Link Velocity is a crucial piece of the SEO puzzle. Miss this piece out, and the whole thing won’t make much sense. Anyone who’s worth their salt will stress the importance of link velocity, but, what is it and why is it important? Let’s dive straight in and get down to the nitty-gritty.
What is Link Velocity?
Simply put, link velocity is the speed at which your website gains new backlinks (links from other sites that direct people to yours). Search engines like Google use backlinks to determine the Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) of your website.
The more valuable links you have, the more authority you gain, the higher you’ll appear in search results, the more traffic you’ll get to your site. It’s simple maths. If your site gets new backlinks at a steady and natural rate, search engines take notice and see it as a sign of trust and relevance. But, if there’s a sudden surge or drop in backlinks, it raises suspicions to Google’s algorithms – like you’re trying to play the system with link buying or link farms. This in turn can hurt your search engine result page (SERP) rankings or worse, get you banned.
Why is Link Velocity important for SEO?
Backlinks and the acquisition of them are a big deal in the world of Digital PR. Understanding and managing link velocity is important for several reasons:
- Trust: Search engines aim to deliver the most relevant and authentic results to users. A natural and consistent increase in reputable backlinks helps build credibility with search engines
- Organic growth: Gradual link acquisition means people find your content valuable and worth sharing. It’s a clear indicator to search engines that your site is gaining genuine popularity
- Risk management: Keeping an eye on your link velocity helps you spot unusual patterns early – like a sudden influx of links that could suggest a negative SEO attack. Catch it early, and you can address it before it harms your site
- Competitive edge: Knowing your link velocity compared to your competitors gives you valuable insight into your SEO strategy’s effectiveness. If they’re gaining links faster, you know you need to step up your game.
5 ways to check the Link Velocity SEO of a website
Measuring link velocity involves tracking the number of new backlinks a website or webpage gains over a specified period. Here’s how you can do it:
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SEO tools:
Ahrefs, Semrush and Moz offer detailed insights into backlink profiles. These tools can help you track new backlinks, the rate of acquisition, and the sources of these links
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Set a baseline:
Establish a baseline by determining the average number of new backlinks your site receives weekly or monthly. This helps in identifying what constitutes a “normal” link acquisition rate for your website
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Keep a close eye:
Regular monitoring is essential to detect any unusual spikes or drops. Most SEO tools offer features to set up alerts for significant changes in your backlink profile
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Analyse trends:
Look at the data over different time frames; weekly, monthly, quarterly and YoY comparisons to understand long-term trends. This analysis can help identify seasonal variations or the impact of specific marketing campaigns
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Compare with competitors:
Use competitive analysis tools to compare your link velocity with that of your main competitors. Understanding where you stand in relation to others in your industry can guide your SEO strategy
What is a ‘good’ Link Velocity?
Defining a ‘good’ link velocity can be complex, as it depends on various factors, including the industry, competition, and the overall size of your website.
Quality over quantity; is the age-old saying. Not all backlinks are equal, high-quality links from authoritative sites are worth way more than a large number of low-quality links. For example, gaining 10-15 new backlinks each month is far better than suddenly getting 100 links one month and none the next. Consistency is key. Your links should come from various sources, reflecting genuine interest in your content. Plus, a diverse link profile from reputable sites demonstrates natural, steady growth.
And, for heaven’s sake, avoid black-hat techniques like the plague. Search engines are smart and can detect unnatural patterns. So, if you think buying links or using link schemes will work, think again. All it’ll do is land you in hot water in the eyes of Google.
One final pearl of wisdom, as your website grows, your link velocity should adapt. Keep reassessing and adjusting your link-building strategy to match your current goals and competition.
Link building and outreach from the experts
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Link building and velocity may seem difficult, but it’s something we do in our sleep. Hiring only the best Digital PR and SEO minds from across Greater Manchester, our teams pour their heart and soul into ensuring your website is shit-hot and filled with nothing but white-hat tactics to line your pockets.
Ready to wash off the feelings of despair and disappointment? Give us a call to start a conversation.