Link building is funny. I read all these blog posts, for literally years, about how to do it, why to do it, tips for doing it. I couldn’t wait to do it. I was going to blow up the SERPs!
Then, this month, my first real link building project came along. I was getting paid to build links. I was getting the chance to put into practice what I’d been telling everyone they (I) needed to do. No more on-page SEO alone. Only problem was, the site was a straight e-commerce B2B site with no linkable assets, no interest in developing linkable assets, in a niche no one but competitors wrote about. Challenge.
So, for a month, I tried the tried-and-true tactics I had read about for this client. It was like beating my head against a wall. It wasn’t working, and I didn’t know what to do. I was too embarrassed to go to the client or AE and tell them I had no idea what I was doing. I kept hoping instead that if I continued researching I’d find a way to make it work.
Eventually, the deadline came, and I had to face the music. I had another idea to present — build some linkable assets for the site and promote them through social media. Again, a standard tactic, but this time I was humble enough to know, and admit, that I didn’t know whether that would work. So I presented that idea to the client and they told me, in no uncertain terms, that that was wrong for their niche.
I could have saved myself a month of turmoil and head bashing if I’d just come to the client sooner and admitted I was lost and asked for help. We’re off on a new direction now that we could’ve started three weeks ago.
The point is this, no one knows everything. And I had to learn a little, by doing, before I could even know just how little I knew. Next time, I hope to admit how little I know and ask for help from people who do know before I completely stress myself out.
I’m excited about this new direction and once again excited to be on my first link building project. But I’m even more excited to know that if this doesn’t work, I can go to the client and tell them it isn’t working, and we can try something else.
I know this blog is old, and not sure if the author is still around, but I’m curious as to what the “new direction” was and if it was successful. I’m facing the exact same challenge in the b2b space. Feel free to email me if you would.