The State of Backlinks for SEO in 2022: What 800+ SEOs Think About Link Building

As marketing experts continue to keep a close eye on SEO trends, it’s no surprise that backlinks play a major role in this ever-evolving industry. So, with ever-changing algorithms, strategies, and technology, what does the future of backlinks and link building look like? To learn more, we asked 800+ search engine optimization professionals what they thought about the current state of link building and what’s in store for the future. Read on to find out what we discovered!

Table of Contents

• 1. An SEO Crystal Ball: What the Experts Predict for Link Building in 2022
• 2. Experts Weigh In: 800+ SEOs Forecast the Future of Backlinks
• 3. The Changing Linkscape: What the Data Tells Us About the Next Year
• 4. Strategies for Success: Key Considerations for SEO Planning in 2022
• Q&A

1. An SEO Crystal Ball: What the Experts Predict for Link Building in 2022

2022 is quickly approaching and what does that mean for link building? As per the experts, link building will remain a staple of SEO for the foreseeable future, though the strategies employed in creating links have become much more robust in recent years. Here are some predictions for what lies ahead.

• Relevancy Matters: Link building in 2022 will no longer simply produce a lot of backlinks but focus on finding relevant, high-quality links from reputable sites.
• Social Media will Consolidate Further: Social media will become an even more important source for finding links as it gains in popularity.
• Guest Blogging: Though still widely utilized, the use of guest blogging will be closely legislated in 2022– search engines will use more sophisticated tactics for determining the originality of posts.
• Quality Content Abounds: Quality content, such as videos and infographics, will become more important for link building in 2022 as websites and search engines prioritize quality over quantity.
• Voice Search Optimization: With the increasing popularity of voice search, builders will need to focus more on optimizing their websites and content for voice search.

In a sea of link building strategies, 2022 is expected to bring further refinement and accuracy, rewarding those that stay ahead of the curve and focus on creating high-quality content. It’s even more important now than ever to focus on providing valuable content and optimizing their website for various types of search engine queries for the most success.

2. Experts Weigh In: 800+ SEOs Forecast the Future of Backlinks

The SEO industry’s 2020 forecast on backlinks is in and the experts are speaking loud and clear. In a massive survey, more than 800 search engine optimizers weighed in on the next evolution of backlinks.

To gain a better understanding of the SEO landscape, the team behind the survey asked participants about the potential impact of various technologies, in particular, AI-algorithms. Here is a quick look at the highlights:

• Diversifying Anchor Texts: A majority of SEOs agree that diversifying anchor texts of backlinks will be essential to gaining traction.
• Relevance and Quality: Quality remains king when it comes to any type of marketable link building. Relevance is becoming increasingly important.
• Link Automation: Several responders suggested that link automation could become the standard in the coming year, simplifying the process for search engine optimizers.

As SEO tools and technology continue to evolve, it’s clear that backlinks are set to remain an important part of successful SEO campaigns. Businesses that are able to stay ahead of the curve and adapt their strategies to modern practices may find themselves with a significant competitive edge.

3. The Changing Linkscape: What the Data Tells Us About the Next Year

As we look ahead to the next year, our link landscape is in a state of constant flux. With the proliferation of web and mobile devices, the internet has become a dynamic place, and many of us can feel it. We know it’s changing, but what does the data tell us about the future?

It’s no surprise that the more affluent societies are experiencing a higher rate of growth in the number of links (connections) between web pages. The rise of social media and web-enabled platforms have been major catalysts for this trend, and the data suggests that it will only continue to increase in the near future. We are seeing more user-generated content, more embedded media, more rich content, more dynamic linking, and more actions being taken across multiple platforms in response to incoming signals. It’s hard to ignore these changes and their impacts on the way we interact with the web.

• User-generated content is proliferating, driving more visibility and engagement with web-based material.
• Embedded media such as videos and images are now part of the conversation.
• Dynamic linking is growing in popular as signals are being sent out from one platform to another automatically in response to events.

The data suggests that the link landscape is rapidly changing and evolving, and that the next year will see an influx of new connections, engagement, and interactions across the web. As more people come online, it’s likely that the digital environment will become even more vibrant.

4. Strategies for Success: Key Considerations for SEO Planning in 2022

• Relevant Content – In 2022, the content of your website will be key for effective SEO. Optimize for the user, not search engines. Develop content which is valuable and interesting to your target audience.
• Organic Link-Building – Focus your efforts on creating authentic fresh content and use promo channels, like social media to drive organic link-building.

In 2022, SEO success heavily depends on the quality of technical SEO. Develop an in-depth understanding of all search engine algorithms, and consistently adapt your website structure, coding, tags, and other elements to best meet ranking standards. Use website analytic tools to monitor website performance and identify opportunities for optimization.

Staying ahead of the ever-changing trends is also essential. Trends such as mobile friendly indexing, voice search, and artificial intelligence are quickly becoming a focus for strategic SEO campaigns. Constantly review and respond to the impact of emerging SEO strategies to ensure your site remains competitive and relevant.

Q&A

Q1: What is the state of backlinks for SEO in 2022?

A1: According to our survey of 800+ SEOs, backlinks will still be an important ranking factor in 2022 – but their importance will have decreased since 2019. SEOs are expecting a shift towards more natural link building practices and an emphasis on quality over quantity when it comes to links.

Q2: How can SEOs use backlinks to their advantage?

A2: Going forward, SEOs will need to focus on quality link building practices to maximize the effectiveness of their SEO efforts. This involves creating valuable content, building relationships with other websites, guest posting, and utilizing social media to earn backlinks. All of these tactics will help you build valuable, authoritative backlinks to improve your SEO.

Q3: Are there any link building tactics that won’t work moving forward?

A3: Tactics that will not be useful moving forward include link buying and link exchange as they have been shown to be ineffective and can even be penalized by search engines. Outreach to low-quality websites, link farms, and directories are also not recommended, as these too can lead to penalties and/or your website being de-indexed.

It remains to be seen how backlinks will continue to evolve and play their part in SEO in 2022, but it’s clear that link building will remain one of the key techniques in any successful SEO strategy. We can expect SEO professionals to be more creative than ever when it comes to building organic links that will benefit their site, and as such, will benefit their online presence. As backlinks continue to be examined and enhanced, the rewards will be greater now and in the future.