Skip to content

Are Any Link Building Techniques Really Outdated?

Link building is one of many ways that you can optimise your website in order to increase its ranking in search engine results and boost traffic and conversions. But because SEO policies are regularly changing, you need to keep up with the latest rules, especially when it comes to what link buildingLink building is a…
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Link building is one of many ways that you can optimise your website in order to increase its ranking in search engine results and boost traffic and conversions. But because SEO policies are regularly changing, you need to keep up with the latest rules, especially when it comes to what link building techniques you choose to use. So if you are still using the same old techniques that you have been using for years, they may very well be outdated, and they could be doing more harm than good to your website.

Are you still using the following outdated link building techniques? If so, it is time to update your SEO strategy.

Posting a Lot of Blog Comments

The majority of blogs will contain a section for comments at the bottom, and website owners have been using these comment boxes as an opportunity to leave a link back to their websites on relevant blogs.

But because Google now monitors the anchor text that contains a hyperlink in a comment, you have to be cautious. Commenting on blogs could end up distorting the anchor text and forcing you to leave behind a backlink with identical anchors, and this could alert Google.

Submitting to a Bunch of Directories

A directory is basically a list of websites that are categorised by their subject matter, topic, or industry. There are still many directories that you can find in just about every niche that you can come up with, and most of them will let you submit your website to them for free. This provides you with a totally free and easy backlink to your site and potentially a good boost in traffic.

So what’s the problem with submitting your site to one or more directories? Well, consider how often people use directories today. Just like the phonebook, online directories provide redundant information that can easily be found elsewhere, and with search engines providing better, more accurate results in seconds, most people simply do a search and leave it at that. Plus, because Google no longer recognises directory sites as having any value for SEO, you could be penalised for submitting your site to too many directories.

Using Content Farms

By submitting articles to content farm websites like Squidoo and Hubpages, you could potentially get a lot of backlinks to your website. And this worked for a while, but not anymore.

Panda is Google’s new algorithm that identifies and gets rid of the SEO value of content farms, which tend to be filled with a lot of low-value articles filled with spammy content. Google now drops these content farms from its rankings, thereby devaluing the backlinks found on their pages.

To improve your website’s SEO, make sure you always stay on top of the latest rules, especially when it comes to link building strategies, as many of them are now outdated. This will ensure that the strategies you implement actually help your site, rather than hinder it, when it comes to where it ranks in search engine results.

James Owen, Co-Founder & Head Of Search

James has been involved in SEO and digital marketing projects since 2007. James has led many SEO projects for well-known brands in Travel, Gaming and Retail such as Jackpotjoy, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com, Expedia, Betway, Gumtree, 888, Ax Paris, Ebyuer, Ebay, Hotels combined, Smyths toys, love honey and Pearson to name a few. James has also been a speaker at SEO and digital marketing conferences and events such as Brighton SEO.

View all Downloads

Downloads

eBook: Finding the Perfect Link Building Partner

Find the Perfect Link Building Partner

Here is how to find the perfect link building partner, download today!

Download
The cover of an e-book titled 'SEO: The Basics', features a person's hands typing on a laptop.

SEO: The Basics

Download our Basic SEO Guide to help you build traffic today!

Download
The cover image of our e-book titled 'Content Marketing How-To Guide', portraying an individual typing on a laptop.

Content Marketing – How-to Guide

What is Content Marketing? Download Our How-To Guide Today!

Download
View the Blog

You may also be interested in...

The December 2025 Google Core Update Is Complete: What Does It All Mean?

When a Google core update is being rolled out, digital marketers everywhere eagerly wait to…

Why Digital PR Campaigns Are Your Brand’s Loudest Megaphone

Digital PR for SEO is one of the most powerful link-building strategies for any brand. It generates not just links, but the right links, and serves as a supercharged authority-building engine that helps you ramp up your backlink profile. If you want to get your brand out there, whether that’s at the top of a search, mentioned by an AI chatbot, or referenced in an AI Overview, then PR for ranking SEO is an excellent strategy to invest in.

What Are the Best SEO Strategies to Invest in 2026?

Search has undergone a massive shift in the last few years, changing not only how…

How Agencies Boost Search Results with Local SEO

Local SEO has always been one of the most powerful and effective tools for local…

Why LLM Rank Tracking is Essential for SEO in 2026

LLM rank tracking is one of the most essential strategies for AI SEO in 2026…

2026 SEO Agency Toolkit: Services, Trends & Growth Hacks

If you want your agency to be ahead in 2026, you need to stay sharp,…

Brand Mentions & AI Search: Why They’re a Big Deal Right Now

These days, it's not only backlinks that get your brand noticed. AI-powered search is growing…

Click Intelligence SEO Team’s 2026 Industry Predictions

As we come to the end of another year in digital marketing, one thing is…

View all Guides

Online Guides

Which Is Best Brightedge vs Semrush in 2026?
View guide
Which Is Best: Raven Tools vs SEMrush in 2026?
View guide
Which Is Best: SE Ranking vs SEMrush in 2026?
View guide
Which is Best Similarweb vs SEMrush in 2026?
View guide
Which is Best SEO Powersuite vs SEMrush in 2026?
View guide
Which is Best SEMrush Vs Ahrefs Vs Moz in 2026?
View guide
Which is Best Ahrefs Vs Spyfu in 2026?
View guide
Which Is Best Ahrefs Vs Raven in 2026?
View guide
Back To Top