You might have a great real estate website but still see little traffic. Many of our clients have faced the same challenge. Their sites looked great, but didn’t attract visitors because they lacked a strong online reputation. Real estate falls under Google’s “Your Money or Your Life” category, which means Google applies its strictest standards to this area.
Getting more backlinks is the best way to show search engines that your site can be trusted. The good news? Getting good backlinks is often easier than you think.
So, what exactly is a backlink? 🤔
Simply put, a backlink is a link from one website to another. When a site links to you, it signals to Google that your content is valuable and trustworthy.
In real estate, the source of your links is very important. A link from the National Association of Realtors or a major news site is much more valuable than one from a random directory. Focus on quality over quantity. A few strong links can be more beneficial than dozens of weak ones.
This is how you build E-E-A-T and get the right backlinks for real estate. Good backlinks are proof of your:
- Expertise: industry blogs linking to your market reports show you know your stuff.
- Authoritativeness: links from big-name sites lend you their authority.
- Trustworthiness: a link from the local chamber of commerce tells Google you’re a trusted part of the community.
Your goal is to earn links from sites focused on real estate, finance, or your local area. This is the foundation of a solid backlinks marketing strategy.
The importance of backlinks for real estate
There are three huge benefits:
- You’ll get higher search engine rankings. Google considers backlinks a crucial ranking factor. When good sites link to you, Google sees your content as valuable, and you will climb higher in search results.
- It enhances your credibility. A link from an industry influencer or a well-respected real estate blog is like a recommendation. This helps potential clients see you as a true expert they can trust.
- It drives real website traffic. When you get the right backlink for a real estate website, it sends people already interested in real estate services directly to your site.
My strategies for earning backlinks in real estate
Here are the simple methods I use to get high-quality backlinks.
Create content people want to share
Don’t just publish blog posts. Create “linkable assets” — content so useful that other sites want to link to it. For example, you could make reports on local market trends.
- Guides to a neighborhood with info on schools, shops, and stats.
- Useful tools, such as mortgage or home affordability calculators.
- A clean graphic that simplifies the home-buying process.
💡 Pro tip: Use research tools to find topics that attract backlinks.
Utilize tools like BuzzSumo to discover which topics are most popular in the real estate industry. This helps you create content that earns backlinks for free.
Write guest posts
This remains one of the best ways to get good links. I use simple Google searches, such as “real estate” + “write for us”, to find sites that accept guest posts. I also use tools like Ahrefs Content Explorer to look for related content and quickly find good sites.
I always check that the site is high quality and that its readers are a good fit for my brand. I avoid sending generic emails. Instead, I look up the editor’s name and suggest a topic their audience will care about. If you offer a great article, the backlink usually follows.
Get listed in local directories
Add your business to Google Business Profile, Yelp, Zillow, and Realtor.com. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are consistent across all platforms.
Additionally, use local directories, such as your Chamber of Commerce. These are some of the easiest ways to get backlinks for SEO.
Use social media smartly
Links from social media don’t directly boost your SEO, but they do help more people find your content. If the right person notices it, you may get a new backlink. Share your best work on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to reach more people and increase your chances of getting free backlinks.
Avoid these mistakes
Building links is an ongoing task. Here are some mistakes I’ve learned to avoid:
- Chasing quantity instead of quality. Early on, I spent too much time getting weak links. Remember, five strong links are better than fifty low-quality ones. Not all easy backlinks are worth it.
- Forgetting about anchor text. Make clickable links. Keep anchors relevant and natural, avoiding the insertion of keywords where they don’t belong.
- Ignoring bad links. Sometimes, spammy sites might link to your website. If I notice a lot of these, I use Google’s Disavow Tool to ask Google to ignore them. Use this tool carefully to protect your rankings and maintain the value of your best backlinks.
- Neglecting internal links. While I focus a lot on external backlinks, I’ve learned not to ignore the internal ones. A strong site organization helps share the ranking power throughout your pages and matters more than most people realize.
To sum it all up
Once you start getting backlinks, keep track of them. Ensure that the sites linking to you remain trustworthy. Continue creating content that will help you earn new links over time.
Building reliable backlinks for real estate takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. It helps more people find you, boosts your reputation, and helps you stand out. The correct backlinks are key to attracting users who are searching for your services online.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to see results from link building?
It usually takes around 3–12 months to start seeing real changes in traffic. SEO is a long-term strategy, and results accumulate over time.
How many backlinks do I need?
There’s no specific number. Focus on having a better and more relevant backlink profile than your local competitors.
What if I don’t have time for all this?
Link building is a full-time job. That’s why many agents work with Buylinkco. This allows you to focus on your customers while experts handle your online promotion.
