How to Rank on Google’s 1st Page with Quality Backlinks!

Bassem Ghali is a 2-time winner of the Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year award and a digital marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience working with companies such as Canadian Tire, Vistaprint, Remax Canada, Alpha Laps, Xplornet, and Toronto Star.


Talking about creating backlinks is certainly not the sexiest SEO topic (yes, we think SEO has some sexy topics) – but backlinks are the bread and butter of your Google ranking. View our Small Business SEO Services!


Understanding what makes a good backlink, how and where to create them, and how often is fundamental and crucial information to getting to that first page on Google.


We know that investing marketing dollars in search pays off because 89% of customers are searching for products and services online – and we also know that many of them are searching based on location-specific needs to solve their problems.


What does that mean? Ensuring that your company information comes up as a result in those local searches is paramount. But that doesn’t just mean that you should be focusing on SEO-optimized website pages, rich with keywords… you also need to be listed where people are looking for solutions… like Yelp or Yellow Pages or Google Maps.


So, if you want to get on the first page of Google, you’ll need a multi-pronged strategy that takes location into account and a crucial element that’s at the centre of today’s post: backlinks.


Want to Learn How to Dominate the First Page of Google?

What is a backlink?


A backlink is simply a link from one website to another website’s page. Examples of backlinks are a guest blog post that links back to your author page on your website – or a local directory that includes a link to the menu page on your site.


Backlinks contribute substantially to your search ranking, and fall into one of the three main pillars that Google crawlers use to determine your site’s ranking: off-page SEO.

Quality Rules Over Quantity


While it’s important to continuously build backlinks to boost your search ranking, Google will always favor high-quality links over low-quality links. In fact, there are many reports of Google penalizing sites that flooded crawlers with low-quality, fake/irrelevant, or toxic backlinks. The Google crawlers can easily determine a toxic link from a high-quality link, and it takes months to offset the damage that toxic links can do to your domain authority, and as a result, your ranking.


Building Quality Backlinks:


Building quality backlinks is a complex topic, and rightfully deserves its own dedicated post – but here’s a quick summary.



Step 1: Select relevant keywords.



Using an SEO-keyword planning tool (Check out our Green Lotus DIY SEO Toolkit)



Step 2: Spy on your competitors.



Using your toolkit, evaluate the strategy of your competitors, because it will tell you a lot about where there are opportunities for you to create backlinks, and which areas you should ignore.



Step 3: Share content with high-quality partners.



When your backlinks are shared on a website that has very high domain authority, it will boost your domain authority. For example, government and educational websites are ideal resources to secure backlinks, primarily because they are considered extremely credible – and would never sell a backlink for profit. Your services must be relevant to their organization. Consider scenarios where you might be able to leverage a relationship with a government office or educational institution in order to secure a backlink; the payoff is a thousand  times more valuable if you can swing it.



Step 4: Choosing the right anchor text.



Anchor text refers to the words that are hyperlinked as the backlink. The specific words you select to link are incredibly important as a ranking factor. The more relevant that Google deems the anchor text to the overall topic, the higher the ranking. Interestingly, it’s very common to see mistakes made around selection of anchor text. How many times have you seen the words ‘click here’ or ‘book now’ used as anchor text rather than something like ‘personal branding photography’ session’? The best practice with anchor text is to leverage your most valuable keywords.


Step 5: Anchor text placement.



If you’re looking for the biggest ‘bang for your buck’ when it comes to quality backlinks, the most powerful positioning is anchor text that is positioned in the first paragraph of the main body of an article. It’s also important to ensure your first 200 words or so, are relevant and serve as a sort of summary introduction to the overall content, so as to speak to the cohesiveness of the content.



Easy ‘Backlink’ Wins:


Companies should work towards building partnerships with high ‘domain authority’ brands over time to continue to build quality backlinks. But if you’re wondering what you can do immediately to fuel your race to Google’s first page – here are some quick and easy backlink wins to go after:


Local and business directory submissions: With so many customers searching for local companies, take advantage of optimizing your visibility with local listings. It’s the fastest and easiest way to outrank your competitor, plus you’ll be adding relevant backlinks and be even easier for your customers to find!

Submit your listing on Google maps and Bing and any search engines that offer map services, too.


One last tip: Ensure your NAP is always consistent. NAP stands for Name/Address/Phone Number and will virtually be included everywhere you list yourself. However, if the wording or spelling isn’t consistent, it will affect your rank.


Share press releases: News and other forms of shared content are a great way to secure backlinks to your site. There’s no shortage of fresh content that a business can share, and by providing frequent updates you’re remaining relevant and continuing to demonstrate your expertise; both factors that rank in search results. View our PR writing & distribution services!


Find guest blogging and expert interview opportunities: Guest blogging is a great opportunity to join the conversation with key influencers and local businesses in your geographic area and among your target audience. It’s also a great way to position a key team-member as a thought-leader, providing valuable expertise on relevant topics. Similarly, if you have media connections, pitch yourself for an ‘expert interview’. Invite local media out to business events to secure noteworthy mentions and backlinks.

Some Important Backlink Vocabulary:



Domain authority:


Domain authority is one of the most important denominators that calculate the rank on search engines. Domain authority is largely based on the number of quality backlinks pointing to your website. Backlinks from a website with authority will boost your domain authority.


Link juice:


Link juice is a measurement of backlinks coming to your website, and links your link to other sites. You’ll fill up your glass with ‘link juice’ when you have an abundance of high-quality links coming to your site. However, you’ll deplete your ‘link juice’ if you have a lot of outgoing links. Ideally, you want more high-quality links coming to you, and only a very few links going out.


Follow Links VS. No Follow Links:


Both ‘follow’ links and ‘no follow’ links look the same on a web page, however ideally, you’ll want to have ‘follow’ links backlinking to your site, because they are the only links that supply ‘link juice’ to contribute to your overall ranking. With Green Lotus SEO Tools, you can flag ‘follow’ links and ‘no follow’ links and make adjustments as necessary to the HTML tags to optimize your content for better search results.



Want to Learn How to Dominate the First Page of Google?

9 July 2025
Having just a website will not cut it anymore in this digital age, especially for Plumbers in bustling cities like Toronto or across Ontario. With every homeowner and business now turning to search engines to find local services, zeroing in on online visibility is imperative to stand out from the rest. Finding and fixing SEO problems is vital to raising website ranks and getting more site visitors, which translates directly into more calls for leaky faucets and clogged drains. In this post, we will go over some of the most common SEO problems, how they affect the user experience on your site, and how tools like Green Lotus can positively impact your site’s performance, specifically for SEO for Plumbers . Common SEO Issues Plumbers Must Address The first step in making the best out of your website is to look for the most common SEO problems that can affect your rankings. For Plumbers, it's crucial to pay attention to these areas: Title Tags: These are like the labels on your pipes – they tell Google and potential customers what's flowing on each page. They should be unique and descriptive for every page. For a plumber, a strong title tag might be "Emergency Plumber Toronto | 24/7 Leak Repair Service" or "Licensed Plumber North York – Drain Cleaning & Water Heaters." They give both search engines and users insight into the page's content. Meta Descriptions: Think of these as the short, compelling messages that appear under your listing in search results. While they don't directly impact rankings, a good meta description can significantly improve click-through rates. For instance, a plumber could use: "Experiencing a plumbing emergency in Toronto? Our reliable and experienced plumbers offer fast, affordable solutions for homes and businesses across Ontario. Call us now!" Headings: These are your internal service categories on each page, helping to organize information for users and search engines. Well-structured headings using relevant keywords can improve a page's relevancy in search engine results. They also indicate to the user the subject and relevance of the content. Consider headings like "Our Residential Plumbing Services," "Commercial Drain Cleaning in Toronto," or "Signs You Need Professional Water Heater Repair." Image Alt Tags: In the world of Plumbers, showing before-and-after photos of your work is powerful. Alt tags provide descriptive text for images on your website, improving search visibility, especially in image searches. Instead of "faucet.jpg," use "Leaky Faucet Repair Toronto Before and After" or "New Water Heater Installation North York." Website Speed: If your website takes too long to load, users will be frustrated, leading to a high bounce rate. Website speed directly affects user satisfaction and conversion rates, making it an important SEO factor. Imagine a homeowner with a burst pipe in their Toronto home; if your website is slow to load, they'll call the next plumber on the list. Mobile Friendliness: More and more potential clients are accessing sites via mobile devices; therefore, a mobile-optimized site is crucial. A large proportion of potential clients can be lost on non-responsive websites. If someone searches for "plumber near me" on their phone, your site needs to be quick and easy to navigate on a small screen. How Website Speed Affects Your Plumbers' SEO Rankings What is lightning-fast website speed, and why is it important for Plumbers? Google has explicitly stated that page speed is a ranking factor, so websites that load fast provide better performance organically. Higher Bounce Rates: A slow website leads to higher bounce rates as people typically avoid pages with long loading times. This leads to a worse user experience and can damage your website’s authority and earnings. For example, a property manager in North York looking for a commercial plumbing service won't wait long for your site to load before moving to a competitor. Studies have shown that even a one-second delay in page load time can lead to a 7% decrease in conversions. For plumbers, where emergencies are common, a slow site can directly cost you a job. Conducting regular audits to pinpoint speed problems and implementing necessary changes will enhance user experience and increase your likelihood of ranking higher on search engines. The Importance of Mobile-Friendliness for Plumbers Given the increasing amount of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, mobile-friendliness is essential in website design. If your site isn't optimized for viewing on mobile, you risk driving away a large segment of your potential clients. Mobile-First Indexing: This is Google's method, where they primarily use the mobile version of your site for indexing and ranking. If you own a website that isn't mobile-optimized, it can mean a bad user experience, low engagement, and thus missing out on many business opportunities. For Plumbers, this means if a client in Toronto is searching for "emergency plumbing services" on their phone, your site's mobile performance directly impacts your visibility. Google's algorithm updates, including those focused on helpful content and user experience throughout 2024, have continually emphasized the importance of a strong mobile presence for local businesses. This makes having a seamless mobile experience critical for effective digital marketing for Plumbers . On-Page SEO: Making the Experience Better for Plumbers On-page SEO, which consists of optimizing elements within your website, drastically improves the user experience. This includes content quality, meta tags, and internal linking. When talking about a positive user experience, you need to admit that it is not only about the visual appearance of your site but also about how easy it is for people to use your site and find what they are looking for. For Plumbers, excellent on-page SEO means: Detailed Service Pages: Clearly outlining all the plumbing services you offer, from drain cleaning and leak detection to water heater installation and pipe repairs. Customer Testimonials and Reviews: Displaying positive feedback from satisfied clients prominently, building trust and credibility with new prospects. FAQs and Helpful Articles: Answering common plumbing questions like "How to fix a running toilet" or "What to do for a burst pipe," which positions you as a knowledgeable and reliable expert. Local Service Area Pages: Creating specific pages for the areas you serve, such as "Plumber Etobicoke" or "Drain Repair Mississauga," with localized keywords. If your website is hard to navigate or slow, you will drive potential customers into the arms of your competitors. This is where a strong digital marketing for Plumbers strategy shines. For example, a plumbing company in the US increased their organic leads by over 60% by focusing on local SEO and creating helpful content that addressed common customer pain points, according to a case study by WebFX. This shows the clear benefits of a well-executed SEO for Plumbers strategy. Tools as a Critical Component of Search Engine Optimization When dealing with website performance, efficient SEO tools are a must. Tools such as Green Lotus provide end-to-end guidance in spotting technical SEO problems, so you can get your site into shape. They offer information that can improve your site's visibility and performance. Regular audits using these tools can help your website stay healthy and search engine-ready. These tools can identify issues like missing alt tags, slow-loading images, or unoptimized content, allowing you to fix them and ensure your site is always ready to bring in new business. Conclusion Neither a car nor a website runs well for ages without proper maintenance, because both need regular checks to help detect any problems for your benefit. Optimizing your title tags, meta descriptions, headings, image alt tags, website speed, and mobile-friendliness will dramatically improve your site’s user experience and ranking in the search results. Knowledge of technical SEO is critical, and tools like Green Lotus will help you keep your website healthy, so you can boost your content with the best of them! If you're a plumber in Ontario looking to stop the leaks in your online presence and attract more clients, understanding and addressing these SEO issues is a game-changer. For a comprehensive review of your website's performance and a tailored strategy to improve your search rankings, consider connecting with the experts at Green Lotus. Let us help you ensure your online pipeline is flowing smoothly.
9 July 2025
Having just a website will not cut it anymore in this digital age, especially for General Contractors working on large projects in a bustling region like Toronto or across Ontario. With businesses and property owners increasingly turning to search engines to find reliable partners, zeroing in on online visibility is imperative to stand out from the rest. Finding and fixing SEO problems is vital to raising website ranks and getting more site visitors, which translates directly into more project inquiries and successful bids. In this post, we will go over some of the most common SEO problems, how they affect the user experience on your site, and how tools like Green Lotus can positively impact your site’s performance, specifically for SEO for General Contractors . Key SEO Issues General Contractors Must Address The first step in making the best out of your website is to look for the most common SEO problems that can affect your rankings. For General Contractors, it's crucial to pay attention to these areas: Title Tags: These are like the project titles on your blueprints – they give a clear idea of what the page is about to search engines and potential clients. They should be unique and descriptive for every page. For a general contractor, a strong title tag might be "Commercial General Contractor Toronto | Office Renovations" or "Residential General Contractors North York – Custom Builds." They give both search engines and users insight into the page's content. Meta Descriptions: Think of these as the brief project summaries that appear under your title in search results. While they don't directly impact rankings, a compelling meta description can significantly improve click-through rates. For instance, a general contractor could use: "Trusted general contracting services across Ontario for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Delivering quality, on time, and on budget. Request a free consultation!" Headings: These are your internal section labels on each page, helping to organize information for users and search engines. Well-structured headings using relevant keywords can improve a page's relevancy in search engine results. They also indicate to the user the subject and relevance of the content. Consider headings like "Our Commercial Construction Portfolio," "Project Management Services in Toronto," or "Why Choose Us as Your General Contractor." Image Alt Tags: In the visual world of General Contractors, showcasing your completed projects with images is paramount. Alt tags provide descriptive text for images on your website, improving search visibility, especially in image searches. Instead of "site_photo.jpg," use "Completed Retail Renovation Toronto" or "New Industrial Warehouse Construction North York." Website Speed: If your website takes too long to load, users will be frustrated, leading to a high bounce rate. Website speed directly affects user satisfaction and conversion rates, making it an important SEO factor. Imagine a potential client reviewing your portfolio; if the images load slowly, they might move on to a faster competitor. Mobile Friendliness: More and more potential clients are accessing sites via mobile devices; therefore, a mobile-optimized site is crucial. A large proportion of potential clients can be lost on non-responsive websites. If a business owner searches for "general contractors near me" on their phone, your site needs to be quick and easy to navigate. How Website Speed Impacts Your General Contractors SEO Rankings What is lightning-fast website speed, and why is it important for General Contractors? Google has explicitly stated that page speed is a ranking factor, so websites that load fast provide better performance organically. Higher Bounce Rates: A slow website leads to higher bounce rates as people typically avoid pages with long loading times. This leads to a worse user experience and can damage your website’s authority and earnings. For example, a developer in Toronto looking for a reliable general contractor for a new project won't wait long for your site to load before moving to a competitor. Research shows that conversion rates can drop by an average of 4.5% for every additional second of page load time beyond the first second. Conducting regular audits to pinpoint speed problems and implementing necessary changes will enhance user experience and increase your likelihood of ranking higher on search engines. The Importance of Mobile-Friendliness for General Contractors Given the increasing amount of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, mobile-friendliness is essential in website design. If your site isn't optimized for viewing on mobile, you risk driving away a large segment of your potential clients. Mobile-First Indexing: This is Google's method, where they primarily use the mobile version of your site for indexing and ranking. If you own a website that isn't mobile-optimized, it can mean a bad user experience, low engagement, and thus missing out on many business opportunities. For General Contractors, this means that if a client in North York is browsing for commercial renovation services on their tablet, your site's mobile performance directly impacts your visibility. Google's algorithm updates, including significant ones in March and August 2024, have consistently reinforced the importance of a strong mobile user experience, integrating it deeply into their core ranking systems. This makes having a seamless mobile presence critical for effective digital marketing for General Contractors . On-Page SEO: Making the Experience Better for General Contractors On-page SEO, which consists of optimizing elements within your website, drastically improves the user experience. This includes content quality, meta tags, and internal linking. When talking about a positive user experience, you need to admit that it is not only about the visual appearance of your site but also about how easy it is for people to use your site and find what they are looking for. For General Contractors, excellent on-page SEO means: Showcasing Your Work: High-quality images, videos, and detailed descriptions of your completed projects, categorized by type (e.g., commercial, residential, industrial). Detailed Service Pages: Clearly outlining all the general contracting services you offer, from design-build and project management to various types of construction. Case Studies and Client Testimonials: Highlighting successful projects with specific results and glowing feedback from satisfied clients, building trust and credibility. Local Landing Pages: Creating specific pages for service areas like "General Contractor Mississauga" or "Commercial Construction Etobicoke," tailored with local keywords. If your website is hard to navigate or slow, you will drive potential customers into the arms of your competitors. This is where a strong digital marketing for General Contractors shines. For example, a general contracting firm focusing on inbound marketing, which includes strong SEO and content, reported achieving "at least an inquiry per day" and significant performance improvements, as noted in a construction marketing case study. This highlights the tangible benefits of focused SEO for General Contractors . Tools as a Critical Component of Search Engine Optimization When dealing with website performance, efficient SEO tools are a must. Tools such as Green Lotus provide end-to-end guidance in spotting technical SEO problems, so you can get your site into shape. They offer information that can improve your site's visibility and performance. Regular audits using these tools can help your website stay healthy and search engine-ready. These tools can help identify issues like broken links, unoptimized images, or slow server response times, allowing you to fix them and ensure your site is always ready to attract new projects. Conclusion Neither a car nor a website runs well for ages without proper maintenance, because both need regular checks to help detect any problems for your benefit. Optimizing your title tags, meta descriptions, headings, image alt tags, website speed, and mobile-friendliness will dramatically improve your site’s user experience and ranking in the search results. Knowledge of technical SEO is critical, and tools like Green Lotus will help you keep your website healthy, so you can boost your content with the best of them! If you're a general contractor in Ontario looking to strengthen your online presence and attract more projects, understanding and addressing these SEO issues is a game-changer. For a comprehensive review of your website's performance and a tailored strategy to improve your search rankings, consider connecting with the experts at Green Lotus. Let us help you build a stronger online foundation for your business.
7 July 2025
Having just a website will not cut it anymore in this digital age, especially for Electricians in bustling cities like Toronto or across Ontario. With every homeowner and business now turning to search engines to find local services, zeroing in on online visibility is imperative to stand out from the rest. Finding and fixing SEO problems is vital to raising website ranks and getting more site visitors, which translates directly into more calls and jobs. In this post, we will go over some of the most common SEO problems, how they affect the user experience on your site, and how tools like Green Lotus can positively impact your site’s performance, specifically for SEO for Electricians . Common SEO Issues Electricians Must Address The first step in making the best out of your website is to look for the most common SEO problems that can affect your rankings. For Electricians, it's crucial to pay attention to these areas: Title Tags: These are like the labels on your circuit breaker box – they tell Google and potential customers what's inside. They should be unique and descriptive for every page. For an electrician, a strong title tag might be "Emergency Electrician Toronto | 24/7 Electrical Repair" or "Licensed Electrician North York – Residential & Commercial." They give both search engines and users insight into the page's content. Meta Descriptions: Think of these as the short, catchy descriptions under your listing in search results. While they don't directly impact rankings, a compelling meta description can significantly improve click-through rates. For instance, an electrician could say, "Need a trusted electrician in Toronto? We offer reliable electrical installations, repairs, and upgrades for homes and businesses. Free quotes available!" Headings: These are your internal wiring diagrams on each page, guiding users and search engines. Well-structured headings using relevant keywords can improve a page's relevancy in search engine results. They also indicate to the user the subject and relevance of the content. Consider headings like "Our Residential Electrical Services," "Commercial Electrical Upgrades in Toronto," or "Signs You Need an Emergency Electrician." Image Alt Tags: In the world of Electricians, showcasing your work with images is key. Alt tags provide descriptive text for images on your website, improving search visibility, especially in image searches. Instead of "wire.jpg," use "New Electrical Panel Installation Toronto" or "Commercial Lighting Repair North York." Website Speed: If your website takes too long to load, users will be frustrated, leading to a high bounce rate. Website speed directly affects user satisfaction and conversion rates, making it an important SEO factor. Imagine a homeowner with a flickering light in their Toronto home; if your website is slow, they'll call the next electrician. Mobile Friendliness: More and more potential clients are accessing sites via mobile devices; therefore, a mobile-optimized site is crucial. A large proportion of potential clients can be lost on non-responsive websites. This is especially true as Google's mobile-first indexing prioritizes how your site performs on mobile for ranking. If someone searches for "electrician near me" on their phone, your site needs to load fast and look good. How Website Speed Affects Your Electricians SEO Rankings What is lightning-fast website speed, and why is it important for Electricians? Google has explicitly stated that page speed is a ranking factor, so websites that load fast provide better performance organically. Higher Bounce Rates: A slow website leads to higher bounce rates as people typically avoid pages with long loading times. This leads to a worse user experience and can damage your website’s authority and earnings. For example, a property manager in North York looking for a commercial electrician won't wait long for your site to load before moving to a competitor. Studies indicate that a page load time of over 3 seconds can increase bounce rates by over 30%. Conducting regular audits to pinpoint speed problems and implementing necessary changes will enhance user experience and increase your likelihood of ranking higher on search engines. The Importance of Mobile-Friendliness for Electricians Given the increasing amount of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, mobile-friendliness is essential in website design. If your site isn't optimized for viewing on mobile, you risk driving away a large segment of your potential clients. Mobile-First Indexing: This is Google's method, where they primarily use the mobile version of your site for indexing and ranking. If you own a website that isn't mobile-optimized, it can mean a bad user experience, low engagement, and thus missing out on many business opportunities. For Electricians, this means if someone in Toronto is looking for "residential electrical services" on their tablet, your site's mobile performance directly impacts your visibility. Recent Google algorithm updates, including the helpful content updates, have further emphasized the importance of user experience, making a seamless mobile presence critical for effective digital marketing for Electricians . On-Page SEO: Making the Experience Better for Electricians On-page SEO, which consists of optimizing elements within your website, drastically improves the user experience. This includes content quality, meta tags, and internal linking. When talking about a positive user experience, you need to admit that it is not only about the visual appearance of your site but also about how easy it is for people to use your site and find what they are looking for. For Electricians, excellent on-page SEO means: Detailed Service Pages: Clearly outlining all the electrical services you offer, from panel upgrades and wiring to lighting installation and safety inspections. Customer Testimonials: Displaying positive reviews from satisfied clients, building trust and credibility. FAQs and Helpful Content: Answering common electrical questions like "How to reset a tripped breaker" or "When to replace old wiring," which positions you as a knowledgeable expert. Local Landing Pages: Creating specific pages for service areas like "Electrician Etobicoke" or "Electrical Repairs Mississauga." If your website is hard to navigate or slow, you will drive potential customers into the arms of your competitors. This is where a strong digital marketing for Electricians strategy shines. For instance, a small electrical company in California saw their organic leads increase by 62% in 90 days simply by optimizing their website with relevant keywords and creating informative blog content, according to a Marketing 360® case study. This clearly demonstrates the power of focused SEO for Electricians . Tools as a Critical Component of Search Engine Optimization When dealing with website performance, efficient SEO tools are a must. Tools such as Green Lotus provide end-to-end guidance in spotting technical SEO problems, so you can get your site into shape. They offer information that can improve your site's visibility and performance. Regular audits using these tools can help your website stay healthy and search engine-ready. These tools can help identify issues like broken links, unoptimized images, or slow server response times, allowing you to fix them and ensure your site is always ready to attract new clients. Conclusion Neither a car nor a website runs well for ages without proper maintenance, because both need regular checks to help detect any problems for your benefit. Optimizing your title tags, meta descriptions, headings, image alt tags, website speed, and mobile-friendliness will dramatically improve your site’s user experience and ranking in the search results. Knowledge of technical SEO is critical, and tools like Green Lotus will help you keep your website healthy, so you can boost your content with the best of them! If you're an electrician in Ontario looking to brighten your online presence and connect with more clients, understanding and addressing these SEO issues is a game-changer. For a comprehensive review of your website's performance and a tailored strategy to improve your search rankings, consider connecting with the experts at Green Lotus. Let us help you illuminate your path to online success.
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