Why Link Building Should Be Added To Your Monthly Pest Control Work

As pest controllers, a link may not mean much to you. It’s simply just an underlined and clickable link to your page or someone else’s page. Ironically, it is actually a major part of search engine optimization that can lead to your business becoming more prominently shown online while also creating local and online partnerships with other companies. You may be scratching your head and wondering “how will this help with pest control operations,” and while links cannot spray the pests and control them, links can get you noticed by the customers looking to get that work done. While your main goals are to properly control pests and have happy customers, you also need those customers to see you in the first place. Link building is one of many components for website optimization, but it is simple and a great way to get a boost for a lesser cost.

What does link building do?

Link building connects the domain authority of two websites together, either helping you or the website you are linking to with “follow” links. The opposite of “follow” links are “no-follow” links which do not allow the domain authority to switch between websites–and does not benefit either website much. The higher your domain authority, the better Google trusts your website and will place you higher in the Google ranks.

Does having a lot of links help?

Yes and no. Having a lot of quality links help, but having links to your page just to have links can be a bad idea. Google can see the link between your page and another and if you are gathering unscrupulous links just to have them, Google will know and you will get punished. Punishment can be a lower placement on Google or higher costs for paid advertising to name a few. This is where the phrases “white hat” and “black hat” link building come in. White hat is links that are acquired legally, payments are made, or in-kind exchanges are made such as blog posts and advertising for the links. Black hat links are links to websites that are not actually real or just have garbled information on there simply to create the link. Google knows this, so don’t think you can outsmart them when trying to get quantity over quality. Try and find link opportunities directly or closely related to pest control such as on a pest control magazines website or a website regarding a certain species of pests. Wherever you can place some information and receive a link to your page can help as Google sees this as a quality link.

How can I obtain links?

As pest controllers, you may want to offer blog posting for home and garden publications with a link to your website for link building. You may also want to partner with bloggers who focus on home and garden work as well–which can be easier links to obtain (might have less domain authority). For local link building opportunities, you may want to sponsor an event or just a local chamber of commerce to have your website and link listed in the directory. Google can see where your links are originating from so it’s a great way to create local SEO so that when people are searching for “pest control” in your area, your ads will come up.

Why bother link building?

Link building can be a very easy way to make it up the ranks without having much of an issue. Sometimes, a blog post doesn’t require money to be exchanged but can be done for an in-kind free inspection and treatment. You can also haggle for local sponsorship pricing to have your link sponsor’s page. It isn’t as set and dry as Adwords where you are paying a price for each click. You have a bit more control over link building and what the exchange will be for. Even though pest control and link building do not seem to make sense together, every business can benefit from taking the time to find ways to link to your website from other quality websites.