How to Create a Winning Link Building Plan in 2025 (That Actually Works)

Link building is hard work!

Every SEO knows that links move the needle. But getting those links isn’t easy.

If you’ve ever done any of the following:

• Wasted time on futile outreach.
• Built links that have been removed.
• Learned the hard way that not all links are good.

Then you’ll want to keep reading!

In this guide, we’ll reveal an actionable link building plan you can use to avoid these headaches and consistently earn high-quality backlinks.

You’ll learn how build links the right way in 3 simple steps..

What Is a Link Building Plan?

A link building plan is a roadmap for acquiring high-quality backlinks to your website.

Backlinks signal to search engines that your site is credible and authoritative. They’re one of the most critical ranking factors in SEO.

Anyone claiming they rank “without link building” probably isn’t showing the full story. (Spoiler: they’re building links.)

It’s so weird when people send out ‘without building links!’ case studies, show the URLs, and then 30 seconds later it’s clear that… there was definitely link building: pic.twitter.com/c4xUwwTDIM

— Ian Howells (@ianhowells) April 24, 2024

Step 1: Lay the Foundation with Easy Wins

Foundation links are backlinks that establish your website as a credible and legitimate entity. They are a key part of any successful link building strategy.

There are three simple, high-impact tactics you can use to build a foundation of links and citations.

Perform a Citation Audit

Your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) need to be consistent across the web.

Why?

Because inconsistent information confuses search engines and potential customers.

Do not spend a ton of time doing this manually.

While this is an important task, it’s a very time-consuming one. Get this out of the way so you can spend time focusing on ranking for your keywords!

You can use SEO tools like Moz Local or BrightLocal to scan for your existing citations.

Check for typos, outdated phone numbers, or discrepancies in your NAP information. Once you identify errors, update your details on each platform.

Most tools let you edit directly or provide instructions for manual fixes.

If your client’s business has moved or changed its phone number, make fixing old listings a priority.

Submit to High-Quality Directories

Directory links are essential for building a trustworthy link profile and boosting your local SEO efforts.

In a recent survey, SEOs ranked link signals and citation signals among the most important factors for ranking in Google’s Local Pack:

Focus on building local citations from directories that carry authority and are relevant to your business. That could include Yelp, BBB (Better Business Bureau), and other trusted directories.

You’ll also want to take advantage of any niche-specific directories.

For example, if you’re working with a medical professional, submit to health-focused directories like Healthgrades or Zocdoc. For home services, consider directories like Houzz and Angie’s List.

Make sure you’re focusing on high-quality sites. If the directory looks outdated or charges fees without offering real value, it’s probably not worth your time.

Leverage Press Releases

Press releases can be a powerful link building tool.

You can pick up dozens of links from high authority sites with a single press release.

But you need to have something newsworthy and relevant to share. That could be:

• Product launches
• Company milestones
• Unique stories
• Data insights

In a recent survey, 37% of journalists said that a relevant subject was the most important factor in securing coverage of a press release.

If your press release doesn’t address a topic that resonates with their target audience, it’s unlikely to gain traction.

Keep the focus on why the news matters to the audience, not just your business.

Step 2: Build Links Consistently

Once you have built a foundation of links, the next step is creating a natural link profile.

You don’t want 20 links in one month then nothing for the next 6 months. Suspicious spikes in activity can be detected as an attempt to manipulate your rankings.

The only way you’ll get a sudden influx of links is if you’ve become a viral sensation overnight or used spammy link building techniques.

Taking shortcuts, like buying a ton of links on Fiverr, can backfire.

5 months ago, I boosted the DR of one of my sites to 50 with a link building service from Fiverr.

Search impressions and clicks did not increase. In fact, it looks like it decreased.

Lesson learnt: Do not buy backlink building service from Fiverr! https://t.co/WPayhDwqYZ pic.twitter.com/ryZm6s4XIK

— Yifan Goh (@imgyf) November 12, 2024

Not all backlinks are created equal.

Building high-quality links consistently is the only way to see sustainable, long-term growth.

Create a Link Building Calendar

You need to be consistent and intentional with your link building efforts.

Start by setting a clear monthly goal. That could be 5–10 high-quality backlinks.

Then, break it into manageable steps.

Spend the first week finding prospects that fit your niche. Use the next to send personalized outreach emails. In the final week, follow up to secure those links.

Effective link building strategies mimic organic backlink growth. A consistent approach reflects the kind of genuine interest and engagement that real users and other websites show to a high-quality, growing website.

Blogger Outreach

Blogger outreach is a strategy that involves working with bloggers to naturally include your links in their content.

It’s a win-win.

They get valuable input, and you get contextual backlinks that boost your SEO.

Start by finding bloggers in your niche using tools like Ahrefs or Semrush. Focus on sites with active audiences and strong authority.

Then, pitch ideas that fit their content. Instead of asking for a guest post, offer to share insights, data, or resources they can use in their next article.

Personalize your pitch and aim to build relationships, not just backlinks. Bloggers are more likely to work with you again if you show you’re in it for the long term.

Sounds like too much hard work?

You can use our blogger outreach service. We can connect you with relevant websites and secure in-content links on high-quality sites. So you can sit back and watch your search engine rankings climb.

Niche Edits

Niche edits are a smart way to build high-quality links while keeping your backlink profile looking natural.

Instead of creating new content, you add your link to existing, relevant pages. These indexed pages often already attract traffic and have backlinks of their own.

Why is this important?

A natural link profile includes links from fresh and older content. If all your links come from new pages, it can look unnatural to search engines.

Niche edits balance this out by distributing your links across established content.

Use link building tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to find relevant articles with strong traffic and backlinks.

Reach out to relevant sites and offer to improve their content with your resource. Always focus on value and stick to high-quality sites.

Make sure you pay attention to your anchor text.

Want you optimise your backlink anchor text?

Look at the average anchor text distribution of the top five pages.

How does yours compare?

If your page is heavier on exact match anchors than all of those pages, for example, you might want to dumb it down.

— Martin Hayman (@MartinHayman) August 23, 2022

You want to avoid overusing exact-match keyword anchors. Instead, use a natural mix of branded, generic, and keyword-rich anchors.

Learn more about how to keep your links looking natural in our anchor text distribution guide.

Step 3: High-Value Link Building Tactics

Link building overall is a surefire way to beat your competition in the SERPs. But, when you’re dealing with competitive industries, you’ll need an ace up your sleeve.

Here are three advanced techniques to help you land more links from high-authority sites.

PR Campaigns

PR Campaigns are a great way to earn backlinks from high-authority sites like Forbes, Business Insider, or niche publications.

Journalists are always looking for new angles and emerging stories to cover.

PR campaigns are the perfect way to get in front of these journalists; whether it’s by providing a quick reactive quote or a full-blown data-driven campaign, you can land valuable links to your website.

Media Placements

Premium media placements are backlinks from high-traffic, high-authority sites.

These links can drive serious results. But they require a strategic approach.

Start by finding publishers in your niche. Use LinkedIn to connect with editors and writers, then engage with their content to build a genuine relationship.

Once you’ve established trust, send a personalized pitch offering unique insights or resources they can use in their articles.

Want to save time?

Use FATJOE to secure premium media placements for you. We handle the outreach and ensure your links land on high-authority sites.

Linkable Assets

Linkable assets are valuable, unique content that naturally attracts backlinks. They’re the kind of resources people want to share and link to.

That could be an ultimate guide, original research with unique data, or interactive tools like calculators that solve problems.

You can research what’s working in your niche using tools like BuzzSumo.

Google is also a great resource for digital PR ideas. Use search operators like intitle:revealed or intitle:most to find trending topics and successful formats.

Digital PR link building tip:

Use advanced Google search operators to find Digital PR ideas that are most likely to be picked up by popular outlets.

Here is an example:

“site: publisher_domain intitle:revealed intitle:most”

(Replace publisher_domain with any news outlet… pic.twitter.com/ioh9JOE3EL

— Fery Kaszoni (@FeryKaszoni) September 1, 2024

Once you’ve created your asset, pitch it to bloggers, influencers, and journalists to maximize exposure and earn quality backlinks.

Create a Winning Link Building Strategy for 2025

Link building isn’t about quick wins. It’s a long-term strategy.

Start with trustworthy links to set a strong foundation. Then, focus on steady, consistent growth.

In competitive niches, think bigger. Use digital PR strategies to climb to the top of the SERPs.

Get it right, and you’ll rank higher and build real authority for your brand.