Scott Davis

Link building has more tactics than any other part of SEO, and that is exactly the problem. Guest posting, digital PR, HARO, niche edits, broken links, resource pages, and a dozen more. Every one of them promises backlinks. Most people try three at random, get frustrated, and quit. I have spent years running these campaigns, and the […]

Every few months someone asks me if they should be pumping out press releases to build backlinks. The honest answer is no, at least not if you want links that pass authority. This tactic was legitimate once. Then in 2013 Google devalued it, told publishers to nofollow the anchors, and added the keyword-rich version to its list

Every “free web 2.0 sites list” tells you the same thing: sign up, publish a post, drop a link, and watch your rankings climb. Most of them are selling you a fantasy. Web 2.0 backlinks were a legit tactic fifteen years ago. Today the biggest platforms nofollow you, Google is very good at spotting a self-built network,

Social bookmarking is one of those tactics that refuses to die in SEO circles. Every year a fresh crop of “500+ high-DA social bookmarking sites” lists makes the rounds, promising easy backlinks. And every year people paste their URL into fifty of them, wait, and wonder why their rankings never move. So let me answer the real

Two sites link to each other. That is a reciprocal link, and the web is full of them. Which is exactly why the tactic confuses people. If almost three-quarters of strong domains already carry some, how can they be a problem? Here is the honest answer. A mutual link that happens on its own is fine. A

Directory submission is one of the first SEO tactics anyone learns, and one of the last they should still be doing at scale. It is not a scam. A handful of real directories still send trust and a trickle of traffic. But the version most people run, blasting your site into 500 “high DA” lists, stopped moving

Scholarship link building is where you post a scholarship on your site, then email universities asking them to feature it on their .edu financial aid pages so you pick up their backlinks. On paper it sounds clever. Prestigious university placements, all for the cost of a small award. In practice, it is one of the most over-hyped

A private blog network promises the one thing every SEO wants: total control over your backlinks. You own the sites. You write the anchor text. You point the links wherever you like, whenever you like. On paper, a PBN sounds like a cheat code for search rankings. In practice, it is one of the fastest ways to

Most content earns no backlinks at all. You write a solid post, publish it, and wait. And nobody points to it, because nothing about it forced anyone’s hand. Link bait is the opposite of that. It is a single piece of content built so a specific person, an editor, a blogger, a journalist, feels compelled to cite

Edu backlinks have a reputation. For years, SEOs treated a link from a university domain like a golden ticket, something worth more than any old .com. So a whole cottage industry grew up around chasing them. Here is the uncomfortable truth: the search engine does not give a link extra weight just because it ends in .edu.

Podcast link building is one of the most underrated tactics in SEO, and it deserves a real place among these link building strategies. Most people think a podcast appearance is just brand exposure. It is that. But every host who publishes show notes also hands you a backlink from their site, and those sites tend to be

Testimonial link building is one of the easiest backlinks you will ever earn. You already used a product. You liked it. You write a few honest sentences about why, the company puts your quote on their site, and you get a backlink next to your name. No 2,000-word draft. No week of pitching. So why does half

Most outreach fails because it asks a stranger for a favor. Ego bait flips that. Instead of emailing someone to ask for a link, you publish something that features them, then tell them it exists. Now the note is a compliment, not a request. That one change is why ego bait is one of the friendliest link

You spent months earning backlinks. Then, quietly, some of them vanished. A site redesigned. An editor deleted an old post. A page you were mentioned on got moved and the link broke. Nobody told you, and your rankings slipped a little. Link reclamation is how you get those links back. Of all the link building tactics you

Most content on the web goes nowhere. It earns no traffic and no links at all. You can publish a solid post, share it a few times, and watch it collect nothing. That is not bad luck. It is the default. Linkable assets are the fix. These are pages you create on purpose to attract backlinks, so

Forum link building is one of the oldest tricks in SEO, and it refuses to die. You have probably seen the pitch. Drop a link in a signature, answer a few threads, sprinkle your URL around, and watch the backlinks roll in. It sounds easy because it is easy. The trouble is that easy links are usually

Infographic link building is one of the most misunderstood tactics in SEO. Most people think it means designing a pretty infographic, dropping it on a directory, and waiting for backlinks to appear. That version is dead. The version that still works is a trade: you hand a relevant site a genuinely useful infographic plus a short piece

The skyscraper technique is among the most copied link building strategies in SEO history. And that is exactly its problem. When Brian Dean published the original playbook in 2015, it was fresh. Find a proven piece of content, build something better, then pitch the people who already linked to the original. It worked because almost nobody was

HARO is one of the most talked-about link building tactics in SEO, and one of the most misunderstood. The pitch sounds too good to pass up. Journalists at real publications ask for expert sources, you answer, and you earn an editorial backlink from a site you could never buy your way onto. No pitching editors, no writing

Digital PR is where public relations and SEO finally stop fighting over the budget. It is a simple idea with a lot of moving parts. You create something a journalist actually wants to cover, you pitch it to the right people, and the story earns you press and editorial backlinks from publications you could never buy your

Niche edits are among the most talked-about ways to build links in SEO, and among the most misunderstood. The idea sounds almost too good. Instead of writing a whole guest post, you get a link added to an article that already exists and ranks. Faster, cheaper, and the page has authority baked in. So what is the

Guest posting is one of the oldest link building tactics in SEO, and people keep predicting its death every year. They are wrong. Done well, a guest post still earns you an editorial link, a fresh audience, and a real relationship with someone who runs a site in your space. Done badly, it earns you a footprint

77% of people start with a search engine when they have a health question. That’s the moment patients choose who to trust.Source: Pew Research Center So if you run a healthcare company, showing up in search results isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s how patients find you. But here’s the thing. Ranking on Google takes more than great content.

Did you know that businesses with high-quality backlinks are 50% more likely to rank in the top 3 search results? This statistic underscores the pivotal role that link building plays in enhancing your website’s visibility and authority. Imagine dedicating your time and resources to delivering exceptional craftsmanship, only to have potential clients find your competitors first because

Although 75% of property management companies report that their online presence directly influences tenant inquiries and lease signings, many struggle to stand out in a crowded market. This is where link building becomes a game-changer. Imagine your website climbing to the top of search engine results, attracting more traffic, and ultimately converting visitors into loyal clients. Effective

Did you know that over 70% of ecommerce traffic is driven by organic search, and only the top three search results capture the majority of clicks? This means that without a robust link-building strategy, your online store could easily get lost in the digital shuffle. Link building isn’t just about boosting your SEO rankings; it’s about driving

So you’ve developed a groundbreaking SaaS product that could revolutionize your industry. But despite its potential, it’s lost in the vast expanse of the internet, overshadowed by competitors and invisible to your target audience. Frustrating, right? This is a common pain point for many SaaS companies. In a digital marketplace teeming with innovative solutions, having a great

In the digital landscape, visibility is everything — especially for startups striving to carve out their niche. And since 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results, securing those coveted top spots can mean, for a fledgling business, the difference between thriving and failing. This is where link building becomes a game-changer. Many

Having groundbreaking innovations isn’t enough to draw attention to your tech site. Did you know that 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results? For technology sites, securing high-quality backlinks is not just a nice-to-have — it’s a critical component for visibility and credibility. But with search engine algorithms constantly evolving and the

The online dating industry has over 300 million active users worldwide, yet amidst this digital romance boom, countless dating sites struggle to be seen in the crowded marketplace. Imagine investing time and resources into creating a stellar platform, only to watch potential matches never find you because your site languishes on page three of search results. This

Did you know that despite having beautifully designed websites, many home improvement businesses struggle to attract online visitors? In an industry where competition is fierce and the digital landscape is ever-changing, simply having a website isn’t enough. A significant number of small businesses remain virtually invisible online due to poor search engine rankings. Link building — a

A staggering 91% of web pages receive zero traffic from Google — wasted like outfits that never leave the closet. Your fashion or beauty site shouldn’t be one of them. In the online world, if you’re not seen, you don’t exist. Link building is your way to step onto the digital runway. It’s not about big budgets

With over 67% of households embracing a furry companion, the pet industry has surged into a fiercely competitive landscape. Dedicated pet bloggers and e-commerce owners often face the frustration of seeing their sites buried deep in search results, limiting their reach and growth potential. This common challenge highlights the crucial role of strategic link building. Effective link

Did you know that the online gaming industry is one of the most saturated niches on the internet? If you’re running a gaming site, you might feel like you’re shouting into a void, wondering how to get noticed amidst the digital noise. Without a robust backlink profile, your site could be relegated to the depths of search

Did you know that 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results? For travel websites, this is a huge challenge — no matter how great your content is, if your site isn’t ranking high enough, it’s essentially invisible to potential travelers. This is where a link building agency for travel sites becomes invaluable.

Did you know that 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results? For garage door companies, this statistic is a wake-up call—if your business isn’t ranking high, you’re likely missing out on valuable customers. That’s where link building comes in. By earning backlinks from reputable websites, you can boost your website’s authority and

15-30% of every hotel booking can vanish in online travel agency commissions. Rank in search instead, and that revenue stays yours.Source: Cloudbeds, A Guide to OTA Commission Rates (2026) That number is exactly why link building matters for your hotel. The more guests who find you directly, the fewer rooms you sell through Expedia or Booking.com at

With over 93% of online experiences beginning with a search engine, it’s clear that ranking high on Google can make or break your photography business. Here’s the reality: even the most stunning photography won’t matter if potential clients can’t find you. That’s where link building comes in. By strategically acquiring high-quality backlinks, you not only boost your

96% of Americans research a financial advisor online before hiring one, even when that advisor came personally recommended. If you can’t be found and verified in search, you’re cut from the list.Source: Wealthtender 2025 Study of $100K+ Households Seeking Financial Advice (500 U.S. adults, ages 35-64, July 2025) In financial services, trust is the whole product. And

54% of homeowners turn to search engines to find a roofing contractor. If you’re not ranking, those jobs go to whoever is.Source: Roofing Contractor, 2026 RC Homeowners Survey If you run a roofing company, more than half of your next customers start the same way. They pull out their phone, type “roofer near me” or “roof repair”

100% of recent home buyers used the internet during their home search. If you don’t rank, you don’t get found.Source: National Association of Realtors, 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Every buyer starts online now. So if your real estate website isn’t on page one, you’re handing those clients to the agent who is. And here’s

Did you know that 93% of all online experiences begin with a search engine? For insurance companies, this means being visible on search engines is critical to reaching potential clients. However, simply having a website isn’t enough. If your site isn’t ranking on the first page, it’s almost invisible—especially considering that most users never scroll past the

$14.8B is what the U.S. CBD market is projected to reach by 2030, nearly double its 2024 size. That’s a flood of brands fighting for the same rankings.Source: Grand View Research So if you sell CBD, hemp, or cannabis products, getting found on Google isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s survival. Here’s the thing. You can’t buy your way

18.4% of Americans say they would pick the dentist who ranks at the top of the search results. If your practice is not there, those patients never see you.Source: IronMonk Solutions survey of 1,500 U.S. adults, 2019 If you run a dental practice, your next patient almost always starts on Google. They search “dentist near me” or

87% of consumers turn to Google to find a lawyer. If your firm is not ranking, those clients never see you.Source: iLawyer Marketing, 2025 survey of 1,052 U.S. consumers If you run a law firm, your next client is almost certainly starting on a search engine. They type in “personal injury lawyer near me” or “best divorce