How can I Build Backlinks Safely?

You’ve probably read tons of blog posts or asked SEO pros for help with link building. But let’s be honest—most of that advice feels generic and doesn’t really solve your specific problems, right?

Here’s the truth: link building isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every business has its own set of challenges depending on the niche. But there are proven strategies that work across industries—and those are exactly what we use at Outreach Monks to build powerful, high-quality backlinks.

Today, we’re going to share them with you—no fluff, just actionable stuff you can actually use. Ready? Let’s get into it!

1) Create Link-Worthy Content

Want people to link to your website naturally? Give them a reason. That’s where linkable assets come in—these are pieces of content people want to link to because they’re helpful and hard to recreate.

Some examples:

• Guides: Clear, step-by-step articles on a specific topic.
• Infographics: Visuals that make data easy to understand.
• Original Studies: Stats and data writers love to reference.
• Free Tools or Calculators: Everyone loves a shortcut.
• Templates: Pre-made formats that save time.
• Interactive Quizzes or Widgets: Fun, useful, and shareable.

Yes, they take time to create. But they’re worth it—they keep bringing in backlinks over time and boost your site’s authority.

2) Write Guest Posts on Authority Sites

Guest posting is still one of the best ways to build backlinks. You write a valuable article for a website in your niche, and in return, you get to include a link to your site. It’s a win-win.

Just make sure your content is high-quality and relevant. If writing isn’t your strength, hire someone good—but always double-check the work before submitting.

At Outreach Monks, we do this all the time. For example, we helped a client called REPRESENT CLO boost their Domain Rating from 50 to 57 and grow their traffic from 70k to 355k in just 20 months—just through smart guest posting.

Also Read: What is the Best Strategy for Link Building Outreach?

3) Find and Replace Broken Links

Here’s a quick win: broken link building.

Sometimes websites link to pages that no longer exist. That’s your opportunity. Find those dead links, reach out to the site owner, let them know—and suggest your content as a replacement.

Use tools like Ahrefs or Broken Link Checker to find these opportunities. Just make sure your content matches what was originally linked. It’s a simple way to earn powerful backlinks.

4) Turn Unlinked Mentions into Links

Has someone mentioned your brand online but didn’t link to you? That’s an easy fix.

Just find these “unlinked brand mentions” using tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs, then send a polite email asking them to add the link. They already like your brand, so most will be happy to help.

5) Use PR to Earn Links

PR link building is all about using media exposure to get backlinks. If your business gets featured in news articles, blogs, or industry sites, those mentions often come with a link—and that boosts your authority.

Try these PR tactics:

• Share newsworthy updates.
• Write simple press releases.
• Build real relationships with journalists.

We used this approach with our client Nolabels, and the results were amazing.

6) Get Listed in “Best of” Articles

You know those “Best Tools for [Industry]” blog posts? Those articles link out to other businesses—and you want to be one of them.

Reach out to the website owner, explain why your product or service deserves a spot, and make sure it’s a good fit for the list. Keep it relevant, and you’ll land great backlinks.

Also Read: How can Local Citations Boost Off‑Page SEO?

7) Steal Competitors’ Backlinks (Ethically)

Want backlinks like your competitors? Just see where they’re getting links from.

Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to check out their backlink profile. Then reach out to those same websites with better content or a unique offer. If it worked for them, it can work for you.

8) Get Featured on Resource Pages

Resource pages are collections of helpful links—like guides, tools, or templates.

To find them, search Google using:

• [your keyword] inurl:resources
• [your keyword] intitle:resources

If your content adds real value, email the site owner and ask to be included. Keep your message short and focused on how your content helps their readers.

9) Leverage Existing Relationships

Already have partners, suppliers, or industry connections? Use those relationships to earn backlinks.

Here’s how:

• Write a testimonial for your supplier’s website.
• Ask associations to include your business on their resource list.
• Request a backlink in a “Clients” or “Partners” section.
• Collaborate on content or campaigns.

Just steer clear of link swaps—they’re against Google’s rules.

10) Host or Sponsor Events

Sponsoring or hosting events is another smart way to build backlinks. Event websites often link to sponsors and partners.

Choose events that align with your industry—whether it’s a local meet-up or a virtual webinar. Not only do you get a backlink, but you also build real-world connections.

Avoid These Common Link Building Mistakes

Let’s wrap up with a few things not to do:

❌ Publishing low-value content – no one wants to link to fluff.
❌ Chasing high DA/DR sites without caring about relevance.
❌ Forcing links into content where they don’t belong.
❌ Ignoring nofollow links—they still bring traffic.
❌ Overloading anchor text with exact-match keywords (looks spammy).

Stick to natural, useful, and relevant links—and you’ll stay in Google’s good books.

Also Read: How do Online Directories Boost SEO?

Is Your Link Building Strategy Working?

Ask yourself:

• Am I targeting the right websites?
• Is my content good enough to earn links?
• Do I focus on quality over quantity?
• Do I have time and tools to do this consistently?
• Am I using a mix of strategies?

If any answer is “no,” it might be time to adjust your approach.

Real-Life Link Building Success: Nolabels

We helped Nolabels, a women’s fashion brand, go from zero to 99k monthly visitors in just 10 months.

The Challenges:

• Competing with big names in fashion.
• Finding low-competition, high-traffic keywords.
• Getting quality backlinks in a crowded space.

What We Did:

• Analyzed competitors.
• Reached out to fashion bloggers using BuzzSumo.
• Wrote guest posts for top fashion sites.
• Partnered with influencers.

The Results:

• Domain Rating jumped from 0 to 55.
• Organic traffic hit 99.1k/month.
• 14,500+ keywords ranked (over 500 in the top 3 positions).

This is just one example of how the right link-building strategy can completely transform your online presence.