Web 2.0 link building sounds illegal – but it isn’t really.
It doesn’t exactly comply with Google’s guidelines either.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- What is Web 2.0 link building and how it affects SEO
- 5 types of web 2.0 websites and how to build links on them
- How to get high-quality backlinks from websites owned by other people
Let’s get started.
Link building cheat sheet
What is Web 2.0 Link Building
Web 2.0 link building is a strategy that involves creating profiles and content on various Web 2.0 platforms (like blogs, social media sites, and forums) and then linking back to your main website.
This is done in an attempt to increase website visibility and drive referral traffic – though the direct SEO impact is often debated.
What are Web 2.0 Sites?
Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of the internet, characterized by user-generated content, social interaction, and other self submission sites.
Examples include:
- Blogging platforms
- Social media networks
- Content sharing sites
- Wiki platforms
For example, your profile on Medium can be considered a Web 2.0 page.
Because of this ability to self-publish, Web 2.0 backlinks aren’t nearly as valuable as links from other high quality Web 1.0 sites.
They are treated as nofollow or UGC links, meaning they don’t actually pass on link equity, and don’t help your website rank higher on SERPs.
This isn’t always the case, but the majority of Web 2.0 websites follow this rule.
And even if the site itself allows for dofollow backlinks, Google is most likely aware that the domain is being used to self-publish, and doesn’t count links from it in the algorithm.
However, if you have Web 2.0 resources in addition to your main site, linking to it won’t hurt your SEO one bit.
Unless, of course, you build hundreds of links in a day.
You can still use Web 2.0 link building to drive referral traffic, even if it won’t help you rank higher on Google.
Types of Web 2.0 Sites
Now, let’s take a look at every type of Web 2.0 site and how to use them to build links.
Blogging Platforms
These platforms allow users to create and publish blog posts, often allowing for comments, social sharing, and community interaction.
Some examples are:
- WordPress
- Blogger.com (Blogspot)
- Tumblr
- Medium
- LiveJournal
- HubPages
These are most commonly used as a secondary blog of sorts.
Webmasters will create a new website, publish a bunch of articles to make it seem like a real blog, and then link to their main sites.
Now, this is considered a “link scheme” by Google, so these backlinks are automatically devalued.
But if you have a personal project on a blogging platform with a decent audience, these links aren’t useless – and help direct valuable traffic.
Website Builders
These services provide tools and templates for users to easily create websites without needing coding knowledge.
In addition to web design features, a lot of these builders also offer free web hosting, making them popular options for creating Web 2.0 microsites:
- Wix.com
- Weebly.com
- Jimdo.com
- Sites.google.com
Creating a microsite with a website builder like Wix for Web 2.0 link building involves building a small, focused website separate from your main domain, but related to your overall niche or a specific product/service.
Populate your microsite with high-quality, original content related to your chosen topic.
This could include articles, blog posts, FAQs, or even embedded videos.
Within the content of your microsite, naturally incorporate links back to relevant pages on your main website.
Use varied anchor texts and ensure the links make sense within the context – don’t just spam.
Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest offer a fantastic opportunity to build brand awareness and connect with your target audience.
While they don’t directly pass link juice due to being nofollowed links in most cases, they can still be incredibly valuable for Web 2.0 link building.
Here’s how:
- Followers mentioning your brand in their posts creates natural backlinks in user generated content, builds trust, and increases brand visibility. Run contests or giveaways that incentivize brand mentions.
- Many platforms allow a clickable link in your profile bio. Use this to direct users to your main website or a specific landing page.
- Regularly sharing high-quality content from your website or blog on your social media channels drives traffic back to your main site and establishes you as a thought leader in your niche.
- Positive comments and shares on social media act as social proof, building trust and credibility for your brand.
Content Sharing and Collaboration Platforms
Platforms like Slideshare, Scribd, Evernote, and Wikidot allow you to share content like documents, presentations, and other formats.
While backlinks from these platforms might not directly impact SEO, they offer valuable opportunities for brand building and referral traffic.
Use these platforms to share high-quality presentations, infographics, ebooks, or white papers relevant to your industry.
This positions you as an expert and attracts potential customers.
Embed your content with a clear call to action directing users back to your main site.
To enhance visibility, optimize your profile with relevant keywords and a link to your website.
This helps users discover your content and learn more about your brand.
Video and Multimedia
Video and multimedia sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Flickr, and Imgur are a powerful way to engage your audience and promote your brand.
Craft high-quality videos relevant to your niche. Showcase your expertise, tell stories, or offer tutorials.
Include a call to action in your video description with a link to your website for further information.
Consider collaborating with other content creators in your niche for cross-promotion.
On its own, your YouTube channel will take a while to start getting views, and an endorsement by a relevant influencer in your niche might just help you kick things off.
How to Get Better Backlinks
Web 2.0 links are great if you already get some traffic on your additional resources.
On their own, they won’t help you rank though.
What will help you rank, however, are relevant backlinks from other high quality sites in your niche.
Meaning, other company blogs – not just places where you can self-publish.
How do you get other sites to link to you?
Through cold email outreach.
In this section, we’ll show you how to use Respona to find relevant bloggers, and reach out to them with a link building pitch.
To begin using Respona for link building, start by logging in and navigating to the “Campaigns” section.
Choose the blogger outreach template and fill in the required information, such as your target keywords and what you’re offering potential collaborators (for example, a link from one of your upcoming guest posts).
To discover more potential link opportunities, consider using Respona’s AI-powered keyword suggestions.
Prepare your sequence
Once you’ve entered the necessary details, click “Use this template” to access the campaign editor.
Next, you’ll create your email outreach sequence.
While Respona offers a template, customizing it to suit your specific needs is HIGHLY recommended.
A typical sequence includes an initial outreach email and at least one follow-up.
Clearly communicate the value you’re offering right from the start.
Explain why the recipient should respond and what they stand to gain (a link, a guest post, or another incentive).
Be sure to use Respona’s AI-powered icebreakers to automatically personalize each email beyond just the name of the recipient and increase response rates.
Keep the follow-up email brief and send it at least three business days after the initial email.
Find opportunities
After setting up your sequence, Respona will begin identifying relevant link building prospects.
It uses the inurl:blog search operator by default to specifically target blogs. Click “Continue” to refine your search with SEO filters and ensure you’re targeting high-quality websites.
On the following screen, you can review the email finder settings.
Respona is pre-configured to find relevant contacts, such as website owners, content and SEO managers, and other marketing professionals.
You can provide additional instructions to the AI here as well, such as adjusting the tone or providing examples of previous personalization for improved accuracy.
To continuously find new prospects, enable the recurring search option.
This will enable Respona to periodically rerun the search and add new prospects to your campaign.
Click “Run automation” to have Respona simultaneously find opportunities, gather contact information, and personalize your emails.
The results will appear in real-time, and you’ll receive an email notification once the search is finished.
Review & launch
In the last step, Respona will populate your email sequence with used variables, including AI-generated personalizations.
You can manually edit these if needed.
Before launching your campaign, Respona performs a final check to ensure all fields are complete and that you aren’t contacting people you’ve recently contacted.
Once this is done, you can launch your campaign, monitor the responses, and begin building links.
Link building cheat sheet
Now Over to You
In conclusion, Web 2.0 link building won’t help you rank but can still be lucrative for driving referral traffic.
Instead, you should focus on getting backlinks from other high quality websites within your niche.
Need help growing your backlink profile?
Don’t hesitate to start your 14-day free trial with Respona.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Web 2.0 link building worth it?
While Web 2.0 links might not directly boost your search engine rankings, they can still be valuable.
They help drive referral traffic to your website and build brand awareness.
Focus on creating high-quality content on these platforms and linking back to your main site naturally.
Do Web 2.0 backlinks help with search engine optimization?
On their own, Web 2.0 backlinks (often nofollow links) won’t significantly improve your SEO ranking.
However, they can help establish your brand online and potentially attract visitors who might link back to your website from their own high-authority sites.
What are some good Web 2.0 platforms for link building?
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter offer branding opportunities and profile bio links.
Content sharing sites like Slideshare and YouTube allow you to showcase expertise and embed links back to your website.
Explore these platforms strategically to build your brand and potentially gain referral traffic.
How can I get high-quality backlinks?
The most valuable backlinks come from relevant, high-authority websites in your niche.
Consider guest blogging on these sites or reaching out to website owners with valuable content ideas.
Building relationships and offering genuine value increases your chances of acquiring high-quality backlinks.
What are some things to avoid in Web 2.0 link building?
Don’t create a large amount of spammy links.
Focus on quality content and avoid practices like keyword stuffing or creating multiple profiles solely for link building.
Google penalizes these tactics and they can ultimately hurt your website’s reputation.
