How long should I wait to build links?

[cashqi]

Hey guys,

When building a new site on a fresh domain, how long do you typically wait to do link building? I am concerned about doing link building while still in the sandbox.

My reasoning is that if Google sees I'm not getting much organic traffic, I must be paying for links and will be penalized.

Would love some thoughts on this!

Thanks!

 

[mj22]

I dont think it really matters much. I dont usually start building links or aquiring them until all the on page stuff is complete and the social media accounts are set up and fleshed out, ie fb, instagram, twitter, ect.

From there i promote some stuff on social media to try get some traction there as well as sometimes buy REAL social shares/signals dripped out and then start running foundation links at my targets. My thinking is showing the social activity prior and while i bulid links it looks more natural that way (ie, site owners post on social media and it goes viral which in turn others start sharing or posting links to). I only buy social signals if i am not getting much viral action on social or just dont have time to push it more among the multiple projects i have going on at the same time.

Thats what i do and have no issues at all, just my 2 cents.

 

[cashqi]

Thanks! I think that's reasonable. Sharing your site other places where it can be seen besides just google.

 

[Ryuzaki]

When building a new site on a fresh domain, how long do you typically wait to do link building?

It depends. Are you trying to build a site that employs SEO to make it rank and get traffic from Google? It sounds like you are.

If so, then building links should be happening from the start. It's no less important than publishing content. It's similar to asking "I bought a domain. How long should I wait to publish content?" The domain requires content to rank, the content requires links to rank.

My reasoning is that if Google sees I'm not getting much organic traffic, I must be paying for links and will be penalized.

I understand the reasoning. It's unfounded. When I register a new domain, the very first thing I do (in fact, I do it before registering so the profiles can't be stolen out from under me) is built social media profiles that link to my domain.

I've already built links so I have profiles to use in order to build more links to help promote my site. It's normal, basic marketing. Google understands people are going to promote their stuff. In fact, if you wait to rank on Google to get eyeballs from Google that then build links for you, you're going to wait a long time. You need to be on forums and social media promoting your stuff. And all of that involves building links to some degree. It doesn't imply you bought them.

Once you get more experience, you'll look back and remember when you were unsure about how powerful and smart Google is. They are, but not as much as they seem when it's all mystical and magical. You can get away with a lot. They're trying to do everything by algorithms and not by manual checks. And they're not going to manually check brand new domains with zero SERP real estate.

Less paranoia, more progress!

 

[cashqi]

I understand the reasoning. It's unfounded. When I register a new domain, the very first thing I do (in fact, I do it before registering so the profiles can't be stolen out from under me) is built social media profiles that link to my domain.

I figured just as much. I've built sites on expired domains before which has it's own risks, but I figured starting on a fresh domain was better for this niche.

Site was started about a week ago and I have pumped out about 15 posts to get a feel for good content. Just started outsourcing and doing HARO but as I was responding to a query tonight, it made me wonder if it could do more harm than good.

Thinking about it now, google wouldn't penalize you for getting a backlink from a high authority site.

Getting away from the screen and hitting the sauna definitely made things more clear.

Once you get more experience, you'll look back and remember when you were unsure about how powerful and smart Google is. They are, but not as much as they seem when it's all mystical and magical. You can get away with a lot. They're trying to do everything by algorithms and not by manual checks. And they're not going to manually check brand new domains with zero SERP real estate.

Less paranoia, more progress!

Amen to that. Thank you both!

 

[Seadogsausage]

Build.. Build now.. Less is more. Quality over quantity.

Sincere
A 2012 Google Penguin victim.

 

[Hristo]

I would say it depends if you start with a new or expired domain with history and some authority.

The thing is to make it looks natural:

If it is a brand new site, it doesn`t make sense to buy links from the very beginning - is it natural to receive real links if you don`t have at least some decent amount of good content on your site? I don`t think so.

For a new site I would start with social media profiles, directories, forums - last 2 doesn`t bring much value, but everyone has them -> Google consider this as "natural".

For an expired domain you could be a bit more "aggressive" with the link building, but again be careful in the beginning - is it natural for a domain to be parked for some period of time with no new content posted and not getting any links and then out of the sudden it receive 10 links for a week? I don`t think so.

Also keep an eye on your competitors - check their link profiles, what anchors do they have, what sites they have links from, how often do they receive new links etc - if Google ranks them on 1st page, that`s what it likes.

 

[cashqi]

I would say it depends if you start with a new or expired domain with history and some authority.

The thing is to make it looks natural:

If it is a brand new site, it doesn`t make sense to buy links from the very beginning - is it natural to receive real links if you don`t have at least some decent amount of good content on your site? I don`t think so.

For a new site I would start with social media profiles, directories, forums - last 2 doesn`t bring much value, but everyone has them -> Google consider this as "natural".

For an expired domain you could be a bit more "aggressive" with the link building, but again be careful in the beginning - is it natural for a domain to be parked for some period of time with no new content posted and not getting any links and then out of the sudden it receive 10 links for a week? I don`t think so.

Also keep an eye on your competitors - check their link profiles, what anchors do they have, what sites they have links from, how often do they receive new links etc - if Google ranks them on 1st page, that`s what it likes.

Hey thank you!

So I am actually a writer for a DR 90 site and I can secure a do-follow link from that site via my writer bio. I figure this would be fine, considering it is such a trusted website. Does my thinking on that make sense?

It would probably be the only big backlink I get for a while since my main focus is on content right now.

Domain is 3 weeks old now for reference.

 

[Ryuzaki]

Hey thank you!

So I am actually a writer for a DR 90 site and I can secure a do-follow link from that site via my writer bio. I figure this would be fine, considering it is such a trusted website. Does my thinking on that make sense?

It would probably be the only big backlink I get for a while since my main focus is on content right now.

Domain is 3 weeks old now for reference.

You'd have to be a big time over-thinker to not take a DR90 link because you're afraid your site is too new. Take the link! In no existing universe will a DR90 link ever be a bad thing for your site at any point in time or size or growth or whatever.

 

[cashqi]

Lol yeah, pretty silly huh? Thank you, I have a bad habit of asking questions where I already have a good idea of the answer. Just my way of not missing anything, but at the risk of sounding ridiculous. Just gotta woosah and work on the balance

Thanks!

 

[bernard]

I agree with Mat Diggity, in that you first links should be social links.

Get up a Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Insta etc and announce "here I am" to the world.

Then I'll usually add a few links from my own sites, if you have a personal blog or something.

Then add in directories if you can and similar easy to get, but legit links. Add a Google Local Business etc.

Then a few manual outreach guest posts.

Then buy links from there.