When you hear “digital marketing,” you probably think about search engine optimization (SEO) and sales-pitch-style content writing. However, there’s a lot more to it. Behind every successful HVAC company is a well-rounded marketing strategy that includes local SEO backlinks.
Backlinking or link building is vital to helping your business climb up the Google search results and attracting more customers. This practice involves acquiring links to your website from someone else’s website or content. With authoritative sources essentially backing you up, you can gain credibility and stand out in a competitive industry.
How to Build Local Backlinks
Getting quality backlinks with the help of a digital marketing agency in New Orleans will drastically increase your chances of reaching potential customers. Google looks at backlinks to your site as a search ranking factor: More backlinks mean you have more domain authority, which means Google ranks your site higher.
Link building doesn’t happen overnight, though. To create an effective link building strategy, you’ll need to follow a few practical tips.
1. Use Local Business Directories
Registering your HVAC business with directories like Whitepages and the Better Business Bureau gives your brand credibility but does little for discoverability on search engines. You will need more than a national business directory to earn a top spot on the search engine results page (SERP).
An excellent way to gain backlinks is through Google My Business and Yelp. Once you create a profile, you can add a link to your website and start driving traffic. Local directories put your business on the map and make it easy for people to find you.
Your Google My Business and Yelp profiles are the first thing customers will see when they search for you. Therefore, it’s critical that they provide local SEO backlinks to your company site.
2. Connect Social Media Accounts
Another popular method of obtaining backlinks involves social media. Over 300 million Americans spend hours every day scrolling through Instagram, reading Facebook posts, or watching YouTube videos. Social media is where your customers are, so that’s where you should be.
Connecting social media accounts to your website gives you much-needed backlinks. Here are some common ways you can use social media for link building:
- Add a link to your Instagram bio
- Put a link in your YouTube video descriptions
- Create a Facebook ad that links to your site
3. Repair Broken Links
Have you ever clicked on a link only to get the dreaded 404 error message? This all-too-common error means you entered the wrong site address or the webpage you wanted to visit no longer exists. Switching domain names, updating URLs, and deleting pages are often the root causes of this issue.
Broken links not only look bad, but they hurt your chances of turning users into customers. Think about it—someone can’t purchase your service if the page for it doesn’t exist. They’ll click the back arrow and search somewhere else.
Creating new backlinks might be unnecessary. You may simply need to repair current links to maintain a steady stream of web traffic and boost conversion rates. The Google Search Console can check for backlinks and identify broken ones. Then, you have a couple of options:
- Contact the external source: If a different company has broken links to your site, reach out and request changes. Updating a link only takes a second, and most companies are happy to oblige.
- Set up redirect links: If you can’t repair broken links, redirecting them is your next-best option. You can set up redirect links to ensure that users end up in the right place.
4. Write Relevant Content
Content creation is the heart and soul of any marketing effort. You must reach the right audience with the right message to generate leads and boost sales. By publishing outstanding content, you can attract authoritative sources who may provide quality backlinks.
For example, let’s say you write a blog post titled “10 Tips for Maintaining Your HVAC System.” And let’s say you’re the only company in your region to cover this topic. When local businesses and customers find this article helpful, they might refer others to it with a backlink to your site.
Your content should contain keywords relevant to your industry. Phrases like “HVAC repair near me” and “air conditioning replacement” that match popular search queries will help steer customers to your site.
5. Collaborate with Influencers
Growing your audience with local SEO backlinks is an ongoing process that can take years. However, many individuals have already established authority and built a massive following. These influencers could be your golden ticket to reaching potential customers in your area.
Social media influencers, local guides, and bloggers have the platform to reach your target audience. People listen to them and share the content they publish. By collaborating with influencers, you can access their vast audience and engage with more potential clients than you ever could alone.
Here are some ways your company can collaborate with these influencers:
- Ask them to write a guest article for your website.
- Have them highlight your products or services on social media.
- Sponsor one of their podcasts or videos.
- Request a product or service review.
Working with an influencer can help you obtain links to your site from their content. This is one of the best ways to connect with a broad audience, increase brand awareness, boost your company’s credibility, and earn higher SERP rankings. If done correctly, it could lead to long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships.
Boost Your HVAC Business with Local SEO Backlinks
It’s easy to concentrate on the more flashy aspects of digital marketing and neglect basic strategies like link building. Trendy marketing techniques might help you see short-term gains, but local SEO backlinks will set your HVAC company on the road toward long-term success. Lay the foundation first—then you can start building.
Do you need help acquiring local backlinks? At ServiceHawk Digital Marketing, we have the team and tools you need to achieve your business goals. Learn about improving local SEO with blogs, or call us today at 985-888-0455 to schedule a consultation.