Off-page SEO is everything you do outside your website to help search engines trust your site and show it higher in search results. It’s not about the words on your pages — it’s about signals from other sites and from people that tell search engines your site is useful and reputable. Good off-page SEO helps your site get more visitors, builds your brand, and supports the work you do on your pages. (Backlinko)
This guide explains the main off-page techniques in plain language and gives short examples you can use right away.
Backlinks — the foundation
A backlink is a link from another website to yours. Search engines treat high-quality backlinks like votes: when trusted sites link to you, it says your content matters. But not all links are equal. Links from well-known, relevant sites help much more than links from low-quality or unrelated pages.
Example: If a popular industry blog writes an article about “how to choose a lawn care service” and links to your lawn care pricing page, that backlink is valuable. It brings readers and signals authority. Tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush help find good link opportunities and check who links to your competitors. (TechRadar)
Guest posting — share helpful content on other sites
Guest posting means writing an article for another website in exchange for a link back to your site. When you publish useful, original content on a respected site, you get exposure and a link that can drive traffic.
Example: You write a clear guide about seasonal yard care and publish it on a gardening magazine site. The article links back to a related page on your site. Besides the direct link, readers who like your piece may search for your brand and follow you on social media. Be careful: always prioritize quality and relevance over getting many low-value placements. (OptinMonster)
Digital PR and news coverage — get brand mentions
Digital PR is about earning coverage on news sites, blogs, and industry portals. A news mention or feature can generate high-authority backlinks and increase branded searches — both strong off-page signals.
Example: Launch a small study or a useful tool (like a simple lawn size calculator) and pitch it to local news sites and niche blogs. If they cover it, you may get links and social shares, and people will start searching your brand name more often — a positive signal for search engines. (Backlinko)
Influencer outreach and collaborations
Working with influencers or well-known people in your niche can produce traffic, social buzz, and sometimes links. Influencers can mention your product or service, make a short review, or include your site in their resource list.
Example: An influencer posts a short video showing a “before and after” lawn cleanup and mentions your booking page. Even if the link is not followed (some social sites use nofollow), the visibility and direct traffic help your brand and may lead to other sites linking to you. (Search Atlas - Advanced SEO Software)
Content promotion and linkable assets
Create content that other sites want to link to — not thin pages but useful, original resources. These are often called “linkable assets”: long guides, original research, calculators, or helpful lists.
Example: Publish a comprehensive “Small Yard Lawn Care” guide with photos, tips, and a printable checklist. Reach out to gardening forums, local community pages, and blogs asking them to reference your guide when they discuss small yard care. A few good links from related sites will lift your page in search results. (Institute of Digital & Content Marketing)
Broken link building — a smart outreach tactic
Broken link building is finding broken links on other sites and offering your content as a replacement. It helps webmasters fix issues while earning you a link.
Example: You find a gardening blog page that links to a now-removed “small yard lawn tips” article. You email the webmaster, point out the broken link, and suggest your up-to-date guide as a replacement. If they accept, you get a natural, helpful backlink.
Social signals and brand mentions
Social shares and brand mentions on social platforms do not always give direct ranking boosts, but they increase visibility and can lead to links. People who find your content on social media may link to it from blogs or forums.
Example: Share a short video clip of a lawn makeover on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If local community groups share it, more people will visit and some may reference your content on their own blogs. Over time, these mentions help your online reputation. (Search Atlas - Advanced SEO Software)
Reviews, directories, and local citations
For local businesses, listing your business on directories (Google Business Profile, Yelp, local chambers) and collecting positive reviews is essential. These local citations tell search engines you are real and trusted in your area.
Example: Encourage satisfied customers to leave short reviews on Google and Yelp. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are consistent across directories. This consistency helps local search rankings and makes it easier for customers to find you.
Resource pages and expert roundups
Many websites keep resource pages or publish expert roundups. Getting listed on these pages can be a steady source of quality backlinks.
Example: Reach out to sites that maintain a “Best Lawn Care Resources” page and propose your guide. Or contribute a short expert tip for a roundup about “Home Maintenance in Small Gardens” and ask for a link to your relevant article.
Monitoring and reclaiming links or mentions
Sometimes other sites mention your brand without linking. Use monitoring tools to find these unlinked mentions and ask the webmaster to add a link. This is a low-effort way to gain extra backlinks.
Example: If a blog mentions your company name but forgets the link, politely request that they add it. Many webmasters are happy to correct and add links for accuracy.
Practical tips to start today
Pick one or two off-page techniques and do them well. Quality beats quantity. A few practical steps:
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Create one strong, helpful resource people will want to link to (a detailed guide or tool). (Institute of Digital & Content Marketing)
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List your business on major local directories and ask customers for reviews.
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Do targeted outreach: contact a few relevant blogs for guest posts or to replace broken links.
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Track who links to your competitors and try to earn similar high-quality links using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. (TechRadar)
What to avoid
Avoid low-quality link schemes: buying large volumes of cheap links, joining link farms, or placing links in unrelated directories. These tactics can harm more than help. Focus on natural, relevant relationships and content that genuinely helps people. (Search Atlas - Advanced SEO Software)
Measuring success
Off-page SEO results take time. Track these metrics to know if your work pays off:
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Organic traffic growth to the pages you target.
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Number and quality of new backlinks (domains linking to you).
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Branded searches and direct traffic increases.
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Local ranking improvements and review count for local businesses.
Use backlink tools and Google Search Console to monitor links and search impressions. High-quality links from respected sites tend to bring the best, longer-lasting results. (TechRadar)
Final thoughts
Off-page SEO is about building trust and reputation outside your website. It mixes creativity, relationships, and patient work. Start with one useful content piece, promote it thoughtfully, and build honest relationships with other sites and people in your niche. Over time, those external signals will help search engines see your site as more useful and reliable, and your rankings will improve.