Why Link Acquisition Matters for Your Search Rankings

Earning backlinks from other websites is one of the most effective ways to build your business's credibility with search engines. The more reputable sites that link to your website, the more search engines like Google treat your website as a trustworthy source — which helps move your business higher in search results. As part of your AEO & SEO program, the Thryv team builds these backlinks on your behalf. This article explains what link acquisition is, what types of backlinks are being built for your site, and how to review them in your AEO & SEO reporting.

How to View Your Link Acquisition Report

To access your Link Acquisition report, click AEO & SEO in the left-hand navigation. Then click the AEO & SEO icon in the left-hand menu. Then click Link Acquisition. The Link Acquisition report displays all backlinks that have been built for your website, organized by category.

Backlink Categories in Your Link Acquisition Report

The Link Acquisition report organizes backlinks into eight categories. Each category represents a different type of platform or strategy used to build links back to your website. Understanding what each category contains helps you read your report accurately.

Informational Content and Guest Blog Posting

Informational Content and Guest Blog Posting backlinks come from articles or blog posts published on other websites that include a link back to your site. This type of content is written to provide value to readers on the host site while also establishing your business as a knowledgeable source in your industry. Guest blog posting is one of the higher-authority link types because the links come from content-rich, editorially reviewed pages.

Directory Submission

Directory Submission backlinks come from online business directories — either general directories or directories specific to your industry. Submitting your business to directories increases the number of places your business appears online and creates consistent backlinks that reinforce your website's credibility with search engines.

Bookmarks

Bookmark backlinks come from social bookmarking platforms where your website has been saved or shared. Social bookmarking sites allow users to save and categorize links to websites they find useful, which creates a publicly accessible backlink to your site and can drive referral traffic from users browsing those platforms.

Local Submission

Local Submission backlinks come from local business directories and local search platforms. These submissions are specifically targeted at improving your visibility in location-based search results — for example, when a potential customer searches for a service near their location or in a specific city. Local Submission backlinks reinforce your business's geographic relevance to search engines.

Social Profile Submission

Social Profile Submission backlinks come from profiles created or updated on social media platforms and other online profile directories that include a link back to your website. Consistent social profiles across platforms signal to search engines that your business has a broad and legitimate online presence.

Startup Business Listing

Startup Business Listing backlinks come from directories and platforms specifically designed to feature new or growing businesses. These listings help newer businesses gain initial visibility and credibility online by placing the business in curated directories that search engines index regularly.

Social and Local Community

Social and Local Community backlinks come from engagement in niche-specific or location-based online communities, such as industry forums, local group pages, or community platforms. These backlinks are built through participation in relevant conversations and help associate your website with specific topics, industries, or locations that are relevant to your business.

Q&A Posting

Q&A Posting backlinks come from question-and-answer platforms where answers to relevant questions include a link back to your website. These backlinks help establish your business as an authoritative source on topics related to your services and can drive traffic from users searching for answers to those specific questions.

How to View Individual Links by Category

To see the individual backlinks created within a category, click on the category name in the Link Acquisition report. The category will expand to display each individual link that has been built for your website within that category, including the platform or site where the link was created.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Thryv AEO & SEO team handle link acquisition automatically, or do I need to request it? 

The Thryv AEO & SEO team builds backlinks on your behalf as part of your AEO & SEO program. You do not need to submit requests for individual links. Monitor the backlinks being created by reviewing your Link Acquisition report in the AEO & SEO reporting section.

Can I choose which types of backlinks are built for my site? 

The Thryv AEO & SEO team determines the most effective link acquisition strategy for your business based on your industry, location, and AEO & SEO goals. If you have questions about the strategy being used for your account, contact your Thryv specialist directly.

How long does it take for new backlinks to affect my search rankings? 

Search engines discover and process new backlinks at different rates, and the effect on rankings is not immediate. It can take weeks or months for new backlinks to be indexed by search engines and reflected in your keyword rankings. Your Thryv specialist can provide more specific guidance based on your account's AEO & SEO history.

What are the eight backlink categories in the Link Acquisition report? 

The eight backlink categories in the Link Acquisition report are: Informational Content and Guest Blog Posting, Directory Submission, Bookmarks, Local Submission, Social Profile Submission, Startup Business Listing, Social and Local Community, and Q&A Posting. Each category represents a different type of platform or strategy used to build backlinks to your website.

What does this article cover? 

This article covers how to access and understand the Link Acquisition report in your AEO & SEO reporting section, including what each of the eight backlink categories means. It does not cover requesting specific backlink types, keyword rankings reporting, or managing or removing existing backlinks.

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