Link Building In Vancouver

Vancouver is a competitive digital landscape. From real estate in Yaletown to tech startups in Mount Pleasant, everyone is vying for the top spot on Google. You might have great content and a fast website, but without authority, you won’t rank for competitive terms.

That’s where link building comes in. As a key pillar of our Vancouver SEO services, link building signals to search engines that your business is a trusted player in the local market. Here is how to do it right in British Columbia.

 

The SEO Benefits Of Link Building

First, let’s clear up what a backlink actually is. Anytime a post on another site includes a link to your own, it counts as a backlink. If you want better rankings, your goal should be to increase the number of backlinks your site has; they’re a significant ranking factor.

The number of high-quality backlinks that your site has directly correlates with its rankings and domain authority. Quality is an important word to take note of here. You shouldn’t spam your website URL on every website possible. Instead, you’ll see greater benefits by working with sites that are reputable and trusted by Google—in other words, sites with high rankings of their own.

 

Why “Local” Links Matter for Vancouver SEO

You don’t just need any backlinks; you need links that scream “Vancouver.” When a local entity—like the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade or a popular blog like Vancouver Is Awesome—links to your site, it tells Google you are relevant to this specific geography.

This is crucial for dominating the “Map Pack” and organic results for keywords like “SEO Vancouver” or “best [your industry] in Vancouver.” 

 

Write Content For Others To Link To

Imagine that you could acquire backlinks without sending a single email—that’s the power that high-quality content has to offer.

Start by identifying what kind of content you can offer that others are searching for. If you’re a woodworker, maybe that’s a listicle of the best and worst handsaws in Vancouver. A financial advisor might compile a few high-interest savings accounts that locals can take advantage of.

If you work with data, consider making an infographic or research project. Compiling statistics into a comprehensive post is a useful resource, and a great way to naturally acquire backlinks. 

 

Use Local Directories

When people in Vancouver are searching for the next restaurant, computer store, or hair salon to visit, they often turn to popular directories. Some websites are industry-specific, while others focus on local businesses in Vancouver. 

If you create a profile for your business on a local directory, you net a free link out of it. Better yet, it helps fellow Vancouverites find you.

 

Finding High-Quality Link Opportunities

When you’re looking for candidates to reach out to, prioritize the following:

  • Similar industries. It doesn’t make much sense to get a link from a beauty how-to website if your business offers landscaping services.
  • Site authority & traffic. What separates the high-ranking sites from the ones filled with spam? Oftentimes, it comes down to domain authority. Look for sites with high DA ratings. 

You might have to sift through dozens or hundreds of sites before finding a good link opportunity. But if you’re hoping to climb the rankings in Vancouver search results, you’ll need to find high-quality sites to pitch to.

 

Offer Something Valuable

High authority websites get dozens of pitches each day from link builders like you; your email will just be another fish in English Bay unless you find strategies that differentiate your pitches from your competitors.

There are more than a few ways you can go about this. Here are some suggestions:

  • Find broken links on a blog that are posted on the website you’re targeting. Then, pitch your own content instead. Make sure to highlight the advantages of your content, like how it’s more recent, well-researched, or original than the other piece.
  • Look for articles that have broken links. Write content that fills that niche, then bring the broken link to the attention of that publisher. Offer to link your blog instead!
  • Write a genuine and personalized pitch. Reach out to the website owner or blog manager directly, and let them know that you are interested in being part of the conversation. 

We suggest using a blend of outreach strategies to get a diverse variety of links.

Quality vs. Quantity in the 604

A common mistake is buying hundreds of low-quality links from overseas directories. This will hurt your Vancouver SEO efforts more than it helps.

A single link from a relevant local partner (like a supplier in Surrey or a distributor in Richmond) is worth more than 100 spammy links. Google wants to see a natural “neighbourhood” of links around your site.

Don’t Have Time for Outreach?
Work with our SEO agency in Vancouver.

Finding opportunities, writing pitches, and negotiating with editors takes time—time you should be spending running your business.

At First Rank, we handle the heavy lifting. Our Vancouver SEO agency team has established relationships with publishers and local networks to secure the high-quality links that actually move the needle.

Ready to build your authority? Contact us today to discuss a custom link-building strategy for your business.