SEO GLOSSARY

What is Off-Page SEO?

Off-page SEO refers to factors and activities happening outside of your website that influence how search engines perceive your authority and relevance. The goal is to earn trust signals like backlinks to improve rankings.

Why Does Off-Page SEO Matter?

Search engines want to serve the most authoritative, trustworthy results for queries. Off-page signals like backlinks indicate that other sites value your content. The more quality backlinks you have, the more likely search bots view you as an authority worth ranking higher.

Some key off-page elements include:

Backlinks

Backlinks are one of the strongest ranking factors. Getting quality sites to link back to you demonstrates expertise and trustworthiness.

Social Shares

When content gets shared socially, it shows engagement value. Higher social activity can improve search visibility.

Mentions

Mentions of your brand or content on other sites provides credibility. The more mentions, the better.

Local Listings

Having properly optimized local listings signals relevance for geographic searches.

Best Practices for Off-Page SEO

Here are some tips for earning the right trust signals:

• Produce high-quality content worth linking to and sharing. Valuable assets earn links naturally.
• Reach out to industry websites and bloggers to request backlinks to relevant content. Focus on niche authority sites.
• Promote your best content on social media and encourage shares. Make it easy to spread socially.
• Build relationships with influencers, partners, and journalists to get brand mentions.
• Optimize online listings and citations consistently across directories like Google My Business.

Tracking Off-Page SEO Performance

Keep an eye on key metrics:

• Use link analysis tools to monitor new backlinks pointing to your site over time.
• Track social shares and embeds for important content. Watch for viral pieces.
• Set up alerts for brand name mentions online and in the news.
• Audit local listings to ensure NAP consistency and accuracy across directories.
• Check Google Search Console for manual actions related to unnatural links. Disavow bad backlinks.

Earning Trust Takes Time

Remember that off-page SEO is an ongoing investment. The more authoritative your presence becomes over months and years, the better your rankings will be. Stay patient and persistent with outreach and promotion. The long-term rewards are worth the effort.