Let’s face it — ranking an ecommerce website isn’t as simple as it used to be. With millions of online stores competing for the same customers, Ecommerce Link Building has become the game-changer for stores looking to dominate search engines.
Without strong backlinks, even the best-designed product pages can get lost in the noise. But here’s the good news — with the right link-building strategies, you can build authority, increase organic traffic, and boost sales.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through eight powerful strategies designed specifically for ecommerce sites. These aren’t generic tips — each tactic is tailored to help online stores earn **high-quality
What is Ecommerce Link Building?
Ecommerce link building is the process of acquiring backlinks from other websites to your online store. These backlinks act like “votes of trust” in the eyes of search engines. The more high-quality, relevant sites that link to you, the more authority and credibility your store gains — leading to higher search rankings.
Why is Link Building Important for Ecommerce Websites?
Let’s be honest — the ecommerce world is brutal. Thousands of stores sell similar products. So, how does Google decide which store to rank #1?
Backlinks are a big part of that decision. Here’s why link building for ecommerce is critical:
- It boosts your store’s domain authority
- Helps your product and category pages rank for competitive keywords
- Drives referral traffic from niche blogs and influencers
- Builds trust and credibility with both Google and potential buyers
- Opens opportunities for brand exposure and partnerships
Without backlinks, even the best-looking ecommerce website might remain invisible in search results.
How Does Link Building Impact Ecommerce SEO Rankings?
Google’s algorithm relies heavily on backlinks to measure a website’s relevance and authority. In ecommerce, this matters even more because product page SEO often struggles — product pages typically lack shareable content that attracts links naturally.
Here’s what happens when you earn strong backlinks:
- Your store gains higher authority, helping all your pages rank better
- Product pages start competing for transactional keywords (the ones that convert!)
- You reduce dependency on paid ads and build sustainable organic traffic
- Your site becomes a trusted resource within your niche
In short — smart ecommerce SEO strategies start with a solid link-building plan.
What Makes a High-Quality Backlink in Ecommerce?
Not all backlinks are created equal. In fact, bad links can do more harm than good.
- Here’s what a high-quality backlink looks like for ecommerce:
- Comes from a relevant website in your niche
- Has natural anchor text (not over-optimized)
- Is placed within valuable content, not spammy footers or sidebars
- Comes from a high-authority domain (check with tools like Ahrefs or Moz)
- Drives real referral traffic — not just a random link for SEO
Pro Tip: Focus on earning white-hat backlinks through content, relationships, and genuine value — not quick hacks or shady directories.
Types of Pages You Should Build Links To (Not Just Your Homepage!)
Many ecommerce owners make the mistake of pointing all their backlinks to their homepage. That’s a missed opportunity.
For maximum SEO impact, spread your link-building efforts across:
- Product pages: Help them rank for high-converting keywords
- Category pages: Capture broader search terms
- Resource or blog content: Build authority and attract links naturally
- Special promotions or seasonal pages: Perfect for influencer collaborations
The more diverse your backlink profile, the more organic growth potential you unlock.
8 Powerful Ecommerce Link Building Tactics That Actually Work
Now that you understand how link building drives rankings and traffic, let’s dive into 8 proven ecommerce link building strategies designed to boost your store’s visibility, authority, and sales
1. Create Link-Worthy Content Assets for Your Ecommerce Store
Let’s start with one of the most effective — yet underused — strategies in ecommerce SEO: creating content that naturally attracts links.
Many ecommerce brands focus only on product pages. But here’s the truth — people rarely link to a product page unless it’s truly unique. Instead, they link to valuable, evergreen content that solves problems or provides insights.
What Works Best?
- In-Depth Buying Guides (e.g., “The Ultimate Home Office Chair Buying Guide for 2025”)
- How-to Articles related to your niche
- Product Comparison Posts
- Infographics or original research
- Seasonal Gift Guides
These types of content act as link magnets. They help answer customer questions while naturally attracting backlinks from blogs, media sites, and influencers in your industry.
Pro Tip:
Promote these pieces aggressively. Share them on social media, pitch them to niche bloggers, and add them to resource lists. Over time, these assets will build your authority and send quality traffic.
2. Leverage Supplier, Manufacturer, and Brand Partnerships
This is one of the easiest wins in ecommerce link building — yet many store owners forget it exists. If you’re reselling products from manufacturers, suppliers, or well-known brands, chances are those companies already have websites with solid domain authority.
Most of them run pages like “Where to Buy,” “Authorized Retailers,” or “Our Partners” — designed to help customers find trusted sellers. Getting listed there earns you a highly relevant link from a credible source. Plus, it positions your store as an official partner, which builds customer trust.
How to Maximize This Strategy:
- Reach out directly to your suppliers or brand partners and request to be added as an official retailer.
- Provide your store’s logo, website link, and a short description — make it easy for them to feature you.
- Check for co-marketing opportunities — propose joint blog posts, social media mentions, or inclusion in their email campaigns.
Since you’re already promoting their products, this becomes a win-win. They strengthen their distribution network, and you gain high-authority backlinks that improve your ecommerce SEO without any risk.
Make it a habit — every time you add a new product line, review the supplier’s site for these linking opportunities.
3. Use Digital PR Campaigns to Land High-Authority Links
Digital PR isn’t just for big brands anymore. Ecommerce businesses of all sizes are using it to land high-authority features and quality links from reputable media sites, blogs, and online magazines.
How Does It Work?
You create newsworthy content — think original research, a customer survey, a trending product launch, or unique data insights. The key is offering something journalists and bloggers want to cover because it adds value to their audience.
For example, if you run a fitness store, conduct a survey on workout habits. Package the results and pitch them to fitness blogs, lifestyle magazines, or local news outlets.
These campaigns build authoritative backlinks fast. Even better? They drive referral traffic and build brand trust.
Benefits of Digital PR for Ecommerce:
- Earn high-authority backlinks from credible websites
- Drive targeted referral traffic that converts
- Build brand awareness and trust with a wider audience
Tools and Platforms to Help:
- Qwoted or Prowly for connecting with journalists
- Press release distribution services like PR Newswire or Business Wire
- BuzzSumo to find journalists and trending topics
- Manual outreach to editors and bloggers in your niche
When done right, digital PR not only helps you earn valuable links but also positions your ecommerce brand as a trusted industry voice — boosting both your rankings and reputation.
4. Build Backlinks Through Strategic Guest Posting
Guest posting still works — when you do it right.
Instead of spamming low-quality blogs, focus on industry-relevant websites that speak to your target audience. By contributing valuable content, you earn a contextual backlink and exposure to a new audience.
Finding Opportunities:
- Use Google search operators like “your niche” + “write for us”
- Check where your competitors are guest posting
- Reach out to niche bloggers open to collaboration
Write about topics related to ecommerce SEO strategies, product use cases, or industry trends. The goal is to add value, not just drop a link.
Guest posting also strengthens your brand’s authority and builds relationships within your niche.
5. Influencer Outreach and Product Reviews for Backlinks
Influencer marketing isn’t just about social media shoutouts — it’s a solid backlink-building strategy too.
Send free samples or products to bloggers, YouTubers, or Instagram influencers in your niche. In return, they create content and link back to your store — especially if you offer something unique.
What Makes This Powerful?
- You get backlinks from highly relevant sources
- It drives qualified referral traffic
- Influencer reviews improve trust and social proof
Look for micro-influencers. They tend to have higher engagement and are often open to partnerships that involve backlinks in blog posts or YouTube descriptions.
This approach not only supports your ecommerce digital PR but also enhances social signals — another indirect SEO factor.
6. Reclaim Unlinked Brand Mentions (Easy Backlinks Waiting for You)
Ever wondered how many times your brand gets mentioned online without a link? You might be surprised.
Unlinked brand mentions are low-hanging fruits in your ecommerce link-building strategy.
How to Find Them:
- Set up Google Alerts for your brand name
- Use tools like Ahrefs’ Content Explorer or BrandMentions
- Look for product mentions in blogs, forums, and news articles
Once you find them, reach out politely and request a backlink. Most websites are happy to link back if they’re already talking about you.
This tactic improves your backlink profile while strengthening brand visibility.
7. Broken Link Building and Competitor Backlink Analysis
Finally, one of the smartest moves is to turn other people’s broken links into your opportunities.
Here’s How:
- Use Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to scan competitor sites and niche blogs
- Look for broken outbound links on relevant pages
- Create a better version of that content if needed
- Email the webmaster offering your link as the replacement
It’s a win-win — you help the site owner fix a problem while earning a highly relevant backlink.
Competitor Backlink Gaps:
Go one step further — analyze your competitors’ backlink profiles. Find websites linking to them but not to you. Create content or pitch them for guest posts or product features.
This strategy closes SEO gaps and boosts your domain authority.
8. Build Resource Pages or Tools that Earn Ongoing Links
One of the smartest ways to earn links passively is by creating valuable resource pages or tools tailored to your niche. This approach is the foundation of resource page link building, where other websites link to your helpful content as a go-to reference.
Consider building:
- A size or fit calculator for a clothing brand
- A meal planner tool for a health food store
- A room layout visualizer for a furniture store
These tools solve real problems, making them highly shareable. Bloggers, forums, and even journalists naturally reference them in their content — earning you consistent backlinks over time.
Why It Works:
- Tools and resource pages have evergreen link appeal
- They get shared across social media, forums, and industry websites
- They position your store as a trusted resource, not just another seller
Pro Tip: Add an embed option so others can feature your tool — with a backlink — amplifying your reach without extra effort.
Bonus Tip: Submit Your Store to Relevant Niche Directories
Many overlook directories, but niche directories still provide relevant, clean backlinks when done right.
Avoid generic, spammy directories. Instead, focus on:
- Industry-specific directories
- Local business directories
- Trusted ecommerce resource lists
These links might not drive massive traffic, but they add trust signals to your domain — helpful for local SEO and building authority.
Key Metrics to Track for Ecommerce Link Building Success
Building links is important, but tracking their impact is what helps you refine your strategy and maximize results. Here are the key metrics you should monitor:
1. Referring Domains Growth
Keep an eye on how many unique websites are linking back to your store. A steady increase means your link-building efforts are gaining traction and expanding your backlink profile.
2. Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA)
These scores measure your website’s overall authority. Higher scores improve your chances of ranking for competitive keywords and outperforming your competitors in search results.
3. Organic Traffic to Linked Pages
Track whether the specific pages you’re building links to are seeing an increase in organic traffic. This shows if those links are helping improve visibility and ranking.
4. Keyword Rankings
Monitor how your target keywords are performing in search results. Climbing rankings indicate your link-building strategy is supporting your SEO goals.
5. Sales and Conversions from Referral Traffic
Beyond rankings and traffic, look at how your backlinks are contributing to actual sales. Quality links should send relevant visitors who convert.
Recommended Tools:
Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, and Google Analytics to monitor these metrics consistently.
If a particular tactic isn’t delivering results, adjust your approach. Link building is all about testing, learning, and focusing on what moves the needle for your ecommerce store.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Ecommerce Link Building
Let’s be real — link building isn’t risk-free. One wrong move, and you could land in Google’s bad books.
Avoid these common pitfalls:
- Buying links (seriously, don’t!)
- Over-optimized anchor text
- Irrelevant backlinks from non-niche sites
- Ignoring nofollow and UGC attributes
- Relying too much on low-quality directories
Play the long game. Focus on white-hat strategies that build sustainable rankings.
Final Thoughts:
There you have it — eight powerful, proven strategies for Ecommerce Link Building that will help you rank higher, drive more traffic, and increase sales.The beauty of these tactics? They’re scalable. Whether you’re running a small Shopify store or managing a large ecommerce brand, these strategies work.Remember, it’s not about collecting thousands of links. It’s about earning quality backlinks that drive real value.
Start with one or two strategies, test what works, and scale from there. Link building for ecommerce websites takes time, but with consistency, your rankings — and revenue — will thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is Ecommerce Link Building?
Ecommerce link building is the process of earning backlinks from external websites to your online store. These links improve your search engine rankings, boost referral traffic, and build brand credibility.
2. How many backlinks does an ecommerce store need?
There’s no magic number. It’s about quality over quantity. Earning a few high-authority links from relevant sites is more valuable than hundreds of low-quality backlinks.
3. Should I buy backlinks for my ecommerce website?
No — avoid buying backlinks. Paid links can violate Google’s guidelines and lead to penalties. Focus on white-hat strategies like content marketing, outreach, and PR.
4. How long does it take to see results from link building?
Typically, it takes 3 to 6 months to see measurable SEO improvements. However, referral traffic from good backlinks can happen faster.
5. What types of pages should I build backlinks to?
Don’t limit yourself to the homepage. Build links to:
- Product pages
- Category pages
- Blog content
- Resources or guides This spreads authority across your site and strengthens your ecommerce SEO.