Testimonial Link Building: An Underrated Tactic

Link building is a fundamental pillar of any successful SEO strategy, but the methods for acquiring backlinks are constantly evolving.

While tactics like guest posting and broken link building are popular, one of the most effective and often overlooked strategies is testimonial link building.

This approach involves providing genuine, positive feedback to a company about their product or service in exchange for a backlink to your website when they publish your testimonial.

It’s a win-win situation: they get valuable social proof to attract new customers, and you gain a high-quality backlink, often from a homepage, that boosts your own site’s authority.

Benefits of Testimonial Link Building

Testimonial link building offers several distinct advantages over other link acquisition methods.

• You don’t need to create long-form content. Unlike guest posting, which requires you to write a lengthy article, a testimonial is typically just a short paragraph, making it much quicker and less expensive to produce.
• You are less likely to be rejected. Businesses actively seek positive feedback from their users to showcase on their websites. Because you are providing them with something they genuinely want, your outreach is more likely to be successful compared to other methods like broken link building.
• It boosts your credibility. When your testimonial is featured on a reputable website, you and your business gain credibility by association. This can also position you as an expert in your field.
• It can lead to direct traffic and new leads. Your testimonial, particularly if it’s placed on a prominent page like a homepage, can be seen by potential customers who might click through to your website.
• It strengthens business relationships. Providing a testimonial can deepen your relationship with the company, potentially leading to future collaborations and networking opportunities.

How to Build Testimonials Backlinks?

Getting a backlink through a testimonial is a straightforward process that can be broken down into six key steps.

1. Find relevant services or products to review

Start by identifying the products and services you genuinely use and appreciate in your niche.

A simple way to begin is by listing all the tools, platforms, or services that help you run your business day-to-day.

It’s crucial that you can genuinely vouch for the product.

2. Qualify the prospects

Once you have a list, you need to vet each potential company.

Check if they are relevant to your niche and if their website already features testimonials.

You should also check their domain authority and traffic to ensure the backlink will provide significant value.

3. Find the right person to contact

Finding the right contact person is essential for a successful pitch.

Look for marketing managers, brand managers, or customer success representatives.

This ensures your email reaches someone who can make a decision and saves you from wasting time.

4. Create a perfect pitch

Your outreach email should be concise and to the point.

Start by introducing yourself and your business, then briefly share your positive experience with their product or service.

Finally, offer to write a testimonial they can feature on their site.

This shows them the value you are providing upfront.

5. Write a compelling testimonial

A great testimonial goes beyond simple praise like “It’s great!” To be effective, your testimonial should:

• Highlight a problem you faced that the product or service helped you solve.
• Mention key features that were instrumental in solving that problem.
• Share the results you achieved using the product, using specific data or metrics if possible.

This detailed approach makes your testimonial more credible and useful to their potential customers.

6. Make sure your testimonial is published

After sending your testimonial, follow up to confirm they received it.

If they agree to publish it, they will usually ask for your name, company, and a link to your website to include.

Make sure to monitor for a few weeks to ensure it gets published and that the link is live and correct.

Testimonial Link Building Best Practices

To maximize your results, keep these best practices in mind:

• Go the extra mile with video testimonials: Video testimonials are often more engaging than written ones and can increase your chances of being featured in a prominent place on their website.
• Turn your testimonial into a case study: This requires more effort, but a case study can provide more exposure and establish your authority even further.
• Share your published testimonial on social media: When you share the company’s post or page featuring your testimonial, they are likely to reshare it, amplifying its reach and visibility.
• Don’t forget third-party review sites: Writing reviews on platforms like G2, Clutch, or Trustpilot can sometimes lead to companies featuring your review on their own site, which can then lead to a backlink.

Conclusion

Testimonial link building is a powerful, yet often underutilized, strategy for acquiring high-quality backlinks.

It is a mutually beneficial approach that is less time-consuming and has a higher success rate than many other methods.

By being strategic in your outreach, crafting compelling and genuine testimonials, and following up, you can secure valuable links that boost your website’s authority and help you build meaningful relationships within your industry.