The Value of Backlink Testing

Websites are built and rated based on their traffic, attention, and connections as well as their content. All of the components need to be performed correctly, or search engines end up downgrading a site and passing it over in score versus those that are far more receptive and connected.

No surprise, many companies, and organizations that build a site then try to connect it as much as possible to other sites with links.

However, if those links aren’t tested and maintained, they can also contribute a lower score instead of an improvement. This is where a backlink tester becomes so important.

Start With the Basics

Links don’t stay in working order and remain relevant permanently. The sites they belong to go stagnant, pages change, content moves around, and more. That means the connection that was worthwhile to have at one point could end up being useless or worse, an undesirable connection less than a year later. The only way to know for sure is to monitor the links and continue to make sure they produce relevant, viable traffic connections to a given site.

Ideally, links that you provide outflow should have links reciprocated back to your site. This takes time and is often set up by arrangement. So, once they are in place, you want them to stay viable so that traffic continues to find your site. You have a vested interest in making sure these connections stay alive and accurate.

Add in the Search Engine Factor

In addition to the traffic that uses the link in and out of your site, search engines also find connections to your site via backlinks as well. That adds to a site’s score and ranking. The more quality connections to your site from other locations, the higher your score as it produces more throughput of traffic. A solid bank of links that are working and al will definitely score a site far better than a site with great content but few links. The magic sweet spot that’s even better is to do with both good links and content.

The most basic version of a backlink checker is pretty straightforward. A user enters the URL address of the home website that he wants to check in the field of the online tool. The program then reviews the site and provides an assortment of data including all of the links pointing to the user’s website, which ones are performing best, the number of unique external websites connected and pointing to the user’s website, and the scoring of the links themselves. This last part is extremely helpful as it rates and identifies which links should be kept and which should be considered for removal or replacement.

An additional benefit not everyone takes advantage of is that backlink checker tools also typically provide insight into the actual content that a link is associated with at the other end of the connection. This is valuable because it influences what kind of traffic you will use the link to find the user’s website. It’s a strong factor in what kind of folks decide to click on the link and those that don’t.

Utilize the Findings to Make Improvements

Obviously, new information isn’t useful unless one uses it to make changes. Backlink tester information provides insights and a feedback loop on what might be advantageous changes to a user’s website. Doing so could improve the traffic, but more importantly, it could improve the search engine ranking for the user’s site. The actual results depend on which changes are followed through and then monitored. Backlink tester results are not a one-shot deal. Good sites are built over time with build, testing, evaluation, changes, more time, and testing again, repeatedly. So, plan to put some time into the effort. It won’t be a one-day affair to produce a solid, high-ranking website.