: Engage with your followers by responding to comments, answering questions, and participating in discussions. Building a strong social media presence can lead to more shares and backlinks.
Join relevant groups and communities: Participate in industry-related groups and communities on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit. Share your content when relevant and contribute valuable insights to build your reputation.
Collaborate with influencers: Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your content. Influencers can help you reach a broader audience and attract high-quality backlinks.
Run social media campaigns: Launch social media campaigns to promote your content. Contests, giveaways, and challenges can encourage users to share your content and link back to your site.

Monitoring and analyzing your link-building efforts

Regularly monitoring and analyzing your link-building efforts is crucial for success. Use the following tools and strategies to track your progress:

Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics to track referral traffic from backlinks. Monitor which backlinks are driving the most traffic and conversions.
Ahrefs: Ahrefs is a powerful tool for analyzing your backlink profile. Use it to track new and lost backlinks, analyze your competitors’ backlinks, and identify opportunities for link building.
SEMrush: SEMrush provides comprehensive backlink analysis and tracking. Use it to monitor your backlinks, identify toxic links, and discover new link-building opportunities.
Monitor keyword rankings: Track the impact of your link-building efforts on your keyword rankings. Use tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to monitor changes in rankings for your target keywords.
Adjust your strategy: Based on your analysis, adjust your link-building strategy to focus on the most effective tactics. Continuously refine your approach to improve your results.

The verdict…

Building high-quality backlinks is essential for the success of your Shopify store.

By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can effectively acquire valuable backlinks, improve your search engine rankings, and drive targeted traffic to your site.

Remember to focus on creating link-worthy content, conducting outreach, leveraging social media, and using tools like the Juice SEO app to optimize your internal linking strategy.

Regularly monitor and analyze your link-building efforts to ensure continuous improvement.