Networking for Professionals

Links are the secret weapon most SEO professionals are getting WRONG. Link building in 2025 is not about chasing meaningless numbers and metrics (DA/DR) - it's about value and strategy. After building 1000+ links last year, here's what I think truly matters when it comes to link building: ↳ Do NOT just focus on DA/DR metrics. These can easily be manipulated. Instead, aim for sites/pages that are highly topically relevant, even if they have low DA/DR. ↳ Build links from sites with traffic - not just from search but also from other sources. This is a clear signal that these websites are not built to link out (and make money from it) but are legit, credible websites. ↳ Don't use guest posts JUST for links. Use them as an asset to rank for keywords, generate traffic, and drive leads to you. This can work beautifully, especially for high-ticket clients.  ↳ Aim for credible links - even if they are nofollow. Heck, even if they just mention your brand name, that's fine. Link building and brand building should go hand in hand. In fact, moving forward, I would say link building IS brand building. ↳ Build tools, calculators, templates, etc., and host them on your website. These can be amazing link magnets, and you can also use them in your link-building campaign. It's super easy to create these today, so what's your excuse? ↳ Create data stories around insights from data (public or proprietary). People love to link to these. Figure out what statistics/insights people are linking to in your industry, create one, and host it on your website. ↳ Excuse the cliche, but quality over quantity any day. You rather have 10 solid links than 100 shitty links from shitty websites that link out to any website under the sun. These links do more harm than good. Avoid. ↳ Target for mentions on social media sites/UGC like Reddit. Super helpful in influencing LLMs. It's okay if you don't get a link from these sites, just mentions are enough. Look, links will probably be far more crucial going into 2025 than ever before. But you can't build links like you did in 2015 and expect it to work. Think beyond just made-up metrics. Think like a marketer and not just an SEO specialist. Focus on building genuine relationships and value. The future of link-building is about quality, relevance, and strategic thinking. Is there anything else you would like to add to this list?

𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗨𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗘𝗢 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 Building backlinks is crucial for SEO, but it should be done authentically. Here are 10 ethical techniques to try: 1. Find unlinked mentions of your brand & request backlinks. 2. Analyze competitor backlinks to uncover new opportunities. 3. Claim & optimize your business listings (Google My Business etc.). 4. Write genuine testimonials & get backlinks in return. 5. Share your expertise with guest blogging on relevant sites. 6. Create valuable, shareable blog content that attracts links naturally. 7. Use infographics & videos to get noticed and linked to. 8. Respond to journalist queries on HARO (Help a Reporter Out) for media links. 9. Conduct original research & share data to earn high-quality backlinks. 10. Find broken links & suggest your content as a valuable replacement. Boost your website's authority and reach with these ethical link building strategies! #SEO #WhiteHatSEO #LinkBuilding

I've tested over 50+ different link building methods since 2009. Most are a waste of time in 2025, yet some SEOs are still using them. These 5 methods are the ones consistently delivering ROI right now: 1. Digital PR campaigns The holy grail of link building in 2025: • Create newsworthy content based on original research or data. • Target journalists that are already covering your topic. • Use tools like Muck Rack or Prowly to pitch them. • One campaign can generate 40+ high-authority links in a single month. 2. Strategic guest posting Not the spray-and-pray approach most use: • Reverse engineer your competitors in Ahrefs. • Pitch sites that already accept guest posts and rank for your keywords. • Offer value in the pitch: optimize a post for a keyword they’re missing. • Focus on quality over quantity - one DR70+ link beats twenty DR30 links. 3. Link insertions in existing content A quick way to get high-quality links: • Reach out to site owners and offer to update an old article for free. • Google: site:example. com intitle:2024 to find outdated pages. • Rewrite the piece to bring it up to date, with your link naturally added. • Link insertions alone can look unnatural. Mix in other types of links in your profile. 4. Reactive PR opportunities The HARO(RIP) replacement strategy: • Monitor journalist requests on Twitter, Linkedin, Qwoted, and Featured. • Set up alerts for topics in your expertise. • Respond quickly with concise, quotable insights. • Include relevant credentials that make you citation-worthy. 5. PBNs (grey hat, not for newbies) Still one of the best ways to get quick rankings if done right: • Build or buy clean expired domains with relevant backlinks. • Avoid spammy link farms. Look for sites with real history and traffic. • Or join a reputable PBN network. (like RankClub. io)

Chasing high rankings with a massive number of links? Hold on! Here's why building fewer, but stronger links could be your secret weapon. Most people think more is always better. But in the SEO game, it's the opposite. Here's how to rethink your linkbuilding strategy: Identify Quality Sources: ↳ Focus on reputable sites within your niche. ↳ These act like endorsements from industry leaders. Craft Unique Content: ↳ Write content that others want to reference. ↳ This naturally attracts highquality links. Leverage Relationships: ↳ Build genuine connections with other brands. ↳ Collaborations can lead to fruitful, organic links. Monitor and Adjust: ↳ Regularly audit your backlinks. ↳ Remove or disavow links from spammy sites. The emphasis should be on earning links, not just building them. Think of backlinks as trust signals to search engines. Google rewards authenticity and relevance, not sheer volume. By focusing on fewer, but strategic, links, you’re telling Google your content is reliable. So, take a step back, reevaluate your linkbuilding approach, and aim for quality. Ready to transform your strategy? Try implementing one of these steps today and watch the magic unfold. What’s your next move?

11 Proven Ways to Build High Quality Backlinks (to rank on Google & ChatGPT): 1. Guest Post on Authority Sites → Not just blogs...go for newsletters and industry publications → Think: niche newsletters, Substack guest editions, local biz sites 2. HARO + Featured Mentions → Still works, but now also try: Terkel, Qwoted, Help a B2B Writer → Faster and often more responsive than HARO 3. Partner Collaboration Pages → Add a “Partners” page and ask vendors, clients, and tools to do the same → You link to them, they link to you 4. Resource Pages & “Best Tools” Lists → Search: intitle:resources + [your industry] → Pitch your brand/tool/blog as an addition 5. Launch a Public SOP Library → Create step-by-step SOPs in your niche → People love linking to process docs + free templates → Bonus: Update monthly, turn it into a backlink magnet 6. Create an Industry Data Report → Run a survey, publish the data, design a PDF → Add original charts + insights → Outreach to bloggers who cover your space 7. Build a Free Tool (Even a Simple One) → ROI calculator, audit checklist, SEO grader, etc. → Tools get 10x more backlinks than blogs...if they’re useful 8. Interview Your Customers or Influencers → Turn interviews into long-form blog posts → The person you feature will often link back to it → Works great for consultants, coaches, service businesses 9. Turn Your Blog into a Book (Then Launch It) → Turn 5-10 pillar posts into an ebook → Publish on Gumroad or Amazon → Promote with a “Free Resources” campaign...backlinks follow 10. Sponsor a Niche Newsletter or Creator → Pick ones with solid SEO sites (Substack, Ghost, Medium) → Your brand gets a mention + backlink in the archive 11. Create an “Ultimate Linkable Asset” → Think: “100+ stats for [industry]”, “Complete guide to [X]”, “Tool comparisons” → Make it better than anything on Page 1 → Promote it once a month on social + through outreach --- Link building should start before outreach. If it’s not worth linking to, no one will. Most SEOs avoid doing hard work → that’s your edge. Give people value + reasons to reference you. Create once, promote monthly, stack links over time. --- Whatcha think? Agree or disagree? Repost ♻️ and let's start a discussion around backlinks. P.S. I'm Connor Gillivan. Follow me and hit my 🔔 for daily Marketing insights.

this week is the old girls club 2nd birthday. I promised myself I'd work on it for two years, then decide whether to keep going. this is the transparency post I promised you and myself at this milestone. 📍 current state: - 1,258 members paying $10/mo or $100/year, avg 450 active users/day - 3.5% monthly churn, 89.2% free trial > paid member conversion rate - 268k messages sent, 90% in public channels - 2,413 newsletter subscribers with a 71% open rate - 5,801 brand page linkedin followers ⚙️ software stack: Slack for primary community hub of conversation Memberful for member subscription management Disco for member onboarding, member directory and resource hub Mercury for business banking, paying contractors etc. beehiiv for newsletter management Waves for message archiving & library Luma for event management Common Room for community analytics (will link unlinked companies in comments - LinkedIn why am I limited to your top 8 results for a company name for tagging?? cc Shyvee) 🧠 a few learnings on building community: - building community is f*&cking hard. it's nuanced and complicated. humans are complicated! I could go on for days listing the questions that have no answers. - OGC worked because I built something I needed. I didn't build it with the intention of building a business - I built it because I was lonely. I was exhausted. I needed help. By building something to save myself, I built something that stood out in the market because others needed saving too. - most virtual spaces are really exhausting. they feel like walking into a room where people are yelling about their accomplishments without you asking. we need more spaces where it's okay to be on a journey, not to have reached a destination. - allow your community to build with you. ask for ideas, over communicate, try lots of things, shut them down quickly if and when they don't work. - communities are built on value exchange, and the magic formula is when members are motivated to give value in exchange for receiving value. ✨ why does it matter? as someone who is almost solely motivated by impact, all the stats in the world wouldn't matter without impact. these are the real reasons I intend to keep building: "Someone in OGC hired me to lead partnerships for one of her clients where she's the fractional CMO" "OGC really and I mean REALLY showed up for me when I was spiraling one night about my anxiety around having kids." "I'm now advising two OGC-founded companies and am an angel investor in one." "I started a coaching community with a former OGCer (150+ coaches worldwide!)" "I'm inspired each day by the badassery that is happening in this group. As a solopreneur, I really feel the community" 🥂 to many more years to come.

I’m a big believer in the value of lawyers (and other leaders) joining the right associations—whether that’s a bar association, an industry group or a peer-to-peer exchange. The opportunities for learning, networking, and mentorship can be exponential. But paying dues and adding the logo to LinkedIn? That’s just the first step. To truly benefit, try these four tips: 🔍 Have a Plan Know what you're hoping to get out of the experience—whether it's building relationships, raising your profile, or learning about a new niche area. Set goals before you join, and make a simple action plan to follow through. 🤝 Get to Know the Players Learn who’s on the board or leading key committees. These relationships matter—and they often lead to opportunities. Connect with the people who you want to meet and stay in touch with these connections on LinkedIn. 🧩 Be Involved Join a committee. Raise your hand for a task force. Show up for events—whether virtual or in person. You’ll build visibility and credibility. 💡 Connect and Give Back Offer mentorship. Make introductions. Share advice. Small acts of generosity can boost happiness, reduce stress, and even lower your blood pressure (yes, science says so!). And remember giving back is good business. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out. 🌟

The key factor in accelerating my Internal Audit career has been my network of Internal Auditors. Gaining external perspectives from my peers has opened up opportunities to apply new audit methods and strategies. This has led to identifying new risks for our audit plan, finding innovative ways to provide assurance over existing risks, and improving the presentation of audit results. Often, those who provide these perspectives have more experience, which can be intimidating when trying to network. If you're in this situation, here are some effective networking tips: 1. Research the person and company you're networking with. Being prepared for the conversation can encourage others to help you. 2. Offer value first. You don't need to solve all their problems, but assisting in a problem they're facing can be beneficial. - If they're hiring, suggest potential candidates or share the job posting with your LinkedIn network. - If they use the same GRC technology, share 1-2 uncommon features that have benefited your team. - If they're auditing something you have done in the past, share a sanitized version of your audit program and sample findings. 3. Connect them with others who could be of help. Successful Internal Audit leaders value networking. By being a connector, you enhance your reputation and encourage others to assist you. 4. Be clear about your networking goals. If you've followed the previous tips, the person will likely realize you're seeking something. If your request is clear and short-term, many Internal Audit leaders will be receptive. For instance, you could say, "Shaun, as an emerging audit leader, I'm helping my CAE revamp our communication with the Audit Committee. I'm asking leading CAEs like you to share your approach in a 20-minute meeting. I will summarize the notes from my other meetings and share them with all interviewees. I'm also happy to introduce you to those audit leaders and my CAE. Here are potential meeting times." If you want to get ahead, and faster, in Internal Audit and SOX compliance, having a network of your peers and other leaders to learn from is likely the best way to achieve your goal. And these are the steps I've used to help me do so.

I know at 30 that I wish I knew at 20. The best professionals never stop networking. They don’t: - Avoid new connections - Rely solely on online interactions - Forget to follow up Instead, they build and nurture relationships. Study these to level up your networking: 1. Always offer value first ↳ Don’t ask for favors without giving something in return. 2. Follow up consistently ↳ A single meeting is not enough. ↳ Keep in touch regularly to build strong connections. 3. Attend industry events ↳ Face-to-face interactions build stronger bonds. ↳ Make it a habit to attend relevant conferences and meetups. 4. Use social media wisely ↳ LinkedIn is a powerful tool if used correctly. ↳ Share valuable content and engage with others’ posts. 5. Diversify your network ↳ Don’t stick to your industry only. ↳ Different perspectives can lead to new opportunities. 6. Be genuinely interested in others ↳ Show real curiosity about their work and interests. ↳ People appreciate genuine connections. 7. Have a clear elevator pitch ↳ Be ready to explain who you are and what you do in 30 seconds. ↳ Make it concise and compelling. 8. Join professional groups ↳ Being part of a community helps in finding like-minded people. ↳ Participate actively to get the most out of it. 9. Practice good listening ↳ Listening is as important as speaking. ↳ It shows respect and helps in understanding the other person’s needs. 10. Keep learning and improving ↳ Networking is a skill that can be developed. ↳ Read books, attend workshops, and always seek ways to improve. Networking is not just about making contacts.  It’s about building lasting relationships that can help you grow professionally. #NetworkingTips #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerSuccess #RelationshipBuilding #IndustryConnections #NetworkingStrategy #LinkedInTips #CareerDevelopment #PersonalBranding #GrowthMindset

💡From Confusion to Clarity : Food Tech Career Path. When I completed my Food Science & Technology degree, one big question kept haunting me: “How do I actually enter the food industry?” No one tells you that after graduation, the toughest recipe to master isn’t in the lab it’s the one that blends networking, resume strategy, and industry awareness together. After spending time observing and learning from professionals, here’s what I discovered step by step: 1️⃣ Understand the Industry Before You Apply Don’t just send resumes randomly. → Study your country’s key food sectors: Dairy, Beverages, Snacks, Confectionery, Ingredients, FMCG, or QSR chains. → Check which companies are growing or hiring fresh talent on LinkedIn & job boards. → Make a “Top 20 Industry Targets” list and keep tracking updates from those pages. . 🔍 2️⃣ Shortlist Smartly by City, Scale & Standard → Focus on cities where food clusters exist (e.g., Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan). → Small or medium setups = hands-on learning. → Multinationals = exposure & compliance training. → Match your goals with the company’s category and certification standards (ISO, HACCP, BRC, etc.). . 💼 3️⃣ Make LinkedIn Your Digital Office → Turn your “About” section into a short story: who you are, what you studied, what impact you want to create. → Engage weekly comment, share insights, post small observations from your learning or internships. → Message HR politely with a short, professional intro + resume + reference to your LinkedIn activity. . 📄 4️⃣ Resume: From List to Story Forget copy-paste templates. Your resume must tell your food journey. → Mention projects, formulations, plant visits, QA/QC exposure, and certifications (HACCP, ISO, etc.). → Use action verbs: “Monitored CCPs”, “Assisted in sensory evaluation”, “Supported GMP compliance checks.” → Add one clear “Career Objective” line that aligns with the company’s vision. . 🎯 5️⃣ Choose Your Department Wisely Not every food technologist fits QA. → If you love data & hygiene → Quality / Compliance → If you enjoy creativity → R&D / NPD → If you’re strategic → Production / Planning / Procurement → If you’re social & analytical → Marketing / Sales (Technical) Know your interest before chasing a title. . 🎤 6️⃣ Interview Prep = Industry Understanding → Study the company’s products, raw materials, certifications, and recent updates. → Prepare 5 key questions to ask that shows you think like an insider, not just an applicant. → Practice short self-introduction: who you are, what you did, and what value you bring. . If you’re a Food Technologist still figuring out your path start with one step today. Update your LinkedIn, shortlist your top 20 firms, and make your story visible. The right HR will find you when your effort becomes visible. 🌾✨ #foodtech #linkedin #foodscience #job #foodtechnologist #hr #foodindusty #cfbr #FoodTechnology #Career #Karachi #Repost.