Ever wondered how to boost your website's ranking without resorting to shady tactics? Many people worry about Google penalties after hearing horror stories of websites plummeting in search results. This is where a tactic called white hat link building can help you get some great results.

White hat link building is about playing by the rules. It involves strategies that are Google approved. This makes it your go-to method for ranking higher.

Table Of Contents:

• Building Authority Through White Hat Strategies
  • What Makes a Link "White Hat"?
  • Digital PR: A Powerful Tool
  • The Magic of Guest Posts
  • HARO: Tapping into Expert Sources
  • Creating Linkable Assets
  • Original Data as a Magnet
    • Publishing studies will draw other writers to talk of what you made...
    • Here's an example of data from their survey:
  • Infographics: Applying Visual Appeal to Links
  • Broken Link Building: Finding Opportunities
  • Long-Form Content Boosts Links
  • Podcast Appearances
• FAQs about white hat link building
  • What is the difference between white hat and black hat link building?
  • What is a white hat approach to building backlinks?
  • Is link building illegal?
  • What is the whitehead approach to building backlinks?
• Conclusion

Building Authority Through White Hat Strategies

Building links ethically can feel slow. However, if your focus is a site made for many years to come, these are proven approaches.

Sites ranking number one on Google often have significantly more backlinks. They have many more than those further down the list.

Think of a link building campaign as telling Google, "People love my content". This will cause more website traffic.

What Makes a Link "White Hat"?

The exact meaning can be slightly subjective. Generally, these links appear within content after an editorial look over. This method of link building is important and what it can look like when someone finds your site, then likes and wants to share it.

It might also involve you emailing a website owner for them to share your content. Using proper white hat link building techniques helps avoid issues with search engines.

Digital PR: A Powerful Tool

Creating something people find newsworthy, then reaching out to others, could result in link building. With the correct method, sites such as major publications might write about your piece. They may even share to you.

One company used an interesting piece around tax evasion, and they built over 150 links from huge sources. The results helped with the company's name.

Digital PR can be hard, though. It takes a skilled professional to really understand what other publications might cover to feature you.

The Magic of Guest Posts

Guest posting is simply offering to write a blog for another person or business website. The idea behind this white hat strategy is getting a piece of your content up and available to the world. You can choose how you build relationships, and what webpages of yours you'd like to direct attention to, through this.

This might result in them referring their traffic back to you. The audience might begin to value you. There are many other great things this can do for your image.

Here are some strategies when writing Guest Posts:

• One thing to start would be checking through the search results. See who is already accepting blogs.
• Or you could research to see who might already share content that would benefit you. This would help direct people to your page.
• Create quality content so others will want to use it.

HARO: Tapping into Expert Sources

Services like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) connect journalists with expert insight. Using these services will get high authority backlinks, which help. You could use Qwoted or even Source Bottle, which are also options.

Each day, people are asking, researching and seeking an expert opinion. Simply respond and if your quote is chosen, it often ends in people linking to your website. You might be helping an actual writer in finding the correct info they want.

Sites with high DR are in need. Getting selected by any could skyrocket recognition to yourself.

Creating Linkable Assets

Craft a piece people find not only helpful, but one they want to link to. Create original ideas that stand out and become a linkable asset.

When working with Identity Guard, one company created nearly 30 links in under four months. This demonstrates how white hat link building helped contribute to their authority. Consider this in your own efforts and create your own linkable assets.

Original Data as a Magnet

Publishing studies will draw other writers to talk of what you made. Many see data included to be extra trustworthy versus writing without. With your own surveys and information, others might just end up using it.

Consider a post created each year by Drive Research. It focused on the upcoming shopping habits on Black Friday. Because it includes exclusive insight, people share the information, thus helping that content.

Here's an example of data from their survey:

• 57% of consumers will shop online for Black Friday.
• 35% of Americans plan to shop in person for Black Friday – a 119% increase from 2020.
• The majority of consumers typically spend $400-$599 on holiday shopping.

This Black Friday blog post helped grow Drive Research, and earned more credibility to it. Some large companies talked about the piece. Some even shared links leading to Drive.

Infographics: Applying Visual Appeal to Links

Many marketers utilize visual approaches when using white hat link building. Quality backlinks can come easier with visuals. Infographics are a great example of this.

Infographics take research and stats, and turn them visual. Take for instance, one done by Outgrow.

Their piece made to get shares, resulted in 80 backlinks. This is a perfect example of creating quality content to get quality links.

Broken Link Building: Finding Opportunities

Web pages die over time. Broken links can no longer take a person where they want. This could give your content room to be shared.

Simply scanning pages you want links from, and notifying the owner of what doesn't work might actually result in your own link going up. People want to keep things white hat.

A situation where both websites get rewarded might occur. Finding broken links and offering better content is a good building technique.

Long-Form Content Boosts Links

The data doesn't lie: longer articles draw in links way better than quick blurbs, with, long-form content often earning significantly more links than short pieces.

This content is aimed at helping, and solving, readers' questions. The amount you write gives reason, but still keep quality. Undoubtedly, creating quality content is one of the most foolproof link building strategies you can employ.

Podcast Appearances

When you take part in podcasts, aim to add a free backlink somewhere on your profile. There's different styles to follow.

For instance, Drive Research was added when discussing someone's career in a popular podcast known as "Into the Corner Office". This opened doors for listeners.

Getting your article linked on a podcast is a great white hat link building technique. It is also much easier than other building techniques.

FAQs about white hat link building

What is the difference between white hat and black hat link building?

With link building there are two ways you can go about creating traffic. White hat follows guidelines set by Google. Black hat often goes against what helps.

Be aware though, that Google is smart. While someone may have good results in the short-term with underhanded methods, you likely won’t. Black hat SEO may bring short-term gains, but is bad for your site’s long-term health.

White Hat vs. Black Hat Link Building

White Hat	Black Hat
Follows Google's Guidelines	Violates Google's Guidelines
Focuses on Long-Term Success	Focuses on Quick, Risky Wins
Builds Sustainable Rankings	Often Leads to Penalties

What is a white hat approach to building backlinks?

Building white hat approaches is really about playing by guidelines set. To simply explain; it’s staying authentic and getting value to people. Creating real value is key in proper search engine optimization.

Is link building illegal?

No. Link building itself isn’t against any laws, and you should not have worry.

There are people trying to spread wrong info and worry, as shown in this piece here, but it really boils down to how a link has come to be that truly matters. Using white hat links are completely safe and great for long-term success. Avoid bad practices such as buying links.

What is the whitehead approach to building backlinks?

The "whitehead" method may come across as a spelling mistake of "white hat". It simply is going with how Google has advised content and backlinks to appear.

The true focus of white hat SEO should be on valuable content. Building great relationships with quality websites and content is how to truly gain high-quality backlinks.

Conclusion

White hat link building might take longer to see the results, but it is a long-term investment that pays off with increased organic traffic and a higher domain authority score. Focus should still revolve around getting a helpful product. An ethical approach will come across positively to those watching and it is also good for search rankings.

Many SEO professionals are noticing just how powerful using ethical SEO could be. According to a study, over half of people interviewed claimed its impact on website visibility might reach the same importance as search itself.

This shows that taking these tactics seriously can create long-lasting traffic. This will help get more organic traffic, if done correctly, without risking any long-term effects. Think through to where you truly see value when creating new ideas.