Blog Post

If you’re still cold-pitching random blogs or buying your way into sketchy directories, I’ve got news: that ship has sailed—and it took your rankings with it. In 2025, search engines are smarter, user behavior matters more, and spam filters? Relentless.

But here’s the good part: if you’re playing it smart, credible mentions from relevant sources still work beautifully. And that’s exactly what I focus on.

• How I earn genuine references that move rankings
  
• Where I still guest post (and why I avoid most “write for us” traps)
  
• Why I stopped chasing numbers and started focusing on context
  
• Which outreach tactics consistently get replies (not ghosted)
  
• How I reclaim old mentions and turn them into fresh wins

Years ago, it was about who could collect the most URLs. Today? It’s about who can earn the right ones.

I focus on credibility, not quantity. A single relevant mention from a trusted site often carries more weight than dozens of generic ones. It’s not just about boosting visibility—it’s about building trust with both users and crawlers.

Here’s the rule I follow: if I wouldn’t show the referring site to a client or colleague, I don’t want their mention.

Don’t let the phrase scare you. I’m not talking press releases from 1999.

Instead, I create data-driven or topical content that earns coverage. Sometimes it’s a research summary, other times it’s just a well-timed take on industry news. Journalists and bloggers love content that’s insightful and easy to cite.

And I always make it easy for them—with pre-built quotes, charts, or stats ready to embed.

Bonus tip: offering exclusive insights to a single publication before public release often earns stronger exposure.

No one wants another cold pitch that feels like a template.

My outreach style is short, polite, and painfully specific. I make sure the recipient knows:

• Who I am
  
• Why I’m writing to them
  
• Exactly what’s in it for them or their audience
  

I also never say things like “I came across your blog and was impressed…” because everyone knows that’s just filler. Be human, be clear, and never ask for a favor without giving something first.

If you need a guide that shows how I handle this without sounding desperate, I’ve outlined it right here.

Here’s a free win most people skip.

If someone mentioned your brand but didn’t link to it, that’s a missed opportunity. Same if an older page used to send traffic your way but now returns a 404.

I audit my site regularly to find:

• Unlinked mentions
  
• Dead inbound URLs
  
• Pages that once got credited but now redirect oddly
  

I send a quick, friendly message asking for the update—and 30–40% of the time, they’re happy to help.

Need help with this one? See how I use broken link cleanup as part of my monthly routine.

Look, guest posting still works—but only if the site is selective and the content is solid.

I never post on sites that accept every pitch. I aim for blogs that have editorial standards, real traffic, and clear topical alignment.

A few tips that keep me in editors’ good graces:

• I pitch one specific idea, not a list of five
  
• I never demand dofollow attribution
  
• I always offer to update or rewrite if needed
  

For more do’s and don’ts, my take is here: Guest posting that actually works

People love helpful pages. So do search engines.

I identify curated directories and recommendation lists in my industry—especially those tied to universities, associations, or topical blogs. Then I write something actually useful (a guide, a calculator, a checklist), and politely suggest it for inclusion.

If it helps their readers, they’ll usually say yes.

Pro tip: Make your resource dead simple to scan. Editors aren’t going to link to a wall of text.

Infographics have lost their novelty—but they haven’t lost their value.

If you can turn data into a clean visual (or an interactive calculator, or a downloadable tool), you’re already ahead of most. These types of assets get picked up passively by bloggers and newsletters without you having to beg.

One of my best passive performers? A structured data checklist PDF that still gets shares and referrals months later.

Want to see another example in action? Here’s how I earn high-authority citations using content-based tools.

You don’t need to go external to make an impact.

Proper internal connections between your content pages help:

• Reinforce topical relevance
  
• Guide crawlers
  
• Reduce bounce rates
  

But don’t turn every sentence into a link. I keep my anchors diverse and relevant, and I regularly audit older posts to connect them with newer resources.

You can see my internal strategy breakdown right here.

I monitor referrer traffic, engagement metrics, and anchor diversity.

Not because I’m obsessed with dashboards (okay, maybe a little), but because I want to know what’s working and what’s flatlining. If one of my outreach strategies gets no replies, I tweak. If a referrer sends traffic but no conversions, I rethink the target.

And yes, I track everything down to click paths and goal completions. Not because I enjoy spreadsheets, but because I prefer results.

Want a system? Here’s how I set up tracking: Tracking link campaigns

Let’s just say there’s a graveyard of “fast and easy” strategies that used to work:

• Buying shoutouts from irrelevant blogs
  
• Joining blogroll link wheels
  
• Submitting to low-effort directories
  

If you can buy it for $5 on Fiverr, it’s probably not something I want near my site.

Solid digital visibility doesn’t come from hacks—it comes from relevance.

That means building helpful content, showing up in the right places, and earning mentions that make sense contextually. I’ve stopped chasing volume and started focusing on how my site shows up in the bigger picture.

That shift? Changed everything.

If you’re just getting started, I suggest reading What is link building first. Then head over to how to build high-quality backlinks without tripping any red flags.

And if you’re already in the game but tired of dead ends, start here: find better opportunities. No shortcuts—just smart moves.