​​Complete SEO Off-Page Checklist For Promoting Your Business

Writing great SEO-friendly content is the first step in getting your website to rank atop the Google search rankings. But to truly succeed in the world of SEO and dominate competitive SERPs, you need a strong SEO off-page checklist, including a strong link-building plan to an effective social media marketing calendar

While this checklist is a great place to start generating authority for your website, you don’t have to do it alone. With my off-page SEO services and complete blog marketing packages, you can start driving new organic leads to your website with proven link-building and content marketing tactics.

• Step 1: Audit Your Backlink Profile
• Step 2: Analyze Your Competitors’ Link Profile
• Step 3: Conduct Link Building Outreach
• Step 4: Building High-Quality Links
• Step 5: Optimize For Local SEO
• Step 6: Leverage Social Media
• Step 7: Engage in Online Communities
• Step 8: Collaborate with Influencers
• Step 9: Document and Media Sharing
• Step 10: Participate in Industry-Specific Directories
• Step 11: Host or Participate in Webinars and Podcasts
• Step 12: Monitor and Track Off-Page SEO Success

Step 1: Audit Your Backlink Profile

Before you even begin any off-page SEO tactics, you first need to evaluate the current state of your backlink profile. This includes using advanced SEO tools, such as SEMrush and Ahrefs, to analyze any and all backlinks currently directed to your website, determining your top authority builders and disallowing any toxic links that lower your credibility.

Evaluate Your Current Backlink Profile

1. Access Backlink Data – Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to gather comprehensive data on all backlinks pointing to your site.
2. Review Linking Domains – Examine the domains linking to your site for relevance and authority.
3. Prioritize High-Quality Backlinks – Focus on backlinks from high-authority and relevant sites to boost your SEO impact.
4. Flag Low-Quality Backlinks – Identify links from spammy or irrelevant sites that could harm your SEO.

Identify and Disavow Toxic Links

5. Generate Toxic Link List – Use tools like Google Search Console or Ahrefs to compile a list of potentially harmful backlinks.
6. Assess Toxicity –Evaluate the impact of flagged links to determine which ones are detrimental to your SEO.
7. Create Disavow File – Format a text file listing harmful links to submit for disavowal using Google’s tool.
8. Upload to Google Search Console – Submit your disavow file via Google Search Console to prevent toxic links from affecting your site.

Monitor Backlink Health

9. Regularly Update Your Backlink Profile – Periodically review and refresh your backlink profile to ensure continued quality and relevance.
10. Track Improvements – Monitor changes in your search rankings and traffic to measure the impact of your backlink management efforts.

Step 2: Analyze Your Competitors’ Link Profile

Once you have completed your own backlink audit, you now need to do the same for each of your primary competitors. This way, you can see where they are receiving their online authority and begin making a plan to acquire any links from the high-authority domains that you are currently missing.

Research Competitor Backlinks

1. Identify Competitors – Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to pinpoint your main competitors in your industry.
2. Use Backlink Tools – Leverage tools such as Ahrefs or Moz to analyze the backlink profiles of your competitors.
3. Analyze Backlink Sources – Evaluate where your competitors are getting their links to discover potential sources for your own backlinks.
4. Find Link Opportunities – Look for sites linking to your competitors but not to you, and target them for your link-building efforts.

Identify Link-Building Opportunities

5. Analyze Competitor Backlinks – Study your competitors’ backlinks to identify high-quality sites where you can also obtain links.
6. Identify Relevant Sites – Choose sites that are related to your niche and have high authority for effective link-building.
7. Reach Out for Links – Contact webmasters of relevant sites to request backlinks or propose guest posts.
8. Leverage Content – Create valuable, shareable content to attract links from sites that have linked to competitors.

Track Competitor Link Strategies

9. Monitor Changes – Regularly check for updates in your competitors’ link profiles to stay informed about their strategies.
10. Adapt Strategies – Adjust your own link-building tactics based on insights gained from monitoring your competitors’ link profiles.

Step 3: Conduct Link Building Outreach

With your new list of back linking leads in hand, it is now time to begin reaching out to each of these domains’ webmasters with different link building strategies (guest post, broken link replacement, unlinked brand mentions). Each email should be tailored to each domain and detail the type of backlink you are looking for and how it will benefit their own website.

Guest Blogging

1. Identify Potential Blogs – Search for reputable blogs in your niche that accept guest posts and have a strong readership.
2. Craft Your Pitch – Write a personalized and compelling pitch highlighting your expertise and the value of your proposed content.
3. Write Quality Content – Create well-researched, engaging content that adds value to the host blog’s audience.
4. Include Backlinks – Integrate relevant backlinks naturally into your guest post to drive traffic and enhance SEO.

Broken Link Building

5. Find Broken Links – Use tools like Broken Link Checker to locate broken links on relevant websites in your niche.
6. Create Replacement Content – Develop high-quality content that can serve as a replacement for the broken links you’ve identified.
7. Contact Webmasters – Reach out to webmasters to suggest your replacement content for their broken links.
8. Follow Up – Send follow-up emails if you don’t receive a response to increase the chances of getting your content linked.

Unlinked Brand Mentions

9. Track Mentions – Use tools like Mention or Google Alerts to monitor mentions of your brand across the web.
10. Reach Out – Contact authors of unlinked mentions to request a backlink to your site.
11. Provide Value – Explain how linking to your site will benefit their content and provide additional resources if needed.
12. Monitor Success – Track the success of your outreach efforts and adjust your strategy based on the results.

Digital PR and Expert Quotes

13. Track Mentions – Use monitoring tools to track mentions of your expert quotes and digital PR efforts.
14. Reach Out – Contact the publishers or journalists who mentioned you to request backlinks or further collaboration.
15. Provide Value – Offer additional insights or data to strengthen your relationship and enhance the value of the mention.
16. Monitor Success – Evaluate the impact of your digital PR and expert quotes on your site’s traffic and authority.

Step 4: Building High-Quality Links

When it comes to backlink building, quality is vastly more important than quantity. Instead of buying thousands of low-quality backlinks on Fiverr or an equivalent, I (and many other successful SEOs) instead focus on building a handful of highly relevant and authoritative backlinks by following a few tips and guidelines.

Focus on Quality Over Quantity

1. Assess Domain Authority – Prioritize backlinks from high-domain-authority sites to enhance your site’s credibility and search rankings.
2. Ensure Relevance – Target sites related to your industry or niche to ensure that backlinks are contextually appropriate.
3. Check for Spammy Links – Avoid backlinks from spammy or low-quality sites that could negatively impact your search engine optimizations.
4. Build Relationships – Network with industry influencers and site owners to facilitate high-quality link-building opportunities.
5. Write Relevant Anchor Text – Use descriptive content within your anchor text to provide context to the target page and improve search results.

Create Linkable Content

6. Develop Comprehensive Guides – Create in-depth, authoritative guides that offer valuable information and naturally attract backlinks.
7. Use Infographics – Design engaging and informative infographics that are easy to share and link to from other sites.
8. Publish Original Research – Conduct and publish unique research to provide valuable data that others will reference and link to.
9. Promote your Content – Share your high-quality content across platforms to increase visibility and attract backlinks.

Avoid Orphan Pages

10. Conduct a Site Audit – Perform regular audits to identify and address orphaned pages that lack internal links.
11. Create Internal Links – Ensure all pages are connected with relevant internal links to enhance site navigation and SEO.
12. Update Your Sitemap – Keep your sitemap updated to reflect any changes in your site structure and improve search engine indexing.
13. Regularly Review – Continuously review and update your site’s internal linking structure to avoid orphaned content and improve overall SEO.

Step 5: Optimize For Local SEO

If you are working on boosting the online visibility of a local business, one of the key off-page optimization tactics you need to focus on is optimizing for local SEO. This includes properly setting up your Google Business Profile and interacting with your local community through citations, reviews, and comments.

Google Business Profile Optimization

1. Complete Your Profile – Fill out all sections of your Google Business Profile to enhance local search visibility.
2. Add Photos – Upload high-quality photos of your business to attract more engagement and improve listing appeal.
3. Update Information Regularly – Keep business details like hours and contact information current to ensure accuracy.
4. Encourage Reviews – Ask satisfied customers to leave positive reviews to boost your local reputation.
5. Use Google Posts – Share updates, promotions, and events through Google Posts to engage with local customers.

Consistent Local Citations

6. Audit Your Citations – Check existing local citations for accuracy and consistency across different directories.
7. Update Incorrect Citations – Correct any discrepancies in your business information across citation sites to maintain consistency.
8. Build New Citations – Add your business to additional relevant local directories to enhance your local SEO.
9. Monitor and Maintain – Regularly review and update your citations to ensure they remain accurate and consistent.

Manage Local Business Reviews

10. Encourage Reviews – Promptly ask customers for reviews to build credibility and improve local search rankings.
11. Respond to Reviews – Engage with reviewers by responding to their feedback, showing you value their opinions.
12. Monitor Review Platforms – Keep an eye on various review platforms to track your business’s online reputation.
13. Address Negative Feedback Constructively – Address negative reviews professionally to resolve issues and improve customer satisfaction.
14. Leverage Positive Reviews – Highlight positive reviews in your marketing efforts to build trust and attract new customers.

Step 6: Leverage Social Media

Engaging with your target audience can be a great way to grow your brand’s reputation within your market, improving its authority and search engine rankings in the process. Since these actions are taking place on different social media platforms and not your website, they are considered an important part of off-page SEO.

Promote Content on Social Media

1. Select the Right Platforms – Choose social media platforms that align with your target audience for effective content promotion.
2. Craft Engaging Posts – Create compelling and visually appealing posts to capture attention and drive engagement.
3. Post at Optimal Times – Schedule posts during peak engagement hours to maximize visibility and interaction.
4. Include Clear CTAs – Add specific calls-to-action to guide your audience towards desired actions, such as visiting your website.
5. Engage with Your Audience – Respond to comments and messages to build relationships and foster a loyal community.

Increase Brand Mentions

6. Encourage User-Generated Content – Motivate customers to create and share content about your brand to increase visibility and authenticity.
7. Engage with Influencers – Partner with influencers to reach a broader audience and enhance your brand’s credibility.
8. Monitor Brand Mentions – Track mentions of your brand across social media to stay informed about your online reputation.
9. Share User Testimonials – Highlight positive feedback and testimonials from customers to build trust and attract new followers.
10. Participate in Relevant Conversations – Join discussions related to your industry to increase brand visibility and demonstrate expertise.

Step 7: Engage in Online Communities

Like how social media helps build a personality for your brand, so does interacting in relevant online communities related to your industry. By commenting on forums and being an active participant in your market, you establish yourself as an industry expert, making you an authority in your field in the eyes of your audience, Google, and other search engines.

Participate in Forums and Niche Communities

1. Identify Relevant Platforms – Find forums and online communities that are active and related to your industry or niche.
2. Create a Complete Profile – Set up a detailed and professional profile to establish credibility within the community.
3. Join Relevant Discussions – Participate in conversations that align with your expertise to provide valuable input.
4. Be Helpful and Respectful – Offer constructive advice and show respect to build trust and a positive reputation.
5. Share Expertise Without Over-Promotion – Provide valuable insights without pushing your own products or services excessively.
6. Monitor Engagement – Keep track of your interactions to understand what resonates with the community and adjust your approach.

Comment on Blogs and Forums

7. Find Relevant Blogs and Forums – Seek out blogs and forums related to your industry where you can add value.
8. Write Thoughtful Comments – Contribute meaningful comments that enhance the discussion and demonstrate your expertise.
9. Use Your Real Name and Profile – Engage with your real name and a professional profile to build credibility and trust.
10. Avoid Spammy Links – Refrain from posting irrelevant or excessive links that can be seen as spammy.
11. Engage Regularly – Consistently participate in discussions to build a presence and establish authority.
12. Track Your Comments – Monitor the responses to your comments to gauge effectiveness and engage further if necessary.

Step 8: Collaborate with Influencers

If you want to take your off-page SEO efforts even further, you should consider collaborating with Influencers. Partnering with an industry influencer allows you to tap into an already established audience of a relevant demographic, boosting your traffic generation and link building strategy.

Identify Industry Influencers

1. Research Influencers – Use tools like BuzzSumo or social media platforms to find key influencers in your industry.
2. Evaluate Influence – Assess influencers based on their reach, engagement rates, and relevance to your target audience.
3. Build a List – Create a list of top influencers to target for collaborations based on your research and evaluation.
4. Reach Out – Craft personalized and compelling messages to approach influencers and propose collaboration opportunities.
5. Track Results – Monitor the outcomes of your influencer outreach to gauge effectiveness and refine your strategy as needed.

Partner For Link-Building and Mentions

6. Secure Backlinks – Collaborate with influencers to obtain backlinks from their authoritative sites or blogs.
7. Increase Brand Mentions – Work with influencers to mention your brand in their content, boosting your visibility and credibility.
8. Create Valuable Content – Develop content that offers real value, which influencers can share and link to.
9. Leverage Social Proof – Use influencer endorsements to build trust and attract more attention to your brand.
10. Track Success – Measure the impact of your influencer partnerships on traffic, engagement, and brand visibility to assess the success of your collaborations.

Step 9: Document and Media Sharing

Another advanced off-page SEO tactic you may want to incorporate into your SEO off-page checklist is to create high-quality visual and document-based content that you can share across various platforms, widening your brand’s visibility and authority through the process.

Image and Video Sharing

1. Create High-Quality Visual Content – Produce engaging and professional images and videos that capture attention and add value.
2. Optimize Your Content – Use proper file formats, resolutions, and metadata to ensure your content is easily discoverable and performs well.
3. Post on YouTube – Upload videos to YouTube to reach a broad audience and leverage its powerful search capabilities.
4. Post on Pinterest – Share visually appealing images on Pinterest to drive traffic and increase brand visibility.
5. Engage with Your Audience – Respond to comments and interact with users to build a community around your visual content.
6. Track Performance – Monitor metrics like views, shares, and engagement to evaluate the effectiveness of your visual content strategy.

Share Documents on Specialized Sites

7. Select the Right Platforms – Choose platforms relevant to your industry or niche for sharing documents, such as industry-specific sites or professional networks.
8. Use SlideShare – Share presentations and documents on SlideShare to reach a professional audience and increase visibility.
9. Use Google Drive and Google Dropbox – Share documents through Google Drive or Dropbox for easy access and collaboration with your audience.
10. Optimize Your Documents – Ensure documents are well-organized, easily readable, and properly formatted for maximum impact.
11. Promote your Documents – Share links to your documents through your website, social media, and email newsletters to drive traffic and engagement.
12. Monitor Results – Track downloads, views, and engagement with your documents to assess their effectiveness and adjust your strategy.

Step 10: Participate in Industry-Specific Directories

Backlinks generated through directories are generally not as strong as other forms of backlink acquisitions. Still, they aren’t without their place in your off-page SEO checklist, and directory links can be a great way to improve your industry-specific reputation while providing a relatively easy way to improve the natural appearance of your healthy backlink profile.

List Your Business in Niche Directories

1. Search for Relevant Directories – Find directories that cater specifically to your industry or niche to target your audience effectively.
2. Evaluate Directory Quality – Assess directories for credibility, user engagement, and relevance to ensure they are reputable.
3. Check Domain Authority – Prioritize directories with high domain authority to enhance your SEO through quality backlinks.
4. Review Directory Relevance – Ensure the directory is relevant to your business to attract potential customers genuinely interested in your products or services.
5. Submit Your Business Information – Provide complete and accurate details about your business to ensure effective listing.
6. Follow Up on your Submission – Contact directory administrators to confirm your listing and address any issues that may arise.

Maintain Accurate Information

7. Regularly Review Listings – Periodically check your business listings to ensure all information is current and accurate.
8. Update Information Promptly – Make necessary updates immediately to reflect any changes in your business, such as location or contact details.
9. Monitor and Resolve Issues – Keep an eye out for and quickly resolve any inaccuracies or issues in your business listings to maintain credibility.

Step 11: Host or Participate in Webinars and Podcasts

Similar to working with an influencer, hosting a webinar or being a guest on a podcast allows you to tap into the established audience base of a relevant community. In the process, you boost your brand awareness, establish yourself as an authority, and potentially generate a high-quality link juice leading back to your website.

Generate Backlinks Through Webinars

1. Create Valuable Content – Periodically check your business listings to ensure all information is current and accurate.
2. Include Links in Your Webinar Materials – Make necessary updates immediately to reflect any changes in your business, such as location or contact details.
3. Promote and Share Your Webinar Recording – Keep an eye out for and quickly resolve any inaccuracies or issues in your business listings to maintain credibility.

Be a Podcast Guest

4. Find Relevant Podcasts – Search for podcasts in your industry or niche where your expertise would provide value and attract your target audience.
5. Pitch Yourself Effectively – Craft a compelling pitch highlighting your expertise, potential topics, and how you can offer unique insights to the podcast’s audience.
6. Promote Your Podcast Appearance – Share your podcast episode across your social media, website, and email list to maximize reach and engagement.

Step 12: Monitor and Track Off-Page SEO Success

If you are going through all of the work to generate a strong off-page SEO profile, you are going to want to ensure that all of your efforts are generating results. This is why monitoring and tracking your success is a pivotal step in your SEO off-page checklist. By monitoring key metrics, you can measure the effectiveness of your activities and maintain a leg up over your competition.

Track Key Off-Page SEO Metrics

1. Backlink Quantity and Quality – Regularly check the number and quality of backlinks to assess the strength of your off-page SEO.
2. Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) – Monitor DA and PA scores to gauge the overall authority and credibility of your site.
3. Referral Traffic – Track referral traffic from backlinks to measure how effectively they are driving visitors to your site.
4. Brand Mentions – Monitor online mentions of your brand to evaluate brand visibility and the impact of your off-page SEO efforts.

Use Tools for Monitoring Off-Page SEO

5. Google Search Console – Use this tool to track backlinks, monitor indexing status, and analyze search traffic.
6. Ahrefs – Leverage Ahrefs to audit backlinks, explore competitor link profiles and identify new link-building opportunities.
7. Moz – Utilize Moz to track domain authority, monitor keyword rankings, and analyze backlink profiles.
8. SEMrush – Employ SEMrush to analyze backlinks, track keyword rankings, and assess overall site SEO performance.
9. Google Analytics – Use Google Analytics to measure referral traffic, user behaviour, and the impact of your off-page SEO strategies.
10. Mention – Monitor brand mentions and track online conversations about your business to measure brand visibility and engagement.

Have you followed this SEO off-page checklist and are still struggling to rank higher on SERPs? Send me a message and I would love to have a look!

My off-page SEO services include an extensive backlink audit, effective backlinking strategies, and complete off-page management of your social media promotions. 

Contact me today, and we can schedule a consultation.