We’ve all been in this situation before, you start a blog in what you think will be an extremely profitable niche. At first it looks great, low competition and high payout! You quickly buy a keyword rich domain, host it on your reseller account and start churning them posts out.
And then it hits you, how am I going to build high quality relevant links if no one else has a blog on this topic?
You see, outside of the internet marketing and blogging niche blogs aren’t very common, and to some people linking out is a sin! They simply don’t want to give YOU any of THEIR valuable PageRank, understandable.
So how can you really build links to your niche blog?
Well there are many ways, but if you are looking for high quality links, even just highly relevant links here are a few ways:
Article Directories
Firstly I am referring to article directories with dofollow enabled in the resource box such as ezinearticles. The great thing about article directories is because you are creating the content you have full control over, most importantly, anchor text. But also keyword density, article relevancy and so on. Which makes article directories a great way to start. Just to get you started I made a list of the top 20 article directories here: Article Directories with High PR.
Guest post
So you can’t find any blogs in your niche, how about a wider search? For example if your niche is Volvo v90 cars try to find a Volvo blog, if that fails try simply a car blog. It’s still relevant and they will appreciate your specialist knowledge.
Forums
Similar to the guest post idea, find blogs based around your niche, there is a good chance they will have a special section for your niche, become the expert in that section, put some links in your forum signature and your good to go! Although forum links are low quality they are easy to get, so it may be a case of quantity over quality.
Link Bait
You may think link bait is impossible outside of the blogging niche is impossible, let me tell you know it is not. From my experience the best types of link bait are the ones which don’t see like link bait, instead seem like your trying to help the industry. Here are some examples:
Widget – Maybe there is some kind of calculation you must use in your industry on a day to day basis, it could be as simple as converting inches to millimetres. Simply create a widget and make it easy for others to use on their site, they’ll love you for it and you gain some link juice.
Video – When you work for a company which sells products to the masses you will repeatably get asked the same questions over and over, hence why we have FAQ sections. But sometimes the concept is too difficult for a FAQ section and needs to be answered by a human explanation.
Create videos which answer these questions and allow companies to link to it, takes the work off their load and gains you some link love!
Special Bonus
I’ve been around long enough to understand it can be hard to think of inventive link bait ideas for tough niches, so for all of this week I am going to offer FREE brainstorming sessions, just hit me up through email, msn or skype!
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Good stuff, Danny Boy! I appreciate the link to the article directories. I need to get into that for one of my sites…maybe all my sites. I am getting into guest posting and never really visit forums in the first place. Not sure why, guess there is just too much going on on the Internet and cannot get into it all.
As for the link bait brainstorms, get ready cause I am going to be in your ear…or eye. LOL!
Freddies last blog post..Blog Contest a Linkers Blog
As long as you find all the “Do-follow” places, link building could be a cinch if you don’t get caught
-Mike
Cheers for the article link places…I have a few ‘extreme niche’ sites that I really need to get a move on with to try and monetise – and because of the nature of them its hard to advertise it. I’ll definatly try the articles one though!
Dans last blog post..How CommentLuv Can Help Find Hackers
Danny, can I get your opinion regarding directory submission (not article directory). Do you think it is still effective to submit link in web directory (of course in proper category)?
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I think directories are definitely still a good option Hussein, although you may need over 1000+ to start seeing some real benefits.
Another place to get links that are in-content, or contextual links with no footprint is LinkXL.com Linkbuilding is a popular way to help your search engine rankings increase.
I don’t personally believe in many directory submissions (not that many great ones anymore) or article submission as a solid strategy anymore. Unless you modify the text slightly of each article submitted and mix up the trackback paragraph with your anchor text.
I don’t know much about directory submissions. Can anyone tell me what it is?
Besides, its great that you are offering free brainstorming sessions. I’m been hoping to chat with you for a long time.
Good stuff, Danny. I would say my 2 preferred methods of getting backlinks is guest posting and dofollow social media sites. Even in unique niches, these two methods work well.
As Freddie said above, i too don’t participate too much in forums, other than DP and SP. And when i am there, its not in the forums so much, as the marketplaces they have.
I always am accepting guest posts at my G34 Media blog. So anyone who wants a link from there. Do let me know. Send me an email via my contact form.
And i would love to take you up on your “free brainstorming session”. Lord knows i need it. What is your skype handle?
Missy (from G34 Media)s last blog post..11 Blogs You Should Be Reading If You’re A Blogger
Hi,
Nice post on very cathcy topic its good, I bookmarked it.
I always like to create a few squidoo lenses for a few links instead of article submission. Not sure if they are do-follow or not, but usually they rank well in Google and can provide a bit of traffic.
As for getting backlinks in Niches another option would be to create a badge, (like an image or animated gif) where your provide the code for people to put the badge on there site, and then under the badge you provide a link to your site. Does that make sense?
Living on Adsense Blogs last blog post..A Night of Whiskey and Fine Cigars Puts Blogging Back on Track
Have you ever seen a web directory such as DMOZ, Ganesh? Well there are other 5000 of them which you can submit to for free and potentially get a backlink for free.
I love guest posting, although sometimes it is hard to get something together when you are low on time.
My Skype is linkersblog, I look forward to speaking with you.
Of course, if you weren’t doing anything wrong, you’d have no reason to fear getting “caught”.
Dennis Edells last blog post..A Monkey Can Do Your Job!
Off topic, but I am loving your header. Did you create it?
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Nice post Danny, I recently got into the weight loss niche and experienced pretty much the exact same thing, very few blogs with the top commentator plugin, none of the big sites are actually blogs so they don’t link out, the blogs that are willing to link are small.
so what did i do? im still in the stage of adding more content before i promote the site en-masse, so then it would be to surf the forums and write articles. fortunately for me, nearly all the blogs i have encountered so far are all dofollow so mass commenting is going to be the primary link building tactic.
Kahthans last blog post..My Latest Project – The Fat Loss School
Now this November 08 I started my new units conversions site, powered by WP system, and there is so much competition in this niche. Google indexed it quite well for the start but building links as it appears will have to be the helping way as it appears. Can’t get many commenter’s either
DO YOU HEAR ME 
thanks; with compliments and anticipation!
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I found one of the best ways to find relevant, niche website to get links from, is a tool called Trackur. It is primarily meant to monitor your brand online, however I have found it to be a better link building tool. You enter a keyword that you are looking to rank for and the tool will scour the web for websites, blogs, forums, discussion boards, videos, images, and social media sites for any mention of the keyword. The tool is reasonably priced for what it can do, or you can try their free trial before you buy. Hope this helps with everyone link building campaigns.
Thanks for the answer. 1000is a big number and I think it might take some time for me to reach that submission amount. I don’t want to hire those directory submitter because I don’t have any trust on them and I also want to playsafe.
Husseins last blog post..Why Do You Do Blog Commenting
I have actually tried blog carnival for one of my niche blog and was actually getting pretty fantastic results from it. There are a few blog carnivals that are having dofollow links which could be an alternative option to building links for very niche blogs. Yet another quality post Danny.
Wei Liang
Wei Liang | ABloggerBlogs last blog post..Project4Hire – A Freelance Marketplace
The articles directories is a totally new one for me. Thanks for the great idea!
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The articles directory is a new one for me. Thanks for the great tip!
SEO Tips Blogs last blog post..5 Free SEO Tools You’re Probably Not Using Yet
I just recently send in a guest post on Problogger and I’m hoping it gets excepted. I think getting a free link from Darren will be so beneficial to me.
One thing that I think you could have mentione though is reviews. You can order reviews in order to build your blacklinks as well.
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Great article Danny thanks for being so giving. Question about guest blogging, is there a blog directory or list that you or anyone else knows of to contact people in your niche? – Thanks
Sorry I don’t know anywhere like that, if you hang around your niche for even a month I’m sure you will notice the A-Listers, then you can just send them an email.
I think you can still use the regular link building tactics, article marketing, directories, forums, If the niche is a profitable one i think you will do whatever it takes to get your links out there.
Jason
Great post Danny. I have a different problem where I’m trying to promote a site in a very competitive niche. Its proving to be a nightmare to rank compared to my other sites!
I’ve thought about this quite a bit and wondered if there were lists of blogs in specific niches to share comments. Of course there won’t be as many in number and you give quite a few alternatives to pick up links. Thanks for the info.
Matt Helphreys last blog post..Develop a Link Building Strategy
I like forums the most. You can place any link with any anchor text. You just have to check if you can put signature and if the sig isn’t nofollow.
Guest posting, guest posting, guest posting! That’s what I always say. You get free backlink or two AND you get a new audience for your work. And if you’re good enough you’ll get new readers. It’s a win-win situation.