Off-page SEO
Off-page SEO refers to all the activities you do outside of your own website to improve its visibility and authority in search engine results. The goal is to build your site's credibility, relevance, and trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines — primarily through external signals like backlinks, brand mentions, and social engagement.
While on-page SEO focuses on optimizing content and structure within your website, off-page SEO helps search engines understand how the rest of the internet views your site.
Why off-page SEO matters
Off-page SEO is important because it:
- Improves domain authority and overall trust
- Helps pages rank higher in search engine results
- Drives referral traffic from other websites
- Builds brand recognition and visibility across the web
- Signals that your site is valuable and authoritative
Search engines use off-page signals — especially backlinks — to evaluate how relevant and trustworthy your content is compared to competitors.
Key off-page SEO strategies
Here are some of the most effective off-page SEO techniques:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Link building | Earning backlinks from relevant, high-quality websites |
| Brand mentions | Getting your business name mentioned (linked or not) across the web |
| Social signals | Shares, likes, and engagement on social media platforms |
| Guest posting | Writing articles for other blogs to gain exposure and backlinks |
| Influencer outreach | Partnering with industry influencers to promote your content |
| Online reviews | Positive reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Trustpilot |
| Local citations | Consistent NAP listings across directories like Yelp, Bing, and Apple Maps |
| Content promotion | Distributing your content across external platforms |
HTML example: Backlink from another site
<a href="https://yourwebsite.com">Check out this useful SEO guide</a>
This backlink — from another site to yours — is a powerful off-page SEO signal that can boost your page’s authority.
Best practices for off-page SEO
- Focus on quality over quantity when building backlinks
- Earn links organically through valuable, shareable content
- Avoid spammy tactics like buying links or using link farms
- Be active on relevant social platforms to drive engagement
- Build relationships with influencers and industry websites
- Monitor your backlink profile with tools like Ahrefs or Google Search Console
In summary, off-page SEO includes all the actions you take outside your website to improve your rankings — especially earning backlinks, increasing visibility, and building trust online. A strong off-page strategy works hand-in-hand with on-page SEO to help your site succeed in search.