Creating effective backlinks for an e-commerce website is crucial not just for SEO rankings, but also to drive qualified traffic that converts into sales. Below is a strategic approach with real-world examples and actionable methods:
1. Understand What Makes a Backlink “Effective”
An effective backlink should:
-
Come from authoritative, relevant domains.
-
Drive referral traffic, not just SEO juice.
-
Lead to higher rankings in Google.
-
Be contextually relevant to your products.
2. Backlink Strategies That Drive Traffic & Sales
A. Product Reviews from Influential Bloggers & YouTubers
Strategy:
Send free products to bloggers, YouTubers, or Instagram influencers in exchange for honest reviews and a backlink to your product page.
Example:
Gymshark sent free gear to fitness influencers on YouTube. Reviewers linked to product pages.
One video brought 10,000+ referral visitors and boosted SEO for “high-waisted gym leggings”.
Action Tip:
-
Use tools like Hunter.io or Voila Norbert to find influencer emails.
-
Filter by niche and domain authority using BuzzSumo or NinjaOutreach.
B. Write Guest Posts on Niche Authority Blogs
Strategy:
Create high-value content (e.g., “10 Sustainable Home Decor Trends”) for top blogs in your niche and naturally link back to your product/category page.
Example:
Allbirds wrote on eco-lifestyle blogs about “sustainable fashion” and linked to their shoes. One article drove over 1,500 targeted visitors/month.
Action Tip:
-
Use Ahrefs or SEMRush to find where competitors are guest posting.
-
Pitch with custom topics tied to your products.
C. Create Data-Backed Content That Others Want to Reference
Strategy:
Publish original data, case studies, or product comparison charts that others will link to.
Example:
Wirecutter (by NYT) often links to brands like Anker or Samsung when referencing tech data. These backlinks bring both SEO and high-converting buyers.
Action Tip:
-
Use Statista-style graphs comparing your product with competitors.
-
Submit data to bloggers or journalists via HARO or Help a B2B Writer.
D. Build “Best Product” List Backlinks
Strategy:
Reach out to editors and websites that rank products in listicles (e.g., “Top 10 Hiking Backpacks”) and pitch your product for inclusion.
Example:
Nomatic got listed in "Best Travel Backpacks of 2024" on tech and travel blogs. These links drove referral sales and Amazon rankings.
Action Tip:
-
Google:
site:example.com "best [product]"to find listicle targets. -
Offer samples or affiliate commissions as incentive.
E. Local & Niche Directories
Strategy:
List your e-commerce store on high-quality niche or local directories (e.g., Houzz for home decor, G2 for software).
Example:
Etsy sellers listed in niche handmade gift directories get traffic spikes during holidays.
Action Tip:
-
Use BrightLocal or Moz Local to find high-quality directories.
-
Avoid spammy or irrelevant ones.
F. Use HARO to Get Media Mentions
Strategy: Help a Reporter Out (HARO) connects journalists with sources.
Provide expert tips or product recommendations.
Example:
A small skincare brand got mentioned in Forbes and saw a 70% increase in organic traffic within 2 weeks.
Action Tip:
-
Respond quickly and professionally.
-
Focus on Tier 1 media (Forbes, Business Insider, etc.)
Real Case Study: Beardbrand
What they did:
-
Built backlinks from men’s grooming blogs via guest posts and influencer reviews.
-
Created educational content (e.g., “How to grow a beard”) and got backlinks from Reddit, Quora, and YouTube.
Results:
-
Ranked top 3 for “beard oil”.
-
2x revenue over 12 months from SEO traffic alone.
Pro Tips for E-Commerce Backlinks
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Use UTM Links | Track referral traffic & conversions from backlinks. |
| Don’t Ignore Internal Linking | Strengthen your backlink power by linking to key product pages internally. |
| Focus on Link Quality | One link from Forbes > 100 from low-authority blogs. |
| Leverage Affiliate Programs | Offer bloggers a small commission to incentivize backlinks. |
🛠️ Tools to use
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ahrefs / SEMrush | Find backlink opportunities & track competitors. |
| BuzzSumo | Discover influencers and trending content. |
| HARO | Get featured in the media. |
| Pitchbox / Mailshake | Scale outreach. |
| SurferSEO / Clearscope | Optimize blog content for ranking. |
