Forget knowing how to build links – most insurance agencies don’t even know what link building is. Simply put, link building is all about public relations. Your goal is to create content that people want to share on the Internet, or rather, link to. When people link to you, Google sees that as a “vote” for your website; the more people link to you, the more Google will begin to see that you are probably a valuable resource in your industry. Those links will hopefully bring potential clients to your website, increase your rankings in the search engines and develop brand awareness.
So, what are some easy ways to get your feet wet in the link building world? Try one of these three methods:
- Guest blogging. You probably have a few favorite industry-related websites – have you ever thought about writing for one of them? Reach out to those sites and simply ask them if they accept blogs/articles from guest writers. Your content will almost always have to be non-promotional, but just by including your name and a link to your website in the piece, you will be able to position yourself as an expert and direct readers to your site.
- Donate to a good cause. Think about a local team, organization or event that you like to support…and then check to see if they have a website. Your best bet will be to choose a cause that has a website and actively links to sponsors/donors on one of their pages. This is a good way to help your community and your marketing efforts at the same time.
- Write a press release. Just hired a new employee? Hosting an event? Moving to a new location? Write a press release! Make sure you include the who/what/where/when/why of your story and don’t be afraid to add a picture or two. It’s a little pricey, but a great way to distribute it is through a wire service like PRWeb. They will send your press release out to hundreds of news outlets and then a nice chunk of them will link to your press release and website. There are many other ways to build links and you should never be afraid to get a little creative. It’s all about creating quality content that people can find some kind of value in. When they find that value, there’s a good chance they will want to pass that on to their personal network.
About the Author: Dan Noltensmeyer is the Owner of Noltensmeyer Insurance Services, LLC. With 6 office locations in Texas, Dan’s agency provides risk transfer solutions and Houston insurance products to protect the assets of families. Since 1997, Noltensmeyer Insurance Services has made personal attention and long-term relationships the foundation of their business.
