While the game is changing, manual link building is unlikely to become obsolete anytime soon. Robust link profiles will still be a vital part of SEO strategy in 2016 and beyond. So what should you know about link building to stay ahead of the curve in 2016? Let’s take a look.

Content marketing won’t replace link building

In today’s world of social media marketing, many digital marketers assume that if they invest in producing great content and sharing that content across social media, they will automatically accrue links. This simply isn’t true. In fact, a recent study by BuzzSumo and Moz found absolutely zero correlation between shares and links. “Across our total sample of 1m posts there was NO overall correlation of shares and links, implying people share and link for different reasons,” the authors of the study concluded. “The correlation of total shares and referring domain links across 750,000 articles was just 0.021.” So while an excellent content marketing strategy is certainly valuable, it isn’t going to help you build a robust link profile for SEO purposes. Ultimately, securing reputable, high-quality links does require consistent effort, meaning you need to engage in relationship building, strategic promotion, and audience research.

You need to take the time to find the right sources

“Gone are the days when you could just post links indiscriminately. Thanks to Google’s Penguin algorithm, this practice will get you flagged.”

And because Google is continually refining its Penguin algorithm—a process that will continue throughout 2016—it is important to get even more selective about where you are posting links. Keep in mind that Google will even launch a real-time Penguin algorithm update in 2016, meaning that they will be able to detect shady links as soon as they appear. When scouting for new link sources, you want to be on the look out for reputability and relevance. When ascertaining reputability, the key is to make sure you are choosing a source that many people use, read, and trust. When considering relevance, make sure you are choosing sources that are somehow linked to your business and your industry. The more relevant and reputable your sources, the more weight your links will have.

Google’s quality standards will only get higher

In just about every niche imaginable, the Internet is saturated with content. As a result, Google’s standards for content are always getting higher, as are users’ expectations. That means that only the best of the best is going to earn links, so it is becoming increasingly important to channel time and resources into developing the highest-quality content possible.

In just about every niche imaginable, the Internet is saturated with content. As a result, Google’s standards for content are always getting higher, as are users’ expectations. That means that only the best of the best is going to earn links, so it is becoming increasingly important to channel time and resources into developing the highest-quality content possible.

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