10 "Smart Link" Strategies to Drive Real Traffic (Not Empty SEO Metrics)

Want more website traffic? Here’s what works. 🚀

Last week, we discussed turning visitors into customers, and you loved it! I shared my secret tool for boosting your website. I call it Visitor Slipstream—it’s like magic for your site!

I made a quick video showing how it works for me. The results were fantastic! Did you know that 99% of websites are pretty but not built to attract customers? Most sites are missing out on potential revenue.

[➡️ Missed the video? Watch it here!] [➡️ Want to try the tool yourself? Click here!]

But wait... what if you don't have visitors yet?

That’s our topic this week! You need visitors before they can become customers.

I call my favorite way to get traffic "Smart Links." Think of links as invitations to your website. But not all invitations are the same!

A Smart Link means putting your website address where:

1. People can see it.

2. Those people care about what you offer.

Many SEO experts say, "Any link is good," but that’s not true!

It’s like this: If I owned a sports store, I’d rather have Mark Cuban investing than a random rich person. Why? Because Mark has money and connections to sports store owners who could sell my products!

Smart Links work the same way. They connect you with the RIGHT people.

The good news? These Smart Link spots are everywhere! Most website owners don’t use them. It’s like finding eggs when others think there’s a shortage.

Ready to discover 10 places for these Smart Links? Let’s dive in!

1st, I have a dog in this race

You can see it at OutstandingContributors.com, one of my directory websites. Here, I showcase outstanding businesses to share with the world. I will happily include you and your site, provided you have an exceptional offer and genuinely help your customers win at their game.

To participate in this game, go to the site and hit the ‘Add your site’ button. The site will take over automatically, and soon, you will be set up and included. If you are wondering why, you should know that the site is set up to target transactional terms and commercial interests, rather than provide the world with a general awareness.

There are fewer transactional words to focus on, and they are less competitive yet more valuable. All the items covered on this page address transactional terms rather than the more usual, generally accepted promotion.

For instance, take a car insurance company. Many would target words such as car insurance in London, for example. This is a great term that would no doubt provide a lot of traffic, but there will be a lot of competition for it, and it would be expensive. However, if they targeted the transactional term: ‘get an insurance quote in London’, there would be less competition, the cost would be less, the number of searches and clicks would be less, it would be less expensive, yet the likelihood of the person wishing to buy is very much higher.

The Traffic Paradox: Quality over Quantity

What if your website doesn’t have enough traffic? This is a common issue for website owners.

But here’s the truth that most SEO gurus won’t share: not all traffic has the same value.

Would you prefer 1,000 random visitors who leave right away? Or would you choose 100 engaged visitors who convert? The answer is clear.

That’s why I developed the "Smart Link" philosophy. Unlike traditional SEO, which chases any link, Smart Links are strategic. They are where:

1. Your URL is visible.

2. The audience has a genuine interest in your content.

3. The link adds real value.

It’s like the gap between a generic investment and Mark Cuban backing your sports apparel brand. One gives you cash; the other gives you cash PLUS access to a network that fits your audience.

Let me show you 12 Smart Link strategies that work...

1. Strategic Guest Posting (Not Spray and Pray)

Many people send the same article to different sites. They don’t customize it for each audience. The Smart Link approach is different:

• Identify 5 to 10 websites that your ideal audience reads.

• Create valuable content for them.

• Include 1-2 links that solve specific problems.

• Focus on sites where your byline and link will remain.

Having a productivity app? A guest post titled "How to Create the Perfect Morning Routine with These 5 Apps" can help you get more traffic. This is better than many generic articles.

Quality guest posts can boost targeted traffic. Research shows they can reach conversion rates five times higher than typical sources.

2. Resource Page Outreach

Resource pages link to valuable content.

• You can find niche resource pages by searching “[your topic] + resources” or "[your topic].”

• Create a resource that offers significant help and merits inclusion.

• Reach out with a personalized pitch explaining your content’s value.

Free graphic design templates help university design departments build resource pages for students. This puts your work right in front of future designers.

Backlinko says that resource page link building works 5-10% of the time if done right.

3. Podcast Interview Circuit

Podcasts provide captive attention from an engaged audience.

• Target shows which listeners match your ideal customer.

• Prepare valuable talking points (not sales pitches).

• Request show notes that include your link.

A financial advisor with a retirement calculator will draw in more listeners than one who focuses on their website.

Edison Research found that podcast listeners recall brands mentioned 54% better.

4. The "Skyscraper" case study approach

A twist on the classic skyscraper technique:

• Find a popular but outdated resource in your niche.

• Create a solution that improves existing efforts. Use original research or case studies.

• Reach out to everyone, linking to the original and explaining why yours is better.

Example: If you see a popular "Instagram Growth Guide" from 2019, make a 2023 version. Add current insights to make outreach more appealing.

Brian Dean shares an essential idea in his Skyscraper Technique video. He shows how this approach can benefit case studies.

5. Strategic HARO (Help a Reporter Out) responses

Reporters need expert sources, but most HARO responses are generic.

• Set up alerts for your specific expertise.

• Respond with concise, quotable insights without delay.

• Include credentials that show your authority.

A cybersecurity expert sharing the latest threat stats in a business magazine has a better chance than someone giving vague advice.

HARO connects journalists with expert sources, generating high-authority backlinks for businesses.

6. Community Problem-Solving (not drive-by linking)

Online communities dislike self-promotion but welcome genuine help.

• Be an active member of 2-3 relevant communities before sharing links.

• Share links only when they answer specific questions.

• Create custom resources for common problems.

A web developer in a design community can share their tutorial link. This happens when someone asks about a coding challenge.

Reddit’s official content policy encourages meaningful participation over self-promotion.

7. Data Visualization Partnerships

Original data and visuals attract links.

• Partner with complementary businesses to create industry data.

• Turn existing public data into easy-to-understand visuals.

• Create embed codes with attribution links.

A real estate platform can create interactive maps showing housing trends. These maps can help attract links from news outlets and blogs.

Tableau Public's gallery displays data visualizations that draw links and shares.

8. Expert Roundups with Distribution Partnerships

Most roundups collect quotes and stop there; Smart Link roundups go further:

• Invite experts with active audiences and distribution channels.

• Create insightful questions that showcase his or her expertise.

• Provide experts with custom graphics featuring their quotes.

A marketing blog featuring 12 experts will discuss "The Future of Content Marketing." It will also include custom graphics. Each expert will share the post with his or her audience.

9. Video content with strategic timestamps.

Video platforms offer unique linking opportunities:

• Create helpful how-to or educational videos.

• Include link-specific calls to action at strategic timestamps.

• Use chapter markers for relevant sections.

A fitness coach can boost conversions by timestamping workout sections in YouTube videos. They should also link to helpful resources.

YouTube's official Creator Academy explains how to use timestamps and cards.

10. Collaborative Content Partnerships

Co-creation expands reach by fostering natural growth.

• Partner with complementary (not competing) brands.

• Create content that showcases both areas of expertise.

• Develop joint promotion plans before creation.

• Include custom landing pages for each partner's audience.

A social media scheduling tool and a content creation platform are teaming up. They will create "The Complete Social Content Workflow Guide." This guide aims to help build genuine connections with audiences.

The Smart Link Philosophy

What makes these approaches different is that they all follow three core principles:

1. Relevance - The link appears in contexts where your specific expertise is essential.

2. Value - The link helps the reader solve a problem or learn something.

3. Visibility - The platform displays the link in a way that ensures engaged audiences notice it.

Smart Links differ from traditional link building. Instead of chasing numbers and algorithms, they emphasize the human touch. They connect real people to content that provides meaningful help.

Google's guidelines emphasize creating valuable content for users, not for search engines.

The result? Traffic that converts, engages, and returns.

🔓 FREE BONUS: Smart Link Opportunity Finder Tool

I've made a simple yet powerful Google Sheets template. It helps you find and track your Smart Link opportunities. It includes:

• Automated relevance scoring

• Traffic potential estimation

• Outreach tracking system

• Follow-up scheduling

Click here to get instant access to your free Smart Link Opportunity Finder.

🔒 PREMIUM CONTENT: The Complete Smart Link Arsenal

For subscribers only, I've developed a comprehensive Smart Link system that is an action plan and guide to eight strategies in detail:

The Smart Link Strategy Blueprint

A detailed guide that expands on each strategy with:

• Step-by-step implementation workflows

• Outreach templates that achieve a 68% response rate.

• ROI tracking frameworks

• Time investment guidelines

Remember: links are like investments. You can chase penny stocks for a lucky win or choose blue-chip stocks for steady returns.

The choice is yours, but I know which approach builds sustainable traffic.